Two years ago today...

Our dossier arrived in Haiti on June 27, 2007. We started working on our dossier in March 2007, and took 3-1/2 months to put together. We haven't actually been "in process" two years though - we didn't have our referrals until about a month later, and we entered IBESR in September. We never dreamed it'd be this long. But we are glad for movement in the process, and praying they're home with us very soon!

Here are their referral photos (the date on Elijah's is incorrect - it was from June 2007 - the date on Josephine's is accurate):



Early favorite smiles from them, from our first trip, Feb/Mar 2008:


Here are the most recent photos we received of them, taken by a mission team who visited earlier this month:


My most recent favorite smiles from them, from our March 2009 trip:


They've grown so much - I grieve the time I've missed seeing them growing these past two years. Please pray with us for speed through the rest of the process: MOI/passports, birth-parent interviews, Visas.

Summer Learning

Not counting the books she reads at daycare, these are the books Kaylen has read in the past two weeks:

The Honest-to-Goodness Truth
Little Critters: Just a Piggy Bank
Amazing Grace
Twenty Heartbeats
Amelia Bedelia
Come Back Amelia Bedelia
Thank You Amelia Bedelia
Fluffy's Silly Summer
Pinky and Rex and the Bully
Whales (non-fiction)
Pumpkin Harvest (non-fiction)
Fluffy's Happy Halloween
Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower
Dick and Jane: Rainy Day Fun
No Howling in the House
Tiger Tales and Big Cat Stories (non-fiction)
Wild Cats (non-fiction)

...and we checked out 6 more books Thursday evening.

Some are from the children's area, some easy readers, and some juvelile books. A few of these were a little too easy for her, and a couple she could read but didn't understand, so I either had her read them again, or I read them with her and we talked about what certain things mean. The Amelia Bedelia's were a little like this, as was the Twenty Heartbeats. I always ask her to tell me about the books, to make sure she reads them, because sometimes I question because of how fast she reads! Sometimes she recites them back to me word-for-word. WOW! Jock and I were talking about how she's going to have a tough time in school when she is asked to "summarize" - she knows her stuff but using fewer words is not her strong point. :)

She really likes the Fluffy books - about a silly guinea pig. Thursday she was bummed because there were no Fluffy books on the shelf, but we asked at the circulation desk and she was in luck - there was one checked-in that just hadn't been re-shelved yet. You can tell from above that she loves learning weird facts about animals in nature. This week she's going to read about endangered bears. :)

She's really enjoyed the summer reading program at the library. If she reads one book per week, she writes it down, gets her paper stamped and gets a prize and her name in the drawing for more prizes at the end of the summer. Also, Dairy Queen is doing a promotion where, for every 5 books she reads, the library will stamp her paper and she gets a free treat (dilly bar at 5, small cone at 10, small sundae at 15, cheeseburger at 20, and a small blizzard at 25). She has earned the first three, and has redeemed one so far - got her dilly bar last Saturday, and we may go redeem either the cone or sundae today.

We're hoping to work a little bit on her math this summer too - I'm not all that excited about the way the school district is changing the math curriculum for next year, so we're going to supplement the learning at home too - as we probably would anyway. Maybe when t-ball is over...

We love the idea of the math program that Kathy C is working on with her daughter this summer - creative moms are awesome! Time is an issue, so we won't be able to put on that big of a project, but she likes doing workbook pages and sometimes will do flashcards - and the reward system for the added motivation. In kindergarten, she started doing simple addition and subtraction, story problems, coin values and simple addition of coins, but has lost some of that, not doing any of it for the last few weeks. We're also working a bit on telling time on a non-digital clock, and she's starting to get it a little better - if she doesn't cheat and look at the microwave, stove, or cable box. :)

Stuff from this past week

Kaylen at t-ball last Saturday (she's in the blue shirt & black shorts):




The free Mark Schultz concert in a city park last Sunday evening. The photo's a little fuzzy because of how far I had to zoom in - we sat a ways back so we could have some shade. Kaylen complained of being too hot even on the car-ride there, and thus requested a shady spot and we were happy to oblige.


