The Girl Effect

Research abounds as evidence of what an investment in girls and women can bring about in impoverished nations.  The Girl Effect is powerful.  

In a matter of days we will be forging the foundations of another layer of our family.  After a brief few days, we hope and pray that our girls feel hope.  Hope for a home.  Hope for the love of a family.  Hope for a future with limitless opportunities.  

October 11, 2012 is the International Day of the Girl (care.org).  With heavy hearts, we'll be leaving Haiti.  Fortunately, we know our girls are well cared for.  They are clothed, fed, allowed to attend school.  Millions of other adolescent girls are not as fortunate.  As partners with us on this journey, we're guessing "the girl effect" may resonate with you more powerfully now than it may have before.  It certainly does for us.

Mèsi Bokou!

Mèsi Bokou!  -  "Thank you" in Haitian Creole.

Gratitude - Thankfulness - Appreciation - Gratefulness

We feel so blessed by the myriad ways you've supported us as a family-in-waiting.  Sharing positive thoughts and prayers, checking in with us over the last many months, donating through Project Hopeful, gifting airlines miles, providing furniture for the girls, introducing us to Haitian Creole/English picture dictionaries, purchasing Adoption Bug t-shirts.  We continue to be amazed by your generosity and kindness.

With twelve days to go before the trip, your continued support is needed more than ever.  Pictures of the "staging area" coming soon.   :-)

Immeasurable

Immeasurable access to necessities - unprecedented convenience...life in our corner of the United States.

In less than 25 days we'll be headed to Port au Prince.  We'll be visiting an orphanage whose staff cares for over 50 children under 5 years of age.  Their needs are truly limitless.  

Families engaging in the process of adopting children typically deliver supplies to support the basic functioning of the orphanage.  If you would like to join us in this effort, please view the lists below and bring or send us whatever you'd like to donate (by Tuesday, Sept. 25th).

 

Journey

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. Lao Tzu

Despite the hurdles, altered paths, and paper chase, our journey will truly begin on October 8th when we travel to Port au Prince to meet Ruth (who turned 15 today), Samantha, and Yoline.

Several of you have been kind enough to offer airline miles to help us secure the flights we'll be taking over the coming months.  We've included a link below to the American Airlines webpage where you can donate miles on behalf of our family.  Our AAdvantage numbers are included as well.

American Airlines Miles
Janelle - Y1562Y4
Wayne - (Gordon Wayne) 84UJK18

It seems like American Airlines is helping out too.  They just happen to have a special offer providing bonus miles when you share.  

Your continued thoughts and prayers are much appreciated - and needed more than ever.  

Tropical Storm Update

So many of you have been kind enough to share your thoughts about the girls during the recent tropical storm/hurricane.

We received the following update toward the middle of the week.

Tropical Storm Isaac:  FEJ reports that Isaac hit Haiti last Friday night and Saturday.  There was material damage, however everyone is fine.  Uprooted trees, flooding and power outages remain a challenge. 

We are obviously relieved with this news.  However, the Haitian people are in desperate need of continued prayers and support.   I believe the report I heard on NPR stated that close to 400,000 people are still living in fragile post-earthquake tent camps.  Flooding, disease, loss - Impossible to truly comprehend from where we are privileged to reside.