a new normal

Pack and play, car seats, diaper changer, sippy cups, that "not so fresh aroma" wafting through the house.....wow, I feel old!
Daphna has been having a little bit of a hard time getting to sleep- she seems scared of being left in her bed. As we sit and rock her we can't help but think of what these big eyes have seen, what she has felt, heard and smelt over the last 2 weeks. God has truly watched over her, but at the same time she has been through more trauma then most will ever expirience. Please pray for her as she settles in- that God would wrap His arms around her in these times (as well as Judy and I) and she would feel peace.
They both went to see Dr. Cox yesterday- 5 shots each, they are polka-dotted with Sesame Street band aids right now. Both aren't even registering on the growth chart yet- Gracie had 4 helpings of lasagna last night and typically is still eating 1/2 hour after everyone else is done. Daphna is in great shape. Gracie is being scheduled to go see some specialists. Dr.Cox suspects a couple different things going on in her feet, hands and hips. He is most concerned about the hips, which is a new symptom for us. Pray for this little girl- our heart aches that she will have a physical battle for life. Her heart sounded great and the Doc was very pleased with developmental progress.
So this is our new normal....Thank you Jesus. What a privilege to understand a little more just what Your love for us is like.

Gotcha Day!

Exactly 1 year and 11 months after being brought to the orphanage, Daphna is finally home.
More pictures tomorrow. Bed...now....

Home

We arrived home at 3 am. We were the first to be cleared for travel in Florida and had a 7:30 pm flight to Detroit- then drove home 3 hours in the snow. (I already miss Miami) The girls are happy- lots of smiling and cooing and eating. I am on my way to pick up Sam, Meg and Josh to introduce them to their new sisters. Today is a good day- Thank you God!

Your prayers carried 67 children from Port au Prince home this week. Words will never express what that looked like yesterday in Miami- the angels celebrated....

COMING HOME!!!

This is a friend of Geoff and Judy's writing. They just called moments ago and said that ALL FOUR are coming home!!! Praise God!!! They are on the plane at this very moment and plan to land in Detroit tonight at about 10:30, continue those prayers sleep has been very minimal. Their computer stopped working so they were not able to post anything online. They knew that many family and friends have been going through this time with them and wanted you all to rest tonight knowing that everyone is safe and coming home.

Fix Your Eyes

My face is shining upon you, beaming out Peace that transcends understanding. You are surrounded by a sea of problems, but you are face to Face with Me, your Peace. As long as you focus on Me, you are safe. If you gaze too long at the myriad problems around you, you will sink under the weight of your burdens. When you start to sink, simply call out "Help me, Jesus!" and I will lift you up.

The closer you live to Me, the safer you are. Circumstances around you are undulating, and there are treacherous-looking waves in the distance. Fix your eyes on Me, the One who never changes. By the time those waves reach you, they will have shrunk to proportions of My design. I am always beside you, helping you face today's waves. The future is a phantom, seeking to spook you. Laugh at the future! Stay close to me.

from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Tuesday...

the bad.....At the Florida office of HHS until 3am tues. and will go back at 10 am. The girls are there but we can't see them until all paperwork is processed. They are being very careful- therefore taking alot of time. We were on hold all day yesterday and are quite frustrated. American Airlines won't work with us on ticket changes due to all this and we are racking up fees for changes left and right- about 600 bucks so far.
The good.....67 kids out of Haiti- the system really slowed if not stopped after they got out. The kids are at a childrens home being fed, washed and cared for (and hopefully getting some sleep) We should see them today. God is really working and we need prayer just to wait for His timing on this.

miami

Things change rapidly- due to political things happening at the US Embassy, Chris and Hal felt it best to get out of there as quick as possible. Sounds like 67 kids flew into Orlando military base this morning and are getting processed there. They will then fly on a private jet to Miami and we will pick them up around 6 tonight at the airport. Praise God they are out of Haiti and on American soil.

