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Haitian Orphans Displaced by Earthquake

Haitian Orphans Displaced by EarthquakeA group of Haitian orphans are safe and sound, but need to find a new place to live after Tuesday’s earthquake rendered their newly acquired home unsafe.

Members of the Lifechurch in Allentown, Pennsylvania arrived at the Rescue Children orphanage, Friday, to find all four staff members and 11 children well and living in the garden of their damaged home. The house is still standing but large cracks in the concrete walls have caused fears that it will collapse in the continuing aftershocks. The children are forbidden from going into the building.

They are toileting in a portable toilet in the carport. The women have moved the kitchen into the garden and are serving up spaghetti and sausage at breakfast, rice and canned tuna at lunch, all washed down with sugary coffee. Tents are being set up, in the yard, to provide shade and shelter from the coming rain.

In light of the collapsed buildings that surround the orphanage and the bodies being disposed of by armed men on UN trucks, these children seem lucky. Their origins, however, are anything but and speak to the problems that existed in Haiti even before the earthquake.

One little girl bares a scar from the machete attack that resulted in the deaths of her father and brother. Two of the boys have no history; no one knows where they came from or how they came to be at the orphanage. Another little girl was found, as an infant, in a garbage can. Several of the children have been abandoned by parents who simply couldn’t afford the financial burden of a child.

“There’s a new type of orphan in the world today, where the mom and dad just can’t afford to take care of the kids,” said senior pastor Randy Landis.

The orphanage had just moved into the house. On a TV and VCR set up in the garden and powered by a generator, the children were shown a video, of themselves at Christmas. It had been sent to the congregation in Pennsylvania to show how well the children were doing in their new home.

“We showed this at church on Sunday. On Tuesday, we lost it all.” said mission director Ramon Crespo, visibly upset.

It is hoped that another rental house, further from the city centre, will be found within a week and a second mission group will come down to help with the move.

“That house may collapse,” Crespo said, wrapping his arms around the children. “But this home will never collapse.”

It’s good to see glimmers of hope coming out of the rubble in Port-au-Prince, and wonderful to see the world coming together to help, in very tangible ways. – Jen R, Staff Writer

*Anyone looking to donate to this orphanage can do so at rescuechildren.org*

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About the author

Jen R

Jen R should have been a spy; she would have been really great at it. Instead, she has found limitless happiness raising a future international man of mystery. She is a writer, a maker of suppers, a kisser of boo boos and a finder of lost things. She would always prefer to watch politics than sports and will never watch a soap opera...ever.

16 Comments

  • My husband and I have room in our home and our hearts for 2 children – maybe siblings – schoolage children – please contact us. We are retired USAF military.

  • We have room in our home and would like to house a child here. Young child would be best for our family. We have open arms, warm hearts and safe home.

  • I would love to adopt 2 of the children. God has spoken to me and asked me to open up my home and my heart to these orphans. Please provide me any info on what I need to do to adopt. May God protect these innocent childre

  • My husband and I are very interested in how we can adopt any babies or young children/sibling group. Please contact or send info. Thank you!

  • Me and my wife are also very interested in adopting an orphan. Please send us information to go forward, I know that God can use our family to help these children. God bless!

  • Blessings. I am a writer from Atlanta, GA. As the need for caretakers continues to increase, we are willing and able to house, foster, or adopt.

    God Bless

  • MY HUSBAND AND i HAVE BEEN WANTING TO ADOPT A LITTLE HATIAN BABY OR TODDLER. WE WILL ACCEPT EITHER GIRL OR BOY. WE DO PREFER A BABY, HOWEVER A TODDLER WOULD BE O.K. I LIVED IN DOMINIC REPUBLIC AND WAS A MISSIONARY WITH MY DAD IN DOMINIC REPUBLIC AND HAITI FOR TEN YEARS AND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE TRIPS THERE TO HELP THEM OUT BY TAKING CLOTHING, SHOES, VITAMINS, AND TOYS. OUR HEARTS HAVE GONE OUT TO THESE PEOPLE WAY BEFORE THIS EARTHQUAKE AND NO MORE SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HELP OUT BY ADOPTING ONE OF THE ORPHANS.WE HOPE AND PRAY TO GOD THAT WE HEAR FROM YOU SOON. PLEASE CONTACT US ASAP AT 814-837-7275 OR 814-366-3215. PLEASE IF THERE IS NO ANSWERE LEAVE ME A MESSAGE AND I WILL CALL YOU BACK!!!!! THANKS AND GOD BLESS,
    ANGELA REED

  • my husband and i would love to help and adopt a baby/or child into a loving Aust home there are so many kind people wanting to help i pray they let us

  • My wife and I would love to adopt an orphaned child. We unfortunately were not able to have our own child, and have an endless amount of love that we want to share with a child.

    Please email us. Thank you

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