I truly believe that God is awakening His people on behalf of the orphan.
We're facing the truth. It's not usually comfortable, but I'm thankful God is opening our eyes.
Many of you have asked how you can help this particular orphanage or find more information about adoption in Haiti. I have absolutely no idea what's going on with adoption in Haiti right now. I'll try to see what I can find out, and point you to people who know more about adoption in this country.
We need to reiterate...we are no experts on anything related to Haiti. We're new here. We're trying to sort through all of this, let it hit us and let it soak in. We will write about this journey, but it's a journey...we have no real answers. After looking around Haiti for about five minutes, people who claim to have a lot of answers make me really nervous.
As far as this particular orphanage is concerned, I wanted to make some things clear:
Thankfully, this orphanage is run by a Haitian couple who love the Lord and love these kids. There are a lot of children in this orphanage, and we all know that's never the best case scenario. However, this couple is trying their hardest to care for these kids.
There is an American couple on the ground here in PAP who are working with this orphanage. They are getting some help from the US. There is definite, strong movement in the right direction to come alongside this couple to give these kids the care that they need. We want to be clear that a lot of good things are starting to happen at this particular orphanage, but we want to be just as clear that there is a lot left to do.
Even though the conditions were sad and heartbreaking at this orphanage, it was wonderful to know that the Haitian couple running the place love these kids. They are trying their very best. This sweet couple has taken in kids who need a home. This couple lives with the kids. They live just like the kids. They sleep in the same house.
So I don't want us to look at the pictures of these children and the orphanage and start placing blame on the people running the orphanage. How dare us. How can we blame a couple who has given their life, sacrificed their own comfort to take in a bunch of kids? I pray these pictures break our hearts and cause us to ask ourselves what we need to do to help these kids, and other kids just like these.
Most of us sit here with a long list of reasons why we'd never open our home up to more children. We have a long list of reasons why we can't afford to give more to care for the least of these. Many of our reasons may even be valid. But I was overcome with conviction when I saw this Haitian couple who have nothing (according to US standards) chunk their excuses and take care of a bunch of kids who need love and care.
Haiti hurts me in lots of ways, but Hatians who love God and serve Him wholeheartedly here, teach me so much about what it looks like to live by faith.
We want to give you tangible ways to help this orphanage and connect with them.
We want to advocate for the orphan here in Haiti, and in the least connect needs here with resources in the US.
We want to be honest about what's going on in Haiti...how real the sadness is.
The truth is, this orphanage has come a long way, but these kids and this couple still need a lot of help. We can do better. So many of you have said you want to help. We want to help you do that.
The harder truth is...there are many more orphanages like this in Haiti who also need help. There are kids who need better care.
Do we know how to fix this beast of an issue? Are you kidding? No way.
Do we all need to be asking God how He wants us to respond? Yes. Absolutely.
Do we need to go out of our way to stay informed and pursue and seek the truth? I think we must.
The orphan crisis is so big we have no idea where to start. There's still so much for us to learn, and even people who have been here for a very long time admit they have very few answers. So far we know from people who have lived in Haiti for years and years that kids need better care. There probably need to be more healthy, small orphanages in this country. Kids need to be adopted. Haiti could use more children's homes where a small group of kids are taken in, loved, educated, discipled and raised in Haiti to then impact their country as adults.
But what we've heard the most is...this country needs the gospel. It needs healthy churches. It needs strong discipleship. It needs more ministries like Heartline who are fighting the orphan issue by preventing orphans from happening. Heartline is keeping kids out of orphanages, empowering families to raise their kids themselves.
I hope we see the pictures of the orphans and the orphanage and begin asking God what part He has for us to play. I believe He wants to use the church and His people to redeem what is broken on this earth. That should excite us.
Will you ask Him how He wants to use you...your resources...your church...your life...your skills...your gifts to care for the orphan in distress?
9 comments:
If you can give me some more information/details about how to help the orphanage and volunteering there I can pass it on to others who want to help as well.
Thanks
I am told that no adoption that was not already in the works before quake is being processed at this point. If you find out differently, please post specific info, i.e., who/which agency can make it happen. Any way to donate directly to an orphanage that won't get eaten up by the government corruption as well please. Hang in there kiddo, you are not the solution for every problem in Haiti, you are an open vessel for the solution to flow through. Just worried that you don't take on the burden of being the fixer, that would be too overwhelming! Praying for you all! God Bless!
I love that a couple has come alongside this couple. Maybe more couples could, more people could. Maybe get in contact with that couple and through helping them, help that orphanage? It made me think of the book One Million Arrows...and that vision in India, that we know not all the orphans in an orphanage will be adopted, right, we know that. Especially when it is closed at the momment. But to help turn that orphanage into a place where the Lord is preparing some of his one million arrows.....that we come alongside, so they have food, and provisions and the leaders have help and can teach them of the Lord, that these children, raised in an orphanage can turn around and change their country.
You said: "Haiti could use more children's homes where a small group of kids are taken in, loved, educated, discipled and raised in Haiti to then impact their country as adults."
Reminds me of what Katie and Gabi http://rachamministries.org/index.html are doing in Uganda....as single women...becoming single mommas to a small house with children. Maybe that is what is needed here too.
EXCELLENT post, Heather. As I've been praying, I've learned that I want to FIX things. God doesn't need me to do that. He DOES need me to find out what He wants me to do for my part. You said it perfectly. You must feel so "raw" to be living with this right in your face. I pray for you almost every day. Remember what I just said, YOU can't fix things. You can find out what your part to play is as well. Hang in there, sister. You are touching lives for the kingdom with your blog.
I'm asking him right now.
Could we somehow set up teams of people to visit the orphanage so that no day goes by that there is not a significant number of adults who can be there to interact and love on those kids?
Your blog has rocked my world. I am asking God how He would use us - - and begging Him to fix this crisis. Come Lord Jesus, Come.
Heather... I've been unable to get the image of that baby girl lying on the floor in the orphanage out of my mind for two days. I told Adam and it has broken both of our hearts to really be faced with the enormity of the tragic plight of these orphans. I don't know what God wants us to do... but we are moved not just to tears, but to our knees and to action.
I want to help.
One thing I can think of would be to offer mini-sessions thourhg Lerin Photography with 100% of the proceeds going to this orphanage. If this is something we can organize, lt me know.
The mother in me wants to fly down there and gather the children in my arms, feed them from my breasts, kiss them and tell them that we care. I want to pack them in my suitcases, skip the paperwork, and bring them home with me.
I know it isn't possible, but it is the image my heart keeps calling up.
God brought me to your blog years ago, and I think it was for this reason. I have seen their faces... I can't unsee them. I need to act, not just cry for them.
Thank you so much for opening so many hearts and minds to the true needs of the children in Haiti. Thank you even more for bringing this particular orphanage to light...THIS IS THE ORPHANAGE WHERE MY TWO BOYS ARE! I was so suprised when I stumbled onto your blog this morning (from Kristen at Rage Against the Minivan) and saw all those familiar, beautiful faces. I think Heather is doing the right thing by checking out an organization before she directs folks to it, but trust me this orphanage is a light in its community. The Haitian couple she's referring to love these kiddos and truly want the absolute best for them.
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