Prayer Meeting

                                (our friends with their children- they were working to adopt these two 
                                           from Son of God-  the children are James and Lorie if you would like to
                                                                                pray for them by name)

I know MANY of you joined us in prayer last night from home and some of you came out to Living Rock Bible Church to join us in person.  We had a blessed night of prayer for many.  I will put a list here, but please understand that it is NOT complete-  We ask that you continue to lift these requests up to God.  I also had some verses that I passed out to those with us last night.  I am posting them here as well if you would like verses to read.  There are MANY more, but these are some God put on my heart.  Read the surrounding text as well-  God's heart is tender toward the orphans/fatherless.  Thanks again-

Remember in prayer:
-missionaries on the ground in Haiti as they continue to fight for these children, comfort them, etc...
-the directors of the orphanage (Paul himself once persecuted Christians yet God used him and he became an amazing missionary for the Kingdom so God CAN use them if they accept Him and repent of their actions)
-the translators (who are still living in this area and in danger- that they not fear, but trust Him)
-Haitian officials (ISBER, the police, President Martelly and first lady, etc..)
-those who are now caretakers for the children rescued (wisdom, compassion, understanding for these children who have been traumatized)
-those here at home who have relationships with these children- many who were looking to adopt some of them but do not yet know where their children are and how they are doing (waiting can be the hardest)
-and of course THE CHILDREN (those who have been rescued/relocated- that they understand this was for the best, but they may be apart from the only "family" they have known for a long time AND those who are still "missing"- that they are found safe and secure and in the meantime that they know they are NOT forgotten- by us and by God)

Verses:  Exodus 14:14       James 1:27        Psalm 68:5        Isaiah 1:17 & 10:2       Jeremiah 49:11 & 5:28   Deuteronomy 10:18  & 27:19

Keep praying...

       My friend Adella holding Sophia (we THINK she was  rescued)

I still have no news about Sarafina and we do not have an exact number of children that were rescued on Friday from Son of God Orphanage in Haiti- sorry.  Things move slowly in a third world country and we all want to make sure we are reporting FACT- not supposition so even though it seems like it is taking forever, it really is moving along.  This is an even longer week than last week was while we were waiting for the Haitian government to actually go in and remove the children from that place.  I would ask that you PLEASE continue to pray.  I am not free to share a lot of details, but there are many reports coming out of Haiti from reliable sources and there is still a GREAT need for prayer...for the children, for the TRANSLATORS/Haitians who still live in that community (not everyone "bad" has been arrested so they are in danger), for my friends who have flown there to help, etc...  Until then, look at some of these images of "our" children at Son of God... I have tried to give you some names so you can pray for them specifically. Thank you for all the e-mails, notes, prayers, phone calls, etc.. They mean SO MUCH at this time- it's been tough to say the least.  In my head I KNOW God is in control, but my heart is still hurting for these children I love and have worried about for over 13 months.  I have been pouring over God's promises for His people- particularly the children/orphans.  He has NOT forgotten them!

      some of the children at Son of God with my team in March 2011-  Marie (the woman running the orphanage when it was closed down/wife of the "director" is in the back in the purple)


      Bettina (sitting on Abby's lap)- we still have no idea if she got out


      Wendy (opening a note sent by a friend of mine that I delivered)- we are pretty sure he got out- we saw photos of him that the news media released crying and scared.


       another group photo (they are holding a sign from my school- we collected clothes, toys, etc.. )

THANK YOU JESUS

PRAISE GOD the children of Son of God "orphanage" in Haiti are FREE!  There’s been an official announcement as of about 2:30 pm. EST today. I have attached a link to an article released by ABC news.. there are MANY others.  Know that some of my good friends are traveling down as I write this to see the children and help with this transition so they ARE being looked after- no need for everyone to rush to see them and overwhelm them. Though we know the children are safer in their new environment they have only ever known life at Son of God or with their families prior to being taken to the orphanage.  So there will be trauma associated with this move.  Please continue to pray for the children and my friends who will be staying with/near them to be with them as often as possible for the first period of transition. I am sure some will need medical care, etc... Also pray for safety for those who have been very involved in this situation in Haiti from the beginning. Some have been threatened since the “director” of the orphanage was arrested in July so I can only imagine how much more they could be in danger now.  I will forward stories of praise and excitement as I get them or post them on my blog.  

NOTE:

We are STILL having the prayer time at 7 pm  Monday night  at Living Rock Bible Church in Elverson.  We will have slides of the children to share so you can see the faces of those you have been praying for! Just show up- we will be there no matter how many of us there are.

Thank you SO MUCH for all your support with this!  James 1:27 and Hebrews 6:10 (two of my favorite verses) come to mind.  God bless-  J

Here’s the ABC article… Feel free to message/e-mail me with any questions…

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/haiti-closes-orphanage-child-neglect-14788210

OK to finally share...

I sent this to my prayer partners and posted it on facebook, but I would like to put it here as well.  Feel FREE to share with whomever you desire- TOGETHER we can help these kids!

