† Mission Statement †

The mission of Joint Heirs Adoption Ministry is to advocate for the orphan as we are commanded by God. We feel it is our responsibility and privilege to educate and assist individuals and families, emotionally as well as financially in their journey through adoption by raising awareness in our community and around the world, enabling Christians to open their hearts and homes to children in need of forever families.

Friday, January 22, 2010

† Update on Haitian Adoptions

The following link is the latest update by the State Department on Haitian adoption. Please read it carefully!

http://adoption.state.gov/news/children_affected_by_natural_disasters_conflict.html

There has become a lot of interest in adopting from Haiti due to the crisis situation. It has even opened new hearts to adoption and people are stepping up and wanting to be adoptive parents where they never considered it before. That is awesome and definitely the work of an amazing God touching hearts.

While there is interest and people want to help these orphans we must remember that the adoption process is not 'totally' revamped due to a crisis situation. There are still guidelines that need to be followed to ensure children are in fact orphans and that child trafficking does not become an issue. Sad as it may seem, there are people who will try to profit from such a situation. Haiti also has many orphanages that house children who are not eligible for adoption. Haitian parents will bring their child to these special orphanages so their child can receive an education, vocational training and be fed a regular diet that they are unable to provide. These children are raised to be educated citizens with the hope of bringing a brighter tomorrow for their country Haiti.

If you are new to adoption or just considering it and want to apply to adopt be prepared for some disappointments. This will come with any adoption as well as the overwhelming joy that it brings. Please bear in mind until government buildings and such can be restored in Haiti there will probably be a hold on any new Haitian adoptions. People are being led to believe that because of the orphans we've seen on TV that have been flown out of the country it should be so easy for everyone. NOT TRUE! Those children were already matched with families and in the last stages of the adoption process.

Do not attempt to travel to Haiti with the hopes of bringing children back. This is illegal! It can also cause unnecessary problems with relief aid at this time.

Please, research any agency before applying for adoption, as well as country information you can find from the state department. If you are confused and feel overwhelmed that is what we're here for! Don't hesitate to contact us by e-mail or phone if you have questions about the process or what can be done to help your family adopt.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

† For His Glory

An Urgent Call to Act on behalf of Haiti's orphans and "For His Glory Adoption Outreach". Click the link or the photo to read more information on what you can do to help more of Haiti's orphans to their forever families.

As some of you may know if you are keeping up with the situation in Haiti some of the children from the orphanages are being brought out of the country and united with their adoptive families in the U.S. This of course is being done with humanitarian waiver/parole for children who are already in the adoption process. All I know to say is, "Merci Jezi!" (Thank you Jesus! in Creole)

Those wanting to adopt from Haiti or who have had their heart changed by the disaster and now wish to adopt will of course not be this fortunate in the process. But there is always hope that laws and red tape can be changed for the future of Haiti's orphans.

Continue to pray for the country and it's people. This will be a situation that will not be remedied within a few weeks or even months. They need our continued support for a better future.

* UPDATE: Also just wanted to let everyone know that we have heard from our friends that Celissa (the girl posted below) has been found and is safe and alive! Another Merci Jezi!!!! We don't know all of her story yet, but are just thankful that she has been found.

Friday, January 15, 2010

† Support For Haiti's Orphans

Joint Heirs Adoption Ministry will be providing relief aid to Canaan Orphanage in Haiti. With the connections that we have through Haiti we've learned that Canaan is taking in more children everyday and has been providing relief to as many as they can in Port. Making trips into Port to provide food and water to those in need. They have begun rationing their own supplies at the orphanage which are obviously going to be depleted soon. There is not enough fuel to continue making trips to Port but as people are depending on others for transportation or just walking, more and more are coming to Canaan to seek shelter and care. Canaan also provides a medical clinic for malnourished children and I'm sure with the disaster situation they can expect to start seeing additional children very soon.

I have met some of the workers and staff at Canaan and know that with donations provided Sister Gladys and Pastor Henri can be trusted to use donations in a necessary and honest manner. If you are interested in supporting the Orphanage at Canaan with us you may use the Chip-In box below or feel free to click through to the Canaan Orphanage support page and make your donation directly through their site.
These are just a few of the children we met at Canaan.