The Plan

Monday at 2 a.m., we will be heading to Detroit. We fly out at 6:40 a.m. and land in Miami at 9:45 a.m. Daphna and Grace (and hopefully 75 other HIS Home kids - Chris is still at the embassy) will leave Port Au Prince at 11:00 a.m. When they land in Miami, they will go through immigration and have a medical exam. We have been warned this may take up to 10 hours. The kids will then be released to us and we can take them back to a hotel for the night. We will fly home at 10:55 a.m. Tuesday. Hoping to be a complete family for dinner that night. Please pray for the kids as many are dehydrated and feeling ill. Pray for Chris and Hal as they have been fighting for these kids nonstop for many days now. Thank you for supporting us on this journey. Never in our wildest imagination would we have pictured all this happening. So thankful for the beauty coming from the ashes.

Travel

Travel plans are changing...sounds like the pick up point is going to be in Miami on Monday. We scrambling to find some airfare and hotels right now. Two more days and we'll be holding them.
Please continue prayer for Hal and Chris- I would imagine they are just about exhausted and still have much to do- these are amazing people being used by God to rescue His children. What a privilege to be part of it!
Blessings

For so an ENTRANCE shall be ministered to you ABUNDANTLY into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:11 MKJV)

The most ample entrance would be furnished; there would be no doubt about their admission there. The gates of glory would be thrown wide open, and they, adorned with all the bright train of graces, would be admitted there. -Barnes
Bright train refers to an American Airlines 747 (The Message Version :-)

What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? (Deuteronomy 4:7 NIV) -Be amazed!

When we choose deliberately to obey HIM, then HE will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with all HIS almighty power. -Chambers

The Embassy

Here are some pictures of the HIS Home kids at the embassy. If you look in the left corner of the photo with all the kids in it, you will see Grace with her "magic shoe" up in the air.

Tears are flowing.....

We received a call from Washington about 7pm. Daphna and Gracie have both qualified for the humanitarian parole....in other words, they are coming home!
Hallelujah- what a good God we serve!
We will keep you posted as things continue to develop....Hopefully they will be flying tomorrow!

another night....

Had our appointment for fingerprint renewal today- the original ones expire after 16 months. Made it feel like we were doing something useful anyway...
Here's the latest- they have been at the embassy all day again (apparently there is only one agent there right now) and some HIS Home kids are starting to receive their visas. We suspect they are working through all the HIS Home papers as we speak...so pray for them. The 6 kids being adopted by Canadians have received permission to travel and will be in Montreal soon- congrats Canucks..
We haven't heard anything yet- but we know that everyone is still good at HIS Home, Hal sounded confident this morning, and God is still moving.
Keep praying- hopefully all the kids will be coming soon...

Another morning....

There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God's purposes, and yours may be that life.

Oswald Chambers.

Another day of waiting....the kids stayed at the Embassy gates last night.
Follow the link to the HIS Home 300 on the left- there is a video of the kids and Hal and Chris from August 28- it is good to see the faces of the people for whom you are praying.

Kids at the gate...

No visas today...Junior spent all day running around. The team with 56 kids are camping out at the American Embassy gate (on American soil) in order to be first in line. The Embassy is really making them work for it. Please contact the Congressmen and President to let them know how you feel about getting these kids out of there. Congressmen Ehlers and Hoekstra have been advocates and deserve our thanks.
We have a big God- and He is moving...

Long day...

Very little news today, just waiting. 56 kids went to the Embassy for their papers this morning- we don't know who yet. An adoption agency in town is traveling to Miami this evening to pick up their kids who were released today, so things are definitely happening. We are packed and ready to go!

team

The supply team has reached the orphanage- they met with Hal at the Embassy. Right now the kids are fully supplied with what they need!- Thank you to all of you who contributed to HIS Home in the last week to make it happen. Even airfare to the DR was donated- so every cent donated went right to the kids- what blessing!

waiting....

Nothing more from Haiti overnight. It sounds as if the embassy is beginning to issue papers, so hopefully there will start being flights coming out of Haiti soon with orphans. Please pray for Hal and Chris as they work to process all the papers necessary at a chaotic US Embassy. It sounds as if Hal is working hard to find appropriate shelter for the kids that can't come right away- probably a good number of kids. Safe, strong and secure shelter is at a premium right now, so resource are definitely needed for HIS Home to continue. You can follow the HIS Home link to the website for giving options.
We will keep you as up to date as possible. God is on the move, the doors are opening.....
The supply team is at the Haiti border right now- they have permission to get through but wanted to wait until daylight to travel in Haiti- it is not the safest place in the world.....apparently the greatest need right now is diapers. I can only imagine.