For those of you with soft hearts I know this story will break yours, but I need to share it... I know it breaks mine and it is with tears in my eyes I share it with you.  I do not share for sensationalism but I share out of LOVE and out of desperation for the children at Son of God Orphanage in Haiti where we have taken teams and I have personally visited many times. Many of you know that my daughter Emily first "sent" me there with a message for her special girl Sarafina who I am now in love with too.  The last time I saw Sarafina was July when I went to visit her with my team (around July 23rd).  At that time I got to tell her I love her, Emily loves her and we will NEVER forget her no matter where we are- even when we are apart and can not see one another.  I said this partly because I knew things were "going to get crazy" at Son of God and partly because I just wanted (as every time I leave) to reassure her that she is NEVER far from our minds... 

There has been so much going on at Son of God since a group of people I consider good friends (I was only minimally involved in this at this point) got the Haitian government and other organizations investigating and involved to try to bring help to these precious children- children living in filth, being abused (both sexually and physically), not being fed, not being clothed with things we took as donations, etc... I could tell you of months of investigation and exposing the corruption of this facility.  I could tell you of the many organizations who are working together to get these kids out yet they remain in the same (if not worse) conditions.  I could tell you of the arrest of the man who runs the organization and how it "went down" and how we all thought and prayed that THIS would be the end and the children would finally be moved and safe.  I can tell you of how his wife and children continue to run the orphanage, to eat well, to have "luxuries" the children in their "care" do not have.  I can tell you how the meetings with officials in Haiti have exposed even more corruption than any of us could imagine.

What I can NOT tell you is that the children are safe. That they are fed.  That they are healthy.  That they know we are fighting for them (and not wondering WHY the Americans come to see them but nothing changes- except to get worse).  That they will be "OK".  That they will not die of starvation (as we fear at least one already has).  

Will you PLEASE join me in prayer for these children?  Monday night (October 24th) we will be having a time of prayer.  I am not yet sure where this will occur (depends on response) but I am asking that you prayerfully consider fasting until then from something that (when you think of it or want to eat it or whatever you choose) will remind you to PRAY for them!  TOGETHER there is power through prayer.. God has not forgotten the children of Son of God.  PLEASE join us in this fast/prayer time. PLEASE look at the photos of "our" girl Sarafina and remember her as you pray. The first one was taken in the beginning of July 2011, the second on Aug 17, 2011 by a friend of ours.  There's no knowing how much thinner she is now- TWO MONTHS later!

Thank you-  God bless!!  "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to  look after orphans and widows in their distress."  James 1:27

Blessings-  Crystal Funk (founder/president of Hearts United with Haiti)

PS- Please comment or e-mail me if you plan to come on Monday the 24th to pray with us.  Then we will get a number together so we can plan a location that will "fit" us all.  thanks

PLEASE feel free to share this information with whomever you desire.  And finally, if you would like to sign a petition to get CNN to do a story/get involved in the investigation, please follow this link from a friend of mine.  (copy and paste this link)

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-freedom-project-expose-human-trafficking-at-son-of-god-orphanage-in-haiti                  

Sarafina -July 2011

Sarafina- 8/17/11

School has begun!

Today school began for the 2011/2012 year with 200 students!  YES!  I said, TWO HUNDRED!  Last year there were 75 (we thought we would have 12 to 15 originally-  WOW God) and the building was full when we went to visit.  I can not personally imagine another 125 children there.  But good thing God isn't limited by MY imagination.  He is moving in Haiti and it's absolutely amazing to watch it happen.

I spoke with Michael on Friday (twice- once the poor man was stuck on the side of the road while taking public transportation with 24 chalkboards and "a whole bunch of wood to build stuff" and other school supplies- the bus had broken down- "this is Haiti") and he was excited to get to Chaveneau with the supplies to get things ready.  Then he called Sunday afternoon with a HUGE surprise for me.  He said, "Mom, someone here wants to talk to you" and then proceeded to put Jude on the phone.  This sweet little voice said, "Hello" and then when I asked who it was he replied, "Jude".  I couldn't believe it! Jude is the little boy in many of my photos- he is the profile photo for the Hearts United with Haiti page on facebook and was on my personal facebook for a long time in a photo with me holding him. I know I shouldn't have favorites but I do have about 10 little ones that I have really bonded with after living in the community. But, what a blessing it was to hear his sweet little voice all the way from Haiti.  Oh how I love that little boy and the people of Chaveneau.

Anyway, back to Michael's phone calls.  He told me that they realized there was no way to fit all the students into the church/school so they are building three outdoor classrooms under the trees where we held Bible School and had as our "team area" this past summer.  This is so exciting to me.  I can not wait to get there in December and see first hand what the classrooms look like.

Please pray for the students, teachers and the Arris/Beaubrun families as they all adjust to this new school year and the expectations, demands on time, challenges it will bring.  But rejoice with us as we praise God for this overwhelming response to this project.  We are so thankful for Pastor Duval who followed God- even though many thought it didn't make sense to put a school in Chaveneau.  God rewards our obedience to Him and MANY will benefit from this school/church/etc...

I will send out my newsletter for October soon- you will be amazed by what God is doing when you read of all that has been happening - both in this organization and in Haiti.  :) :)