My garden, as it looks tonight:









(We're still getting good cuttings off my lettuce - an ice cream bucket nearly full (not smooshed though) in less than a week. We've been getting lots of rain and it hasn't been too warm (until yesterday), so I think that's helped. Everything else is looking good except the beets are a little sparse - I just thinned them, so hopefully that helps - hopefully I didn't wait too long. I also just thinned the radishes the other day - think I did wait too long on those, because a few I pulled out had baby radishes on them already. Jock said they were good - as he wiped the sweat off his brow. (Dad - there should be some really good ones for you when you're here this weekend!) The green beans are looking good, along with the squash, zucchini and cucumbers. One tomato plant (a big-boy on the far left) is looking a little squeamish, but the other two - another big boy and a roma - are going strong. I just put out the cages this week. The green peppers are looking good too - they're getting blossoms on them now. Can't wait to make stuffed peppers!

And, my hydrangea is FINALLY blooming this year - I think this is its third summer, so it is nice to finally see the color of the flowers. We weren't sure if they were going to be blue or pink. It's hard to see from the photo, but they're a real pale purple - almost pink. (You can see better if you click on the photo to enlarge it.)

Kaylen's Summer

Kaylen is two weeks into summer break and is enjoying it. When we're at home, she can be found here...









or here...












or here... Kaylen LOVES to read, and is reading at about 2nd grade level! We've been to the library each week - checking out 6 books each week. I think we're going to have to increase that number next week or get longer books. She's finished already, only 3 days after our visit, and is re-reading them now. Since Wednesday, she's read 2 Amelia Bedelia books, a Fluffy book, a Pinky & Rex book, and two nonfiction books - one about Pumpkins and one about whales - along with a few books from home and probably several at daycare. And I do make her tell me about them, so I make sure she comprehends them - and she usually knows them word-for-word! I so proud of her reading!


She's playing T-ball again this summer, so that's been fun to watch. She is a good hitter, but not so good at throwing. If she pays attention she does OK at fielding and running the bases - if she remembers that she's supposed to step on each base. They actually started in early May, and it was very cold and windy the first week and not much warmer the next. Then they were off for Memorial Day Weekend, and then we missed game 3also. Last week's got postponed because of rain - they tacked an extra week onto the end of the season. Maybe it'll be warm and dry tomorrow for us...

Kaylen's practicing riding her bike without trainingwheels. It's tough and she gets frustrated easily, but she's progressing a little bit.









We went to the zoo with visiting friends a couple weekends ago. It was perfect weather - warm, but not too hot.

Blog Updating

Got tired of the blue, so decided on a new look for my blog. Hope you like it!

Interesting...

Well, our official update for May processing said that our dossier would "soon" be submitted to MOI. This makes me think it might be next week. Hmmm... It'll happen, and we may never know the exact day it is/was submitted, but it'll get there.

May 2009 Adoption Update

We got news a week or two ago that we wouldn't be getting photos in May - the orphanage's camera is broken again. So, they're planning to have someone from an early June mission trip take photos for the adoptive families, and again someone from a late July mission trip so we can continue to get photos this summer.

Also, I've heard from some missionaries' blogs that I read regularly that Port-au-Prince has not had any city electricity for the last week or two, and isn't expected to have it for another few weeks - apparently there was a fire at the power plant. So, I assume this is probably inhibiting communications a little bit.

But, alas, we got our update on processing that occurred in May. We heard today, that our dossier has finished what was needed for 2nd Legal, and was ready for pick-up TODAY! It will soon be submitted to MOI. From what I understand, MOI only allows walk-ins and appointments on Thursdays and Fridays, so I assume our dossier will be submitted at the end of this week.

MOI is short for the Haiti's Ministry of Interior. This is basically the office that looks through our entire dossier to make sure all the documents are authentic and legal, and then approves the children's passports. There is more specific info on MOI in several posts dating back the last 6-8 months on this blog. (The author of this blog is a lady that lives and works on adoptions in Haiti, so there's lots of other interesting info there too.)

What does this mean as far as when our kiddos might be able to come home? We are told that MOI can take 2-8 months. Then they'll have to print the childrens' Haitian passports, which can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple months. Then we'll be on to the US immigration part of things. Immigration can go quickly if the childrens' birth parents' interviews are completed successfully by the time their passports are in hand.