Please continue to intercede for HIS Home with our heavenly Father.

closer....

From Ohio:

Our holdup is on when the governments will release the children. We will be
flying them as soon as they are released and the govt has indicated they will be
prioritzing them in the three batches. Airline availability or airfare isn't a
concern. But Thank you for thinking ahead!

Don't know who or when or where- but things are happening....

From Hal this morning

Hal called about 7:30 am and said that they are well. He was adament that we
all need to calm down. God is working and He is in control. He said "We are not
going to take these kids to the Embassy and camp out there in the hot sun with
no water." They have done everything they need to do with the Embassy and are
awaiting their call.
We are to STAND READY and pray.
Stand ready means that we need to be ready at a moments notice to get our kids.
It is possible, though in NO WAY PROMISED that some could fly out even today or
tomorrow. Possibilities are Mansfield or Chicago????

Still a lot of unknowns. PRAY PRAY PRAY
Pray for Hal and Chris to have strength & wisdom. They are doing everything
they can to get these kids out.

Another one

Another earthquake hit this morning- apparently a 6.1. Thankfully the kids are living outside as this will probably great add to the damage and confusion. No word from Haiti yesterday- we are all waiting holding our breath. The governments have cleared the way for humanitarian parole, but the reality is that there is mass confusion and no movement at the US Embassy in Haiti, who is supposed to be processing the kids in order for them to travel. There are reports of kids flying out right now on the news, but this is just a tiny number of kids. Please pray for Chris and Hal- they are doing all they can to keep the kids safe while working through the paperwork. Julie is somewhere on a road between the DR and Port au prince with food- pray that God's hand of protection would be on that team.
Please write emails, make phone calls or send letters to your government officials asking them to ask the US immigration service to get moving on this. there are alot of organizations to help facilitate, but everything stops at the Embassy right now.
Blessings

Waiting

Today was another day of waiting. No new news. None of the HIS Home children have been evacuated. There is a team on the way to them with 5000 lbs. of supplies. In the US, we have been scrambling to send copies of paperwork to government agencies proving we are linked to our children. Decisions are being made on a case by case basis as to who will come to the states.

God is Good, All the Time

Hal said on Skype Chat:
> "The kids are all safe at the chapel soccer field. We have water and rice.
Our biggest need right now is for shelter. Tents are scheduled in tomorrow
(Tuesday), pray that they are not stolen in the process. The drinking water
system is operational, we have formula and food for the near future and more is
on the way. God is Good, All the time!!!
> Tell them [news and government] we need to get these kids evacuated to Ohioi.
Most of them have adoptive families. We have shelter in place at a church. We
have host families to take the children that don't have adoptive families.
Every parent needs to contact the U.S. Senators for their state and tell them
they want their kids out of Haiti
> Tell everyone that will listen that you want your kids out of Haiti. There is
no infrastructure here. The gangs are going wild and we need them evacuated
immediately. Let's get these kids to Ohio!!!"
>

questions.....

There is a lot of questions and information and rumors flying around today about humanitarian visas and expedited adoptions. Pray for all involved.......

Water- hallelujah!

The following is the fourth of many field reports that will be sent from our Haiti field reporter Kirk Noonan.
Water is scarce in Port-au-Prince. So much so, that if relief groups advertised they had clean water to distribute they would, according to officials here, be overrun. So, one Convoy of Hope team worked behind the scenes on Saturday to provide clean water for the residents of Port-au-Prince by installing two modified bio-sand filters at an orphanage in the capital city.
“Since the earthquake struck the orphanage has had to ration water for the children,” says Gary Higgins, director of international projects for Convoy of Hope. “The children were surviving on only a half a cup of water per day, which obviously is not nearly enough for the hot and humid conditions in Haiti.”
Please give now to help provide water and other supplies for Haiti.
On Saturday morning, Higgins built and installed two filters using two technologies Convoy of Hope has come to rely on in its efforts to provide clean drinking water in impoverished countries.
“Getting the natural material for a bio-sand filter in a disaster area is not possible so we merged the bio-sand filter with one of our Sawyer water filters,” he says. “Now, these children will have access to clean drinking water every day.”
The hybrid filters will each produce 1.2 liters of clean water each minute. Clean water will help stop the spread of diseases, which officials here will run rampant in the coming days as residents settle for unclean water.
According to a UN development report—for every dollar spent on providing clean drinking water in places like Haiti there is an economic return of $8 worth of productivity from those who have access to the water.
“In other words,” adds Higgins, “it improves people’s lives and provides opportunity for them.”
Chris Nungester, director of the orphanage, is just happy her children will have access to clean, drinking water.
“This is going to be life changing for our orphanage,” she says.

