Update from Miami

Just wanted to share what we know. We had some conflicting reports yesterday about the kids/adults traveling to the embassy, but it was clarified for us yesterday afternoon. We decided due to the weather and because Des Moines is a hard place to get out of at a moment's notice, to travel to Miami yesterday. From the time we decided to go to the time we got to Miami, it was about a 13-hour timeframe, so that gives you an idea - and we were already packed and ready - and that's with some AWESOME travel agents on our side, working their best to get our flights. We actually had flights booked from DSM thru Dallas/FtWorth to Miami, but that one was delayed and we would have missed our connection, so as we were driving to the airport and standing right at check-in they confirmed our switch to an earlier flight thru Chicago. That one wasn't delayed, we got on our connection to MIA, and then sat on the runway for an hour while they fixed the seal on the door of the airplane before take-off. But with no connection to make and a guaranteed hotel room waiting at the airport, we were good at that point. A HUGE shout-out to the folks at ITA Group for helping us with our flight and hotel arrangements. There's NO WAY we could have done that ourselves!!! So, we are here in Miami, very tired, because we arrived after midnight (EST), then were up a couple more house trying to catch up on the day's news.

Here's what we received from For His Gloryyesterday:
Orphans Intend to Depart Port-au-Prince... Again
Confusing and complicated orphan process delays orphan's departure

(Port-au-Prince, Haiti) On January 20, 2010, staff from the Maison des Enfants de Dieu (Children of the House of God) orphanage accompanied by representatives from the U.S. ministry, For His Glory Adoption Outreach (FHG), attempted to obtain humanitarian parole from the U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince for 133 orphans. The orphanage staff and FHG representatives were turned away because of confusion about photo requirements for each child. Additionally, they were informed that humanitarian parole would only apply to approximately 111 of the 132 children from the Maison des Enfants de Dieu orphanage. These are the orphans who have a "United States qualified referral" dated prior to the earthquake on January 12, 2010.

In accordance with specific instructions received today, orphanage staff and FHG representatives will depart for U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince in the early morning of January 21, 2010, with the 109 children eligible for humanitarian parole. We anticipate they will receive authority to depart Haiti via air by the early afternoon and will provide further information on the actual schedule as soon as we have it. Three of the remaining 24 children are being adopted by parents in Argentina and Canada and are waiting for those countries to announce their evacuation procedures. The remaining 18 children at Maison des Enfants de Dieu orphanage will remain in Haiti since they have not yet been referred for international adoption. The orphanage receives request each day to accept new orphans, however their ability to accept children orphaned since the earthquake is very limited. Orphanage staff today reported they were out of diapers, low on food and they remained concerned about security at the orphanage.

Kim Harmon, President of FHG, underscored her call "to all who care about these precious children to pray earnestly for their safety and that the complicated humanitarian parole process can be successfully completed tomorrow. We are thankful to the Lord for where He has brought us and for everyone's tireless prayer and work to accomplish His will in bringing these children home soon. We pray that the wait will not be much longer and continue to work to that end."

FHG is a ministry to the people and children of Haiti. Our ministry is dedicated to fundraising and assisting the orphanage, Maison des Enfants de Dieu, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Please pray with us, believing that today is the day!