So... Please pray with us that MOI goes quickly, and that the birth parent interviews are completed very soon, with no DNA requested. We are encouraged by the movement in the process, and are longing for Elijah & Josephine to come home to us. The day is becoming more and more real in my imagination!

For HIS Glory Appeal - Summer 2009

This is a message I received today from FHG's director.  They are struggling to keep their doors open this year.  Please pray for the continued presence of the orphanage where two of our children live, and give if you feel the Lord's calling.  If you'd like more information, please let me know - I'd be happy to share more.  If you have others you know that would pray for the orphanage, or could  help, feel free to forward on (I can also send you the original email if that would be helpful to you in forwarding).

Dear Friends,
We hope this email finds you well and enjoying the warmer weather of summer. We are in Haiti now and it's hot, but a great relief from the colder climate we live in, in the US.

We are writing to you today asking for much needed help. We are facing a financial shortfall of approximately $100k for 2009. The longer adoption process times as well as the challenging economy all over the world is taking its toll on Haiti and on the orphanage.

As I sit here in the office, the generator is humming loudly outside the window, a nanny is mopping up the floor after the toddlers enjoyed a lunch of rice and black bean sauce, hammers are banging loudly as missionaries that have come to serve are making improvements and some youth missionaries are cleaning up the remains of water balloons in the backyard.

None of this would take place without your help. I realize that you may hear this in many pleas, but I believe I still need to say it. These children would not be in the safety of this home without you. They would not have just completed a day of VBS and heard the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den. Their days before entering the orphanage do not provide for many feedings of their bellies, or of the souls.

We launched a campaign last month that we call Fifty2K. We are looking for 2000 donors of $50 to help us get through our shortfall. It's not an easy task at all and we are in desperate need of your help. With only 1000 people on our email list and the shortfall effecting us already, we need some miracles. If everyone that received this letter will donate $50 and find one more person to do the same, we can do this. Please help us.

Yesterday I saw a new little girl I had not seen before. She was washing clothes with the nannies and carrying a large basin of water on her head. I called out to her and asked her to come to me so I could meet her. She broke into a smile that lit the whole orphanage up. Such a lovely girl!

Geurdi is a new little girl in the orphanage. She gave a letter to a Manager here at the orphanage to give to me when I arrived. It reads: "My name is Geurdi. I don't have an adoption family. I am ten years old. I want you to help me pray and find me a family "please" because my both parents died. Their lives is gone. I love you. Thank you for talking this letter".

Geurdi has a testimony much like the other children in the orphanage. She loves to serve others and pours out all that is in her. 

Last night, Pastor Kirk who is leading the mission team we have in Haiti now from Grand Junction. CO, was sharing with us that we have to have servant's hearts. Our cups can only be filled to the top. Once they are full, we have to pour out to make room for more filling. He said that often times when we are filled back up by the Lord, it's better than what we poured out. 

Guerdi is Pastor Kirk's message lived out. With nothing left but Jesus, having lost her family, Guerdi pours out to others. Her smile is evidence of Jesus' filling and indwelling – an outpour of her strength of mercy. 

Please consider helping us to keep serving and keep pouring out to others here in Haiti. If you would, please consider sending this email on to anyone that might be willing to help. We so appreciate all your support and your prayers and consideration of this urgent plea. 

With every blessing,
Linda J. Kohn,
Director For His Glory Outreach
www.ForHisGloryOutreach.org
MesiSenye@aol.com
719-217-7698
A ministry to the people of Haiti

Garden!!!

OK - yes, I'm a garden freak this summer. I'm certain you're all getting annoyed at my endless pictures of the garden, but it's so exciting for me that things are growing - and even producing something we can eat already (more on that below)! I'm also certain my dad is currently saying in his mind, "You can take the girl off the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the girl!" I never cared for farming growing up, but I sure loved the produce from the garden & sweet corn patch, and the awesome meat! It was the animals and the stinky stuff I didn't care for!