Sunday Morning

This is the latest

As far as an update she said to tell you all that they are doing good. The Kids are all having fun at the Church yard as they get to run around a little more! They have went down to 2 meals a day to ration the food a little better and for breakfast they have been having pop tarts that someone gave them. Hal is sleeping in the truck, his back has got to be killing him, and Chris is staying with the kids. The search is on for a place to move into and the UN has been going around with structural engineers and checking homes. They have not made it to the girls or boys homes yet.

Food is starting to show up, 8 tents are on the way. Sounds like rain in the forcast, which could make things a little nasty. HIS Home is in need of a home.
Our God is good!

Saturday Night

We read Ps:27 for devotions tonight- a couple things jumped out.

Verse 5- "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle"- the kids are camping out at the Quisqueya Chapel for the forseeable future. That is God's dwelling.......

Ps.27:10 "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me"- God is holding these kids safe in HIS House!

We have had alot of people asking us the last few days about what happens next....A.W. Tozer answers that much better than I ever could.

"The profoundest sentence ever uttered by human lips was the spontaneous cry of the prophet Ezekiel in the valley of the dry bones when asked by the Lord whether those bones could live:
"And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest."
Had Ezekiel answered yest or no he would have closed off his heart to the mighty mystery which confronted him and would have missed the luxury of wonder in the presence of the Majesty on high. For never forget that it is a privilege to wonder, to stand in delighted silence before the Supreme Mystery and whisper, "OH LORD GOD, THOU KNOWEST!"

Waiting

Well, pretty short post today....no news from Haiti. Watching the news coverage isn't real comforting either. Hanging on for dear life to PS 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, and everpresent help in trouble.
There you go- everpresent strength. Just think, God is holding the hands of our Daphna and Gracie while they are camping out at the chapel. Oh God, please let all the kids at H.I.S. Home to be very concious of your hand of protection and provision.
Blessings

Aftershocks

This just in from another adoptive parent. Please join us in praying for an end to these aftershocks.

I just talked to Chris for about 2 minutes.

This is accurate as of this minute. The boys home was damaged (as we knew) after this mornings aftershock (small) the girls/little kids home is not safe. They are moving all of the kids to the church. They will be set up with a small corner of the property by the swingsets. They are all ok.

I will be traveling to Haiti (not sure when I am leaving - within a week). Chris said that they need protien (she specifically mentioned peanut butter) and cash - She said that soon they will be able to use cash, but no access to banks. I am doing whatever I can to gather cash and provisions.

Because He lives and loves us greatly.....

From Hal's Mom in Ohio

Just talked with Hal and Chris and some of the children at HIS Home. They are all fine - living out in the yard because of stress fractures in both houses, but basically everything is good. They have food and water and Chris has been helping at a clinic, doing all the things her medical training prepared her for. Both houses are in good shape - and what a miracle that is! God led them to these two houses out of the many that were available. In fact, two of our former board members left the board because we rented these houses instead of some cheaper, less sturdy houses (which, by the way, are completely gone!) God's provision! If you can get the word out to your e-mail friends, I would appreciate it. Thank you for your prayers.

More news...

This is from another parent adopting from HIS Home;

I just got through to Chris and was able to talk for
a while. They are still doing OK. The boys home has been damaged enough that
they are moving the furniture out of the house tomorrow and will be looking for
a new place to move them into. Please Pray that a new home is found quickly.
They are still all sleeping out in the yard at the main house as the tremors are
still happening occasionally and they are playing it safe.

