by Laura Conners

The road to bring Manel home from Haiti was a long one, but one we would travel again and again.

After deciding that international adoption was the answer for us, Scott and I quickly chose Haiti. At first, we were leaning [...]]]> Manel’s journey from Holt Fontana Village to his home in the United States

by Laura Conners

The road to bring Manel home from Haiti was a long one, but one we would travel again and again.

After deciding that international adoption was the answer for us, Scott and I quickly chose Haiti. At first, we were leaning more toward Ethiopia since our niece is from Liberia.  Once we read about Holt’s Haiti program, however, we both felt pulled in that direction and knew in our hearts that this was meant to be. After applying to Holt in April 2008, we were quickly matched with Manel who, at that time, was nine months old. I remember seeing his big brown eyes in the photo that Mike Noah sent to us, and I knew that Manel was my little boy!

As we watched the news coverage on the evening of the earthquake, Scott and I were numb with fear for Manel’s safety and for the Haitian people.  We saw the Haitian government buildings in ruins and knew that our adoption paperwork was lying amongst the rubble. A long night followed before we heard from Holt and found out that the children and staff at the Village were safe. I just remember feeling so helpless and didn’t know how to answer the questions from family and friends on what was going to happen.

When the talk of Humanitarian Parole started, Scott and I were afraid to believe that Manel’s case would qualify. Within days, though, we received a phone call from our senator’s office, our governor’s office, and our social worker telling us to believe it. A miracle was happening and we began to prepare for Manel’s arrival. I remember the day Scott called me from work and asked me if I was ready to travel to Miami to go meet Manel. What a feeling that was!  We left that evening and spent the next day at the airport waiting for the plane carrying the first 14 children. We grew close to several other adoptive families during that long day.

We were not able to see Manel until the following day, but when his eyes met mine, and I heard him yell “Mommy!” the anxiety of the last two years of waiting for him melted away as he jumped into my arms. Manel immediately jumped for his daddy, as well, and he even recognized Charlotte, who was giggling non-stop next to me. It was a wonderful family moment. I credit the staff at Holt Fontana for showing Manel our family photos and preparing him to eventually join our family. He really seemed to know who we were.

Manel is doing very well with us in Michigan. He is a happy, excited and bright child who wins fans wherever he goes. He has become an energetic hockey and baseball fan, and his love for hot dogs, potato chips, and root beer seems to highlight his transition from Haitian to Haitian-American. Manel embraces every opportunity to flash his charming smile.

We show Manel pictures of his Holt friends and caregivers from the Village and he still responds with excitement to Mansour Masse’s picture. I feel bad that Manel will someday learn about the devastation the earthquake caused his country and the emotions that will come with that knowledge. But we will work hard to preserve Manel’s heritage and continue to teach him about his homeland.

Laura and Scott Conners

Charlotte, 7 years old

Manel, 2 years old

Grand Rapids MI

The following is a glimpse of Holt’s work in Haiti since the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake…..

A time to embrace……

Three weeks after the earthquake, Holt Fontana Village staff in Haiti gathered around to say goodbye to 21 children leaving [...]]]> “To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven.”—Ecclesiastes 3:1

The following is a glimpse of Holt’s work in Haiti since the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake…..

A time to embrace……

Three weeks after the earthquake, Holt Fontana Village staff in Haiti gathered around to say goodbye to 21 children leaving the Village to unite with their permanent families in the United States. The children, already matched with adoptive families prior to the earthquake, had their adoptions expedited and have been home for 4 months.

“When the talk of Humanitarian Parole Visas started, Scott and I were afraid to believe that Manel’s case would qualify. Within days, however, we received phone calls from our senator’s office, the governor’s office, and from our social worker telling us to believe it,” said Laura Conners. “When Manel’s eyes met mine for the first time, and I heard him yell “Mommy!” the anxiety of the last two years melted away as he jumped into my arms. A miracle had happened….read the rest of the Conners family’s story

A time to Love….

21 children had departed Holt Fontana Village and only four children remained in care, giving Holt the opportunity to protect and care for children affected by the earthquake. Through the hiring of additional Village staff and the completion of new houses on the property, Holt welcomed 40 orphaned and vulnerable children into Holt Fontana Village.

“Appropriate permanency planning services will be provided for the children including family tracing and search for kinship care placements,” says Dan Lauer, Holt Vice President of International Programs.

22 of the 40 children are currently receiving temporary care at the Village while their family members stabilize and can prepare a better home for them. With the loss of housing and income, many families are struggling to care for their children, and Holt is happy to provide these children protection, love and stability while their families get back on their feet.

A time to Build…..

The destruction of Port-au-Prince left thousands of people without homes or food to give their children. Many families fled the area to take refuge with family members in neighboring cities like Montrouis, the location of Holt’s Family Preservation project, Fanmi Ansanm (Family Together). Due to the increase in household size and the additional strain on family members to provide for their loved ones, Holt has increased our support of family preservation in Montrouis by adding 100 additional families to the program. Holt also rented office space in the southern city of Jacmel, the second largest city to be hit by the earthquake, and we have began assessing the needs for the families in this area and determining who is most at risk. Food assistance and counseling will be the immediate priority for these families.

A time to Heal…

For six months the people of Haiti have struggled to come to terms with the events of January 12th. Holt has remained in Haiti every step of the way, in this time of grief, helping to bring this devastated country some relief and, most of all, doing all we can to help the vulnerable children affected by this terrible tragedy. With the unyielding commitment and support of Holt Haiti Director Mansour Masse, Holt will continue to work in Haiti and help the children and families in their time of need—a time of great loss and great sorrow, but also a time for healing and hope.

