Yet Another TV Interview

This time with KARE11 TV.

Our Orphanage on National News

The creche where Philippe and Patricia are staying, Maison des Enfants de Dieu, was just featured on FoxNews.com:

Another TV Interview

KSTP TV came by again after we notified them of the dire situation at our orphanage. It aired at 10:00 pm last night.



You can see the first two interviews here.

This Made Us Smile

Note the increase in traffic to our blog in the last few days...


Thanks for caring and sharing. We love you all!

A Desperate Plea from Our Orphanage in Haiti

We just received this harrowing update from our orphanage:

URGENT CALL FOR PRAYER

We received word from Pierre this morning that the situation in the orphanage is becoming dire. We would like to ask EVERYONE that receives this to use this information to get on your knees before our Lord and ask Him to provide.

We have one nanny that is deceased and the orphanage needs her body to be removed.
The orphanage has no drinkable water.

In addition they need:


• formula for babies
  
• medicines
  
• IV fluids (one child is currently on an IV)
  
• charcoal to cook
  
• diesel
  
• cash to buy supplies if they find them. They are running out of cash and there are no banks open to get cash, so it needs to be delivered by someone already on the ground or by helicopter.

Others are beginning to rob them of what supplies they do have.

There are helicopters flying over the orphanage and they have made a sign on the roof that says they are an orphanage and need help.

The staff is also working to get together all the paperwork for each child that has an adoptive family in a way that it can be attached to their body if there is an opportunity to evacuate.

For His Glory is doing everything we can on this end to contact people who may be able to help. Please pray. Currently, that is the best thing you can do to help. Kim is doing everything she can, and respectfully requests that adoptive families do not call her at this time. We realize this is a very difficult time, however she needs her phone and time available to do everything she can to make contacts to try to help the children and staff at the orphanage. We will give you any updates we have as soon as they are available.

Trusting in Him,

For His Glory

Please remember them, us, our kids, and other adoptive families in your prayers. If you'd like to donate, please visit FHG's web site here.

Our TV Interviews!

Two of the local news stations expressed interest in our adoption story. Dawn was interviewed first by KSTP TV. It aired at 5:00 pm today.



Both of us were later interviewed by WCCO TV. It aired at 10:00 pm.



Please pray with us that our kids may come home soon!

Update on Haiti and Our Kids

Lee and I have had so many emails, phone calls and messages that you are all praying for our family and for Haiti and we appreciate that so much. We are just absolutely SICK about the devastation. It is always terrible to witness a catastrophe, but how different it is when you have traveled there, developed a love for a place and the people, and have CHILDREN there!

We have had confirmed information that the kids are ok (praise you, Lord!) -- there are some bumps and bruises but that is all. The kids slept outside last night as there were 28 aftershocks averaging 5.0, which are large earthquakes on their own. I don't know if they are still sleeping outside. We know there is some structural damage to the orphanage as a wall fell on one of the nannies. We don't know yet the extent of her injuries or the extent of the damage to the orphanage itself. Also, Papi Pierre, pictured with us here in February 2008, sustained an injury to his eye but we don't know how bad that is yet either. Kiki, an employee of the orphanage (he processes the paperwork) and Pierre's brother, has not been located. Please pray for his safety.

We have learned that a French couple in Haiti to bring home their child was killed at their hotel while they were having dinner. Their child was not with them yet and now is an orphan once again.

So many need prayer, I don't even know where to start. One thing I will add is that we are praying for a miracle that maybe somehow the governments can work together to expedite the kids who are matched with families OUT of Haiti. There are many more orphans now who will need the beds at the orphanages. Let these kids come home! From the president of the board of directors at our orphanage:

I know many of you would like some adoption news. All Haitian adoptions will be impacted by this disaster. I have received news that the Joint Council on International Children's Services (JCICS) and the U.S. State Department are discussing possible solutions. Please be in prayer about this.

I fear if we do not get some sort of aid from the government, it could be YEARS before they come home.

If you have not been in our shoes, perhaps you can't understand the deep love we have for these kids - that we had in our hearts even before we met them. They love us just as much, and we are so blessed. What a joy to hear "Mama" and "Papa" from their lips, with their cute little accents. What we love is how they call us different names at different times... if they are TELLING us they are doing something or trying to get our attention to show of f jumping in the pool or the like, it's "MOM!", "DAD!" and if they want something it's "Daddy?" and Mama and Papa for "regular" conversation :) We love them so much our hearts ache. And we already felt so much for this country before this happened that this is very hard to take this in. We can't believe how much our kids have survived in their young lives. The orphanage expects to have trouble getting meds for the kids with medical needs; they are concerned about drinking water and are concerned about the looming possibility of disease.

Typhoid could be an issue and they want to get meds for that in case. Also, many times, the biological parents come back to the orphanage for food so suppl ies could be thin. If you feel led to donate to our kids' orphanage or read more about it, click HERE. You will receive a tax donation receipt.

James 1:27 - Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 - Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 - though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Six Months Together

Six months ago today, we met our beautiful Olivia. Our friend, Beth, another China adoptive mom, said it best - "ultimate joy and sadness colliding". I was so looking forward to doing a really fun, celebratory post for the 13th, but these months later, I feel the same way - "ultimate joy and sadness colliding". We are so grateful, beyond words, to have this lovely child in our home and in our arms, but we are sick to our stomachs over the devastation in Haiti. We have word that our kids are ok, but there are concerns of looting and the need for fresh water among other things. Please pray for Patricia, Philippe, their orphanage and those in their homeland. We will post more about Haiti later, but for now I am going to turn my focus to little Olivia.

Olivia is a feisty, fun, smart little girl. She loves music and any toys that make music! She has grown so much! She had two teeth when we brought her home and now she has 12. She has gained 6 lbs. and grown nearly two inches!

Olivia in July, in China

Olivia this week, doing one of her favorite activities. In fact, she cries when we take the toothbrush away from her!

Another of Olivia's favorite things to do!

Our home is finally full of noise (besides the dogs barking!) and full of joy. We can't wait for her brother and sister to come home from Haiti. When she sees their pictures she says, "P! P!"
Thank you, Jesus for answering our prayers by bringing us a child and for bringing us THIS child. She was prayed for by name nearly three years before she was born. For more pictures of the day we met Miss O, click HERE.

A Look at the Devastation in Haiti

This is the presidential palace in Haiti before the quake...



And after...



For some updated pictures, click here. (WARNING: some of the images are disturbing.)

7.0 Earthquake in Haiti

You may have seen on the news that Haiti was just hit by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake. We're watching the news and awaiting updates.


Please keep Philippe and Patricia in your prayers.