We continue to pray God's blessings upon the people and children of Haiti. If you have questions, please feel free to contact one of us directly or leave a comment below. Thank you for your continued support of our mission to care for "the least of these".

On one of the outer walls at Canaan you see this painting. Tet Kole Nan Kris means Togetherness in Christ.

† Searching...

Below you can read the information regarding Haiti and the families and friends we have been praying for and the link to make {legitimate} donations for aid and relief to victims. The links provided are missionaries currently working in country and can help victims. Please feel free to visit their links of their missions and the organizations they are affiliated with. If you don't feel led to give through these missions, please find some way to help support the families in Haiti. Right now they need money for food, water and medical supplies. Things cannot be shipped into the country such as clothes, shoes, etc. and there is more immediate need for necessary, life-saving items like food, water and antibiotics and other medical provisions.

I urge you to continue to pray and keep the victims in your thoughts as our lives continue to go on as regularly scheduled, they are displaced, burying loved ones (if they are fortunate enough to provide a burial--most victims will go into a mass grave), they search for food. I encourage you to fast for a day, one day and try to understand the urgency for their needs.

Please pray for our friend Celissa. She has yet to be found. Roberto and Alex are making another trip into Port today to search for her and others they are still waiting to hear of their safety. I'm not sure what school Celissa was teaching at but we have posted her photo and information to the CNN search site as well as Earthquake Haiti facebook group in hopes of finding information about her.
Celissa is able to access the internet from school to visit with us on a regular basis.
We have not heard from her since the earthquake.

We pray for your safety and well-being Celissa and know that God is with you.
We ♥ You!

Please continue to visit the links in the next post for the missionaries and their updates as they become available. Pray for their safety and that provisions will come soon. Everyone is running out of supplies at this point.

If you'd like to read more about our trip to Haiti you can click HERE.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

† Prayers & Aid for Haiti

* UPDATES INCLUDED *

Have you ever gone somewhere and felt like you had been there before, or like it was a home away from home and you didn't want to leave? That's how we felt about Haiti this summer. After yesterday's earthquake we're left heartbroken today for the people of Haiti. Not just the ones we know, but the ones we don't know that are still God's people.

To most yesterday was just like any other typical day. Even myself. I got up, took my shower, did household chores, sat down to work at my computer and spent my day in a normal routine. I checked my e-mail around 4:30 and started discovering messages about earthquakes and Haiti. Huh? There's no earthquake in Haiti..... then I discovered the news. I don't turn my television on during the day and once I clicked into yahoo I saw the home page and the news releases. Instantly my heart sank.

My mind raced with all the faces of the people I met, those I didn't meet but passed on the street or drove by along the road. One can't begin to imagine the fear and devastation they must be facing. It's one thing to live in a world like we do where disaster may strike but there are plans in place and methods to follow to ensure we don't stay 'down' for long. We're America after all. Power gets restored, telephones work, there is more than one airport..... Imagine being in a country that has no regular current of electricity. You live on generators on a normal day and now your world has collapsed and there's not even a source to bring fuel to your country to run your generator (which believe me is the least of their worries!). No phone, no electricity, no roads left to get through.

We made new friends and found family in Haiti. Not just the other missionaries but the native people of Haiti. Roberto and Alex who spent every day with us from sunrise to bedtime. Marjorie who cared for us and fed us. Celissa, Claudia, Linda, Smerelda, Miko, Stanley, Mackline...... the list goes on and on. Where are these faces? Where are these loved ones?
Marjorie was our 'mom and grandma' in Haiti. We love her beyond belief. ♥

Leslie and Chris are missionaries living in Haiti with their adopted Haitian daughter Olivia. Chris went to port to have the truck worked on. The last time Leslie spoke to him was 45 minutes before the quake. Imagine wondering where your husband is in the middle of a natural disaster with no phone and no way to communicate. Luckily, after countless hours..... he made it home last night.