Sponsor a child in Haiti

Seabrook recently wrote an article about international adoption (read the New Yorker article here), [...]]]> John Seabrook, staff writer for The New Yorker, and his wife, Lisa, adopted their daughter, Rose, from Haiti in 2009.  Rose, along with 20 other children living at Holt Fontana Village, had her adoption expedited due to the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

Seabrook recently wrote an article about international adoption (read the New Yorker article here), and National Public Radio (NPR) conducted an interview with him about his family’s adoption experience and bringing Rose home.

listen to John Seabrook’s interview here

In order to reach kids with the Gospel in this day and age, you have to do it on their level. That’s why I love taking our group to Winter Jam each year. It features the greatest Christian artists of our day with [...]]]> A youth group sponsors a child at a Winter jam concert

In order to reach kids with the Gospel in this day and age, you have to do it on their level. That’s why I love taking our group to Winter Jam each year. It features the greatest Christian artists of our day with a message that glorifies God. Our kids have such a great time, and it’s great to see how it changes their lives as they draw closer to God and make right decisions.

This year started off no different, but, as we were enjoying the show, God was working in the background. The earthquakes in Haiti had just taken place a few days prior, and I used it as a discussion in our classroom to point out that we aren’t promised tomorrow so we need to do what we can to reach those around us today. Then Newsong came out and presented the ministry of Holt International. As they were presenting, I looked around and saw the compassion in our group. When we had the opportunity we went down and found a little baby from Haiti.

His name is John Peter, but our group calls him “Lil’ H”, for little Haiti. It’s a term of endearment to these kids. We raise the money for the sponsorship independent of regular offerings, and the response has been great! One particular Sunday, a preteen girl gave her entire piggy bank full of change. That same day, another kid gave his whole allowance. When I ask for prayer needs, they are constantly reminding me to pray for Lil’ H. I’m overwhelmed on how God is teaching our kids to invest in the lives of others. We live in a selfish society where people are asking, “what can you do for me?”, but thanks to the opportunity given to us by Holt International, they are truly learning what it means to serve God by serving others.

Sponsor a child in need today!

Volunteer at or attend a Winter Jam Concert near you!

by Rebecca Moore

“You came.” Those were Nephtalie’s first words to her big sister, Martine.

Martine had come home to us from *Haiti in [...]]]> The following are thoughts from Holt adoptive mother, Rebecca Moore, whose daughter, Nephtalie, was one of the 21 children who came home to the United States from Holt Fontana Village.

by Rebecca Moore

“You came.” Those were Nephtalie’s first words to her big sister, Martine.

Martine had come home to us from *Haiti in April 2008. When her sister, Nephtalie, needed a permanent family, we were already two years into the process of adopting Martine and because of this, the two sisters would not be able to come home together. When we left Haiti with Martine, we promised Nephtalie we would return for her.

The two sisters were reunited on February 3rd. Nephtalie told Martine how much she had missed her and how long she had waited. Later that day another child from Holt Fontana Village also told Martine how Nephtalie had been waiting for her.

The separation of siblings is one of the tragedies of children without parents to care for them. Martine and Nephtalie are together now, but the two-year wait was obviously heart wrenching for a 6-year-old to remember a promise given two years before. We felt frustration here, while she was longing over there…too young to understand why she had to wait.

I am thankful for the wonderful care my girls received at Holt Fontana Village. I know many other children, now home, who were living in far less than ideal conditions before they arrived at Holt Fontana Village. However, even good food, shelter, and competent, loving caretakers do not make up for a family. We had at least one year to go before Nephtalie would have come home.

God, in his mercy, used this horrific event, which took so many lives, to bring these sisters back together and many other children to their forever families.

Holt will continue to update our blog about our plans for the children and families in Haiti who are still in need of our care and support.

*Holt’s Haiti program is currently closed to new adoption applications, but we invite you to research some of Holt’s other country programs where thousands of children are waiting to belong to a permanent family…..click here to learn more

We are so pleased to report that our last seven children from Holt Fontana Village (who were matched with families prior to the earthquake) arrived very early this morning into Miami. Holt Director of Social Services for Haiti, Mike Noah, [...]]]> A Letter from Susie Doig, MSW, Holt Director of Administration & Social Work Systems

We are so pleased to report that our last seven children from Holt Fontana Village (who were matched with families prior to the earthquake) arrived very early this morning into Miami. Holt Director of Social Services for Haiti, Mike Noah, and Africa Director of Programs, Bruce Dahl, are meeting with the children’s adoptive families at “His House”, the child residential care center processing the children and releasing them into their parent’s custody. By the end of today, these kids will be with their adoptive families.

Join us in giving thanks for the 21 children from Holt Fontana who have been united with their families!

Sincerely,

Susie Doig, MSW

See below to read more about the 14 children who were united with their parents last week

Click here to help children and families in Haiti

Happiness and tears washed over the faces of the caretakers and staff at Holt Fontana Village in Haiti on Tuesday, February 2nd, as they all gathered around to say goodbye to 14 children departing to Miami [...]]]> 14 children from Holt Fontana Village in Haiti travel to the United States to be united with their permanent families

Happiness and tears washed over the faces of the caretakers and staff at Holt Fontana Village in Haiti on Tuesday, February 2nd, as they all gathered around to say goodbye to 14 children departing to Miami to unite with their permanent families.

“There were lots of tears,” said Holt Vice President of Adoption Services, Lisa Vertulfo, who accompanied the first group of children to Miami. “The caretakers sang a hymn and then the staff broke into “How Great Thou Art” in Creole.”

The children, already matched with adoptive families prior to the devastating earthquake in January, had their adoptions expedited. Seven more children from the Village will hopefully arrive sometime next week.

Three members of Holt staff have been in Haiti for a week assisting the caretakers at the Village and helping