Another Trip to visit Emmi in Haiti!

Due to the fact that our paperwork is taking forever, Willy and I are off to visit Emmi December 8-12. I am so excited! We got really cheap tickets, a gift from God. Speaking of gifts.......when we travel to Haiti we fill our suitcases to the max with donations and that is how the orphanage survives. Sending stuff there is not reliable at all. It costs a ton and you don't know if it will make it. So we have a list of stuff that is needed that our specific trip is trying to bring. If you are interested donating, you can pick up any of the things on the list and I would love to come and pick it up from you. It is amazing how each trip our bags are full because of the generous people in Whatcom County, you are amazing!

You can find the list of items needed at

chances4childrendonations.blogspot.com

We are on the December trip! Thanks so much for all your support to us and the children of Haiti. Children won't go hungry because of your love.

Happy 3rd Birthday Emmi!

Yesterday was Emmi's 3rd Birthday. It was a sad and happy day. We are so thankful she made it to celebrate her 3rd birthday, but are sad we didn't get to celebrate with her. Let's hope for next year. The last few trips have been canceled because of the hurricanes so we haven't been able to send her a little gift. I hoping for next month.I made a picture book of our family and pics with her to send along with some stickers(pronounced stickars by the kids at the Creche), and a pair of sun glasses. Pretty much everything you send is hers for a few minutes but then becomes community property. I wonder if she will be good at sharing or worse because of that?

We love you Emmi and can't wait for you to come home!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Haiti under water

Due to all the hurricanes Haiti is underwater. Here is an update as of September 12th.

Here is some of what Gina(one of the people who run Chances for Children, the organization who owns the Creche) wrote: “The white river since Tuesday night has flood the village. Access is impossible via vehicle only can get through with donkey. Lucien has been able to get some food and supplies to the crèche via donkey. The children are safe but stuck inside the compound. The village people are without food and drinking water.”

This is the latest update, September 18th.

Hi everyone! According to Gina, the river is still pretty flooded as it is raining quite a bit at night, so there hasn’t been much receding. The road to Lamardelle is still pretty inaccessible and travel has taken place by donkey when needed. They are hoping to get an electrician to the creche the survey the damage, but the roads have to improve before then. We will let you know if there’s anything that can be done, but for now, prayers and thoughts is all that we can do.

How crazy is this! We have no clue. When was the last time you saw someone travel by donkey?
Just to give you alittle perspective, the Creche is about a 40 minute drive from Port-au-Prince, the closest main city.

Life at the Hansens

This summer has gone by way too fast and has been pretty crazy around here. Billy started his new job at BP and pretty much was going to school for 10 weeks. He spent his time at work, studying or sleeping out of pure mental and physical exhaustion. So we didn't get to see much of him and he was missed, especially by his boys. They can relate as teenagers way better to their daddy than their momma, as hard as that is for me to accept. Both the boys were looking for jobs and just enjoying the non-schedule of school. They both played summer baseball and were on good teams this year, it was really fun. I wish the weather would have been better, wait did we even have summer yet?! I thought baseball was supposed to be played in the sun, with shorts on, not long underwear.

Sierra pretty much just hung out with me, went to ball games, and swam in Grandma's pool set up at our house. She did get the opportunity to go away for two night to dance camp and loved it, she is quite the dancer. The girl can move.

We did have 2 cars out of 3 drivers break down in one week, crazy. So we are still on the lookout for a new car for me. I have come to the conclusion that I just need a van, Billy hates vans. I just really need 7 seats, I love to be able to bring people with us. When our van broke down we had every seat filled, it is just my way. So we continue to find the perfect vehicle for the best price, know any good deals?

So now school has started and I have 2, yes 2, teenagers in High School. How crazy is that?! Maybe I just think I am still 27, no wait I am. So this year it is just Sierra and I at home doing the school thing. We do start MP3 in a few weeks and I am teaching 2 classes. Willy is doing Running Start at the Community College and Meridian High School and JJ is full time at the High School.

