Update and Event

Update:

The girls have been able to return to their current home and school.  The cleaning continues, the facilities and security walls are being repaired, and it sounds like life is returning to normal - or at least some semblance of normalcy.

Upcoming Event:

Due to the creativity and efforts of several friends, we are having a Holiday Shopping Open House.  A portion of all purchases will go directly to the process of bringing the girls home.  Please see the invite below and feel free to contact any of us with questions - either through commenting here or contacting us directly.

Perseverance

per•se•ver•ance    n.

steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement

Several weeks have passed since Hurricane Sandy tore through Haiti. The FEJ staff is doing their best to repair facilities while caring for the children - perseverance personified.

The girls did indeed have to be evacuated from the creche in Lamardelle.  Transportation issues plague the staff - the roads have been impassable, making the delivery of basic supplies a challenge.  The children haven't been able to be in school, but efforts to clean up the mud/water sediment continue.  

On a brighter note, they hope to have the students back in school by the end of the week.  In addition, a family from Chicago is supposed to travel sometime in December.  We are hopeful that we'll be able to send some needed items and personal letters down to the girls before Christmas.

O'Keeffe perhaps??

One of our days in Haiti was spent mainly at the U.S. Embassy in Port Au Prince.  After many hours of traveling down to Port Au Prince, taking care of business at the Embassy, and getting back up the mountain, we were able to be with the girls for a few hours before dinner.

When we entered the creche, the girls proudly brought us pictures they'd made for us during the day - our first official artwork created by the girls.  Looks like O'Keeffe-type talent to us.  :-)

 

Aftermath

af·ter·math - 

something that results or follows from an event, especially one of a disastrous or unfortunate nature; consequence

The consequences of Hurricane Sandy continue to plague the efforts of FEJ.  The road leading to the village where the girls reside continues to be devastated by rushing water.  A nearby levee is on the verge of collapse and an evacuation of the orphanage is being planned.  No FEMA, no power crews from other states, no widely publicized television fund-raising events.

Our hearts are with all the children and their caretakers every day.