* Chris made it home, but the 'countless' hours before his arrival he had spent in Port after the quake trying to help others. He was near a 3 story school full of girls that collapsed and was trying to pull them from the pile of rubble and debris. You can read his heartbreaking story on their blog that is linked below. My heart breaks for Chris as he had to leave some girls behind to find help and wasn't able to return til morning, only to find the girls had died in the night. Please keep this family in your prayers.
Leslie and her daughter Olivia
Kevin and Olivia

Keith's new wife is in Haiti while he is stateside right now. Imagine not just being away from your spouse and knowing of their safety, but being in another country.... across an ocean. There is no 'coming home' to the arms of the loved one. Luckily, before bedtime last night Keith was notified that his wife was alive and safe. Yet he still had to go to bed with his arms empty.
Those of us here (and in Haiti I'm sure) began to pray. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Have you ever literally stopped what you are doing and fell to your knees and prayed?
Roberto, Me and our sponsored child Smerelda

Roberto and Alex let us know last night that they were safe but they have family in Port that they cannot contact and don't know of their safety or whereabouts. They have become our family. When someone you love is hurting, you hurt. I may not know their extended family but I pray for them. My heart aches for them.

* Roberto and his father traveled to Port yesterday and were able to find his brothers and they are okay. Last we heard he was still searching for his mother. They have brought members of their family home with them to Montrouis.

Roberto, Taylor and our sponsored child Smerelda

Alex! These men have a heart of gold. I believe Alex had found his siblings and they are okay.

Remember the wedding we just went to in December? Bobi and Marcus flew home to Haiti YESTERDAY! Only by the grace of God did they arrive, make their routine trip through the airport, out of Port and traveled to Canaan safely. They were far enough away from the point of the quake that they were safe and unharmed. Can you imagine just arriving home from a long vacation only to be thrown into disaster within hours. Can you imagine being their parents and not knowing how they are just hours after you've said good-bye at the airport? They had no way of contacting their parents. Luckily through the wonder of internet and before they lost power they were able to get a message to friends to notify their families. We praise God for their safe return home. Now they are caring for the dozens of children at the orphanage where they live.

* Bobi and Marcus have updated their BLOG from Canaan Orphanage on their account of the earthquake as they were driving home when it happened. There are also links if you are interested in supporting Canaan Orphanage and their relief efforts.

My 'sister' Diane still has regular contact with her children's biological mother in Haiti. Can you stop for a moment and imagine having your son turn to you and want to know if his Momma Cheri is okay? How do you tell your children you don't know for sure? How do you comfort them? (sorry Diane..... don't cry. Know that I love you and I'm still praying for Cheri and the kids. We know they'll be fine. xoxo)
Diane with Momma Cheri and Brian and Kristi's siblings.
* Diane received word that Cheri and the kids are fine. Roberto went out and found them to let Diane know of their safety. Many prayers have been answered. =) There are many more in need of prayer.

I can't tell you how much I want to be there today. I've yearned to go back for the past 6 months. But never so much as the last 24 hours. You can't live with someone for the period of time we did, sleep under the same roof, share all your meals together, pray together, worship together, work together, play together without loving together. A part of my family is hurting today. So please, when you know of someone in Haiti who is safe, don't stop your prayers there. Be grateful for their well being and praise God for that blessing. But remember there are still thousands of others who need your prayers still.

Me and Mackline (she's 7 and has brittle bone disease)
Roberto, Kelsey, and her sponsored child Claudia
Diane and one of her sponsored children Miko (Michael)


Kevin and another girl they sponsor Alexandra
Taylor made MANY friends with her long blonde hair. ;o)

These aren't just faces in the crowd.... not only do they belong to someone here on earth, they belong to our Lord. If you are wondering what you can do to help the people of Haiti.....the very first thing you can do is pray, and secondly you can click on the link in the sidebar (or below) for the mission and donate through paypal or click on the chip-in box and funds will be sent to Leslie and Chris' mission Clean Water for Haiti (which they are so desperately going to need now more than ever, and gas alone to run vehicles to transport people and water and food will be in short supply) and a portion will go to the Heartline Ministries and Life Connection Missions to help any in need. We may not know who they are right now, but God does. These are reputable missions and people we know that are working for the people of Haiti. You can read updates on their blogs and here. Thank you for your prayers.

* Please also keep Britt & Kris and their family in your prayers also. You can read her blog and updates HERE.

If you'd like to read more about our trip to Haiti you can click HERE.


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