So it is fall and we are off and running, how about you?

Bad news and Good news.

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, we have been battling Internet and e-mail issues, but all is well now.

Okay for the bad news: Haiti was hit bad by hurricane Hanna and is pretty much under water. The Creche where Emmi lives is in northern Haiti and they are safe. They were able to get some supplies to prepare. It saddens my heart to see a country so in need and then to be devastated by this. I can't imagine how they will pull out of this. And on a selfish note, I'm pretty sure it will be hard for paperwork to be moving right now. Sometimes I feel so useless, and then I remember I am called to pray. God knows and He cares.

Here is a link to some video of Haiti
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7597420.stm

So now for the good news! It was really hard not having e-mail or internet because that is my lifeline to Emmi. That is how they pretty much communicate to us, so it was killing me especially with the hurricanes. Then I got this amazing e-mail. One of the moms who visited the Creche last month got some great video of her son and Emmi giggling. It made my month! Enjoy!
http://kobeloudince.blogspot.com/2008/08/video-that-makes-me-smile-every-time.html

Here at home we are back to school, lots of new schedules and changes. I will update on everything soon.

Thanks so much for all your prayers and support.

June update

I know we were just at the Creche, but we just got her update and there are always new things. First of all her paperwork was submitted to Parquet, so another step closer, YEA! They say she now acknowleges her pictures as her adoptive parents, I don't know if this was written before or after we were there. My guess is before. Pretty much all the other info we knew because we were with her, what a blessing that was.

At the homestead, we continue to attend baseball games. JJ's team is going to state next week, which is in Mt. Vernon, that is nice. Willy got picked to be on the All Whatcom County team, which is really cool. We are done with school and lovin' the sunshine. Grandma let us use her pool this year, so Sierra is lovin' life. She loves to play in the water. Unfortunately our yard got out of control while I was on our June adventures so we have been weeding almost every day. Due to the high gas prices we have been spending a ton of time at home, it is nice. Billy is still at school with BP, lots of homework and tests.

Happy summer to all!

Going Home

Our last morning in Haiti was a hard one. JJ was not feeling well at all, I think he even had a fever and his stomach was really sick. He was very pale, I was worried. But I needed him to help at the airport so we could get out of Haiti safely. Everything went smoothly and by friday evening JJ was finally eating and feeling better. Thank you for your prayers. It was good to see him back to normal. After traveling for 26 hours we arrived safely at home and slept in our beds. It was nice to be home.

The last morning we got to play with Emmi and eat breakfast with her. She is just too cute. Someone brought out the sidewalk chalk and all the kids loved it! The older kids drew a picture of JJ, it was funny. When it came time to say good-bye, Madame Coindy told Emmi we have to leave but will come back when we have her papers ready. Emmi put her head down on my chest and gave me the biggest hug. She definitely knew what was happening. I felt like she knew all morning. The older kids know the routine for the trips, so they know the order of events and knew we were heading home. It is sad for all. When they took her away she threw a fit and I walked away. It wasn't as hard as I thought. I think I had prepared myself better, knowing it was just a visit, and she is well cared for. She had changed and improved so much that I know that can only happen in a good, loving environment. While we were hanging out waiting to go and I saw her eating a sucker, I guess they try to comfort the kids whose parents are leaving with a dum dum sucker. She was just sitting at the table eating her breakfast and happy, back to what she knows as normal. This whole process is so interesting to me. Sometimes I wonder if visiting is good or bad. I do notice that the kids whose parents visit really come out of their shell, that one on one time helps them feel loved, they feel connected to someone, they have a momma.

So once again we are called to pray for our Emmi and all 70 children in the Creche and Haiti. We still have more steps in the process and need to pray they go smoothly. There are so many factors. I just received info that our fingerprints are expiring, and so will other documents, so the sooner she comes home the better. I know it is God's plan and He is in control and His timing is perfect. I will rest in that.