The security wall will need to be fixed but at this time even finding the
materials to do the work is out of the question.

They are understaffed but getting by and from what I understood they have not
heard from some of the nanny's and staff at this point.

She was in good spirit for the situation that they are in right now.

She thanks everyone for all the prayers and please continue to pray!

Julie will be flying out of Boston Tueday with as much formula and cash that she can carry. Following the HIS home link or the free formula delivery link on this page will bring you to our donation sites.
Blessings

Free Formula Delivery

There is an adoptive mom in Boston who just received permission from Delta Airlines to bring as much formula as she can scrape together down to Haiti on this tuesday.
You donate money through paypal or a credit card, then Julie will go to Walmart and buy formula in Boston and ship it on Tuesday.
Just think, the babies will be eating it by Wednesday morning- it doesn't get any faster than that
God is opening the doors....

Contact!

Well everyone- this showed up a couple minutes ago...


My brother got a text message from my dad (Hal). They are still doing okay and
send their love- sorry but thats it & we'll take it for now! Just wanted to
share- I know everyone would want to know.

Exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale....okay, we can breathe again.
Thanks for the tremendous outpouring of blessing.

Another text this afternoon:

My husband (Hal's son) received this message from Hal approx 3:25pm today...
very limited telephone. no internet. no electric. limited fuel for generator.
food supply ok. water supply ok.

No news today...

Communication is very difficult right now. All communication is through satellite links which are completely overloaded, so there has been no know communication with HIS Home today. Looking at the new stories and reports, it looks pretty horrible down there right now.
We have received many reports today from friends who are lifting up prayer to our Father on behalf of these children. Please pray for wisdom for Hal and Chris as it will take all their energy and experience to get through this. Pray that God's upholding hand would be extremely clear to them.
If you feel the need to help them out- follow the link to the left to HIS Home for Children and you can donate there. Thanks on behalf of HIS Home.
Blessings

the day after....

Thoughts that tumble....
The kids are safe- awesome
We are scheduled to fly there in four weeks- will we be able to go?
How will food and water hold up- 126 kids to scrounge for food for.
Many government building collapsed....our dossier is somewhere in one of those buildings....
I spent some time in Ps. 46 this morning;
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields {9 Or } with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalms 46:1-11 NIV)

Earthquake

A major earthquake hit Port au Prince today.....headlines make it sound pretty bad in the city- lots of collapsed buildings and homes. We received an email from Chris to let us know that a wall fell down in the orphange and they don't know if the building is safe, but NO ONE GOT HURT!- all the kids are safe, although they are going to be sleeping outside for awhile....
Please pray for them- supplies are going to be hard to get, and an already desperate and not so safe place just got a little scarier. Chris and Hal are back after Christmas Break, so we know the kids are in capable hands.
Pray, Pray, Pray- they are gonna need it.

Getting ready to ride

Hey all,
November and December have been some very busy months for us. We are in the process of organizing the Michigan spoke of the H.I.S. Home 300. This is a 300 mile bike ride to raise funds and awareness for H.I.S. Home. The ride originated four years ago with Tony Scott from Joliet, IL. to Harrod, OH. Last year a route was added from Champaigne, IL. to Harrod, and this year we will be organizing a route from Rockford, MI to Harrod, Ohio. We have started a blog to keep everyone up to date on what is happening with the ride, and will have all pertinent information linked to that site- follow the link to H.I.S. Home 300 Michigan Route. (we are still under construction)
We bought tickets to Haiti a couple weeks ago. We will be there from Feb. 16- 23. We are linking up with a team from Illinois and will be working on the sponsorship packets (visit www.hishomeforchildren.com and follow the "sponsor a child" link.
We are also planning on spending a lot of time with two certain young ladies there as well.
We are packing heavy thanks to First Jenison CRC. in Jenison, who had a baby shower for HIS Home just before Christmas. We are hauling 300 lbs. of formula, vitamins, socks, underwear and medications. Thank you First Jenison!
The girls are doing well- we are missing them terribly and are praying the next few weeks will go by quickly....
Thanks and blessings!