Here are a brief chronology with photos from the last few weeks...
Wednesday, May 13th (We still hadn't planted anything more than the lettuce. We were waiting for it to stop raining for more than a day or two!):


We finally got our radishes (next to the lettuce), beets (next row), and green beans (next two rows) planted on Thursday, May 19th. Then on Saturday, May 23rd, we planted the sticks (2 spots each (L-R) of yellow squash, spaghetti squash, zucchini, and cucumber), and (L-R) 2 big-boy tomatoes, 1 roma tomato and two green bell peppers. These next two photos are from Monday, May 25th. The first picture is the lettuces, radishes & (maybe if you look closely, you can see the) beets -- up already in less than a week!


Thursday, May 28th - more progress on the beets, and the beans growing. Also, tomatoes & green peppers inching along as well:


This morning, May 31st, when I went out to check on the garden, I noticed the bean rows were filling in nicely, and a couple cucumbers had sprouts. I could also make out a couple zucchini and a few more cucumbers starting to just barely poke through the soil, but I didn't have the camera handy. This evening when I went out again, there were even more up - these came up fast - like in 8 hours!!! The pix are in this order: cucumbers, zucchini, spaghetti squash, yellow summer squash, and one of most of the garden.


And the best part of it all... Here's what we're having with our supper tonight! Not a lot yet though - this is laying on a dish towel folded in half. I didn't want to use it all up at once or stunt its growth, so I just cut the outer leaves of a few of the largest plants (that were at least 4-6 inches tall). YUMMY!!!

Support Orphans in Haiti, For His Glory

The orphanage in Haiti where two of our children currently reside, is struggling financially. Below is an excerpt from a letter we adoptive families received last week.

As adoptions are taking longer than any orphanage in Haiti planned, there have been orphanages closing. There are others that are barely surviving and having to raise fees. Some have had to drastically cut back provisions to keep their doors open. We just received word of another orphanage about ready to close due to slow process of adoptions and the lack of funding that causes. It’s heartbreaking.

We have changed our payment structure for new families coming into the adoption process to meet this need. New families pay $225 per month child sponsorship and less for their process fees. There are currently only 6 children sponsored at the new family rate. Almost half of the children in the orphanage are not being sponsored at all, mostly because of the older adoption contracts. This is a serious problem.

If you are sponsoring your child, we sincerely thank you. The orphanage will not be able to remain open without the sponsorship funds. Although efforts are continually made to raise money for the orphanage by the Fundraising Committee, we need to multiply our efforts or the outcome is going to be bleak. We do not want to see the Maison orphanage be another orphanage that’s forced to close.

If every child in the orphanage were sponsored at $100 per month, that would be a generated income of $13,000 per month. That would be great, but still not enough to keep the doors open. The orphanage has been running consistently around $5000 short every month. When larger donations come in, that helps to offset the shortfall, but it’s not been enough to catch up. We need to find a way to make the full budget.

For this reason, we are asking that you actively partner with us in fundraising efforts. If you are adopting a child and paying $100 per month sponsorship, we ask that you utilize friends and family in a joint sponsorship effort to bring your child's sponsorship up to the full $200 per month needed.

If you are not contractually obligated under an old contract to pay sponsorship, we are asking that you begin sponsoring your child or children now. Again, if this is the case, please encourage friends and family to support you in this so that you can reach the $200 total.

If you are behind in payments, we realize the economy is tough in the US, but we ask that you do whatever necessary to get caught up quickly.

This does not cover the children that do not have families. If you have a church family that would consider “adopting” a child through sponsorship that doesn’t have a home, please contact me. It would be wonderful to secure a place in the orphanage for each child and we can only do this through your support.

The orphanage continues to provide 3 meals a day, clean water, formula for regular feedings of the babies, diapers, baths, the home, security, childcare and supervision, medical care including medicines when the children are sick, education, etc.

However, the orphanage is in a position that if funding does not improve in the next two months, children who do not have families will have to begin to be sent home. After that, programs will be cut. Following that, we don’t want to think about.

We know that God, in His sovereignty, will provide. He always does.

Please prayerfully consider what you can do to help our children and the many other children at their orphanage. If you'd like any further information, please let me know.