++++++SEE UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF PAGE+++++

Dear Harvest Families,

As we continue to find out more information about the situation in Haiti, our church has been asked to be prepared to temporarily care for orphans if the need arises. Harvest is committed to being available to serve 200 orphans. Our greatest opportunity in this initiative is to pray. Pray that the Lord would open doors and make paths straight for the Church to care for the Orphans of Haiti. Are you willing to host two children in your home? You can also directly support host families and the children. Please register below to host a child, or click the link in the “Other Opportunities” portion of this letter to find out about other ways to get involved.

FIRST STEPS:
Prayer

We need to boldly seek and call out to the Lord for the Haitian orphans. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble” Psalm 50:15a

• Pray to the Lord that He would release the truly orphaned children of Haiti to be taken in through Christian homes, and that he would open doors to adoption.
• Pray that any child who should remain in Haiti because there is family looking for them would be safely and properly connected.
• Ask that God would allow Harvest and other churches to step into this need and opportunity for His glory.
• Pray as a family. Ask the Lord if hosting Haitian orphans for an extended period is something He is calling you to do or to provide direct support to families who are hosting.
• Pray that the Lord would reveal to you the seriousness of the task ahead, and that he would be preparing you and your family.
• God is allowing us to enter into this great tragedy and trial…pray that the Lord would provide all that is needed, and that He would give us strength and wisdom. Ask Him to accomplish His purposes through us and to do a great work in us as we serve.

Crucial Information
Most of the children do not speak English. They speak Creole/French, so there will be a language barrier of some sort. We want to place no less than two children per home, so they don't feel isolated. We want to keep the children in a community so they can see and interact with one another on a regular basis.

The children need to be placed in homes where there is one care giver at home (doesn't work outside the home). The children will not be able to be integrated into schools immediately upon arrival; thus, an adult will have to be home with them for a period of time.

Because of the conditions that the children are living in presently, they could possibly come to the U.S. with medical conditions such as head lice, ringworm or possibly TB, to name a few. When arriving, they will go through an initial medical screening in the U.S. and will be given a medical card. Doctors will lay out specific needs and instructions on how to proceed with medical care.

Even though the length of stay is unknown, we are estimating anywhere from two months to a year (maybe longer, maybe shorter).

Flexibility. Again, there are a lot of unknowns. One thing is certain; there are children in crisis that need help.

Application Process
If you are not already a licensed Safe Family, please go ASAP to the link below, and fill out the application.
You will need to save it, and please e-mail it to .
Here is the application: Safe-Families-Application

Other Opportunities to Help
There are many opportunities to serve Haitian orphans as this process continues. Please go to click here to sign up to use your gifts and abilities to further God’s kingdom through this effort.

We are not able to accept financial donations for this initiative, but can accept Gift cards from Wal-Mat, Meijers, or Target. These items can be mailed to the church to the attention of Laura Zimmerman. Gift Card donations will be used for physical needs presented through the Orphan Care Ministry.


++++++++++++++++UPDATE+++++++++++++

Dear Orphan Care Families,

We wanted to send out an update to let you know how things are progressing. At this time we are hearing that boarders are currently closed, and there is much humanitarian pressure to keep boarders closed to protect the children of Haiti from being sold into slavery or trafficking rings. Though we understand these views, we are praying that the Lord will open doors in the proper time to temporary care and adoption through the church, and only in appropriate situations where children are truly orphaned. We have been seeing the urgent need of care for the children of Haiti growing daily, and so we will continue to prepare families in case doors are opened.

Just two days ago, a man was found alive in the rubble of Port au Prince. God is at Work! See the story here.
As you hear his story, praise the Lord for the “person in a white coat!” Our God is Jehovah-Jireh…the Great Provider!

At this time we will only be doing home visits for people who are also serving local children, but if we receive information that children will be coming from Haiti, we will quickly begin home visits for everyone. Again, as you talk with people, please remember that because we feel that we are accountable for each home that we place children in, we are only able to accept applicants from within the Harvest body.

What can we do while we wait?
Local Children:
There is a great need for families to be willing to take in children locally. If each family in our church was willing to take in a child in need, we would be able to place every foster child in the state in a Christian home. WOW! If you are willing to take in children locally, please email me and let us know…we will speed up your home visit process, so that you can begin to serve children in need ASAP.

Pray:

• Pray that Lord give us your heart for all the people of this country.
• Praise the Lord for Haitian churches rising up to serve their neighbors and communities. Please give them strength and wisdom to boldly minister in your name.
• Ask the Lord to give guidance and direction for Pastor James, our leadership, and other churches for the development of the Churches Helping Churches ministry.
• Pray for protection and safety for all the vulnerable children of Haiti.
• God would you please open the door of appropriate ministry at the right time for the truly orphaned children.
• Lord have your way in the governmental decisions for how to proceed with the process of recovery for Haiti.
• May you raise up a coming generation of Haitians that will love and fear You and bring Your Holy revival to Haiti

Serving in His strength and to His glory,
Laura Zimmerman
Compassion Ministries
Harvest Bible Chapel