When Government Works for Us....

When we see tangible evidence of our government working for us it is an amazing thing. With all the chaos in Haiti, our Congressman was absolutely instrumental in bringing my nephew Isaac home. Not only did he have a staff person dedicated 24 hours a day to making Isaac's homecoming happen, he actually took the time to visit my sister's family and meet Isaac himself. This was not just a "photo" op, no media was present, just family and he sat and had cookies and lemonade and talked. It is nice in this era when we all have so little faith in those in public office to see someone caring to make a difference. Someone who takes the time to meet the needs of one family and one small boy a world away.

A Plan? Plan A?

So, we will call this Plan A. It is a "by the seat of your pants" very Haitian style plan. As luck would have it, Bobby (who looks a bit like Jesus) sat next to some relief workers on the plane ride to Cap Haitian. They plan to hire some ARMED GUARDS to escort them across the length of Haiti to Port Au Prince (I am envisioning Rambo, but more likely they will look like this....)

Not that there is anything wrong with a guy with a machete. Especially when he is on your side! But I would be much happier if some really tough guys were in charge of my beloved brother in law and nephews safety....Like maybe these defenders of the free world (snicker, snicker, snicker). Well, the least our former president can do is help get the orphans safely out of Haiti. I mean, Isaac is no longer an ORPHAN. He has a family. AS DO MANY of the waiting children. Why should an American citizen have to risk his life to get his child out of a dangerous country. A country that we have been designated "in charge of security" in this devastating time. A much better plan (or a great alternate to PLAN A) is to let Bobby and Isaac fly out of Cap Haitian to Ft. Lauderdale where Isaac's paperwork and Visa could easily be processed by USCIS or the Department of Homeland security. Pray to your God, Call the USCIS or Department of Homeland security and let them know we want our children HOME NOW and home safely with a minimum of risk to human life.

One Big Relief and the Oddness of Life....

I awoke this morning and immediately checked www.loveachild.com for updates on the status of the orphanage that Clepson lives in. I was SO relieved to find that they have accepted the UN in to their compound and will be continuing their ministry as the UN uses the large property to set up a hospital and recovery tents for the wounded. It is a huge blessing to know that Sherry, Bobby, Bob and Carole and the children and staff will all have good security as the conditions in PAP worsen and many people take to the countryside.

Bobby and Sherry Burnette are two of the most optimistic people I have ever encountered. They are able to see God's blessings in the worst situations. When I received an email from Bobby that said they were living in Hell, I knew conditions were grim. I feared greatly for the safety of the people that I have come to know and love. As bad as the situation is on the news and as much as we all feel a great sadness, it is MUCH MUCH MUCH worse to know a child like Clepson is in the midst of such a huge tragedy. I worried for his safety, I worried for his health (and will continue to do so as disease spreads). To know that young, strong military men will be securing the perimeter of their compound is such a HUGE relief. Please go to the Love a Child website and read how six years ago it was predicted by their Haitian minister that this type of situation would happen.....

The Adventures of Bobby in Haiti

My brother in law is currently en route to Haiti. He will be picking up my new nephew. You know, the one they have been in the process of adopting for the LAST THREE AND ONE HALF years! This story will be complicated.... first of all, my brother in law looks a little bit like Jesus. He is flying in to the North Coast of Haiti. He will travel by car to the orphanage and meet his son for the first time. Isaac seems to be a bright and sassy young man. I am sure they will have a lot in common. Then Bobby will travel, somehow, down south to Port Au Prince... You know, the place that just fell down. The place with stacks of decaying bodies. The place with no food, no water, and ripe for disease. Bobby travels with donated water purifing systems that will hopefully help some of the poor people of Haiti. He will hopefully stay safe, he will hopefully be coming home soon. With little Isaac Patrick.....Stay tuned!

Pray for Haiti

First, Clepson is fine. Sherry and Bobby at Love a Child were kindly very quick to respond to my email about their safety. The orphanage in Fond Parisian was spared and all the employees and children were scared, but fine. Unfortuantely, five of the older children were being housed in a home in Petionville. This was directly on a fault line. They need your prayers. Sherry and Carole (the nurse at love a child) have gone to try to find out if they are ok. No word yet. Donations should be directed to www.loveachild.com I know this organization is very reputable and will spend the money where it is most needed. 800 employees at Doctors Without Borders are unaccounted for. Their three hospitals all sustained a great deal of damage and are unusable. The Medical Advocacy Team is putting together a team of medical persons to go down and help. Email Sarah at sisters3designs@aol.com if you can help. Sarah was in the news today. For more on her story check out http://www.momlogic.com/2010/01/my_4-year-old_son_is_trapped_in_haiti.php My nephew Isaac was within Days of coming home and now must wait!

Taking the Leap

Sometimes we need to take that leap. The big scary jump into the void of the unknown future. Setting things in motion can take a catalyst. Change is a frightening thing for me. I know that change can bring greater rewards, but being complacent with what I have is so COMFORTABLE. My sister took a big leap of faith last night. She decided to travel to meet the baby that had no passport. She got on the plane hoping and praying that someone could make the passport office give them the baby's passport today so that he could travel tomorrow. Some strong and devoted ladies took the sick baby to the passport office and literally fell to the floor and CRIED and BEGGED until someone would help them! The passport was provided and the baby will arrive in the U.S. tomorrow! Taking that first leap forward seems to be what was needed to inspire everyone to "step up the game" and get the job done. I can feel change coming for me too. Hold on ....... it may be a bumpy ride.

When Nobody Cares

The Medical Advocacy Team has been working for weeks to bring a baby born with Spina Bfida to the U.S. for life saving surgery. This small infant has been fighting to stay alive while he waits, and waits, and WAITS for his paperwork to be ready. A wonderful Doctor and hospital in the U.S. have donated for his care and a family waits to host him. BUT IT JUST DOESN"T MATTER---Today his caregiver in Haiti said that nobody cares if a baby dies in Haiti. It happens all the time. It just doesn't matter. Haitian governmental officials just don't care or feel any urgency in getting his passport done so his life can be saved. His father has only looked at him ONCE in the last week. He shook his head and WALKED AWAY. His father does not want to stay at the clinic with him. He is inconvenienced by having to help with getting the passport and Visa approval for his son to travel. This is inconceivable to me. How does an entire culture get to the place where this small life is of no value. Where throwing up roadblocks in the process is ok? I have always felt sorry for the adult population in Haiti. They have so little, they suffer so much. Maslow's Hierarchy of needs seems to explain it best. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs. Looking at it from a distance, it makes sense that a parent must have their needs for food, water and shelter met before they can move on to care for others. Emotionally my heart screams--HOW can a parent turn away from a child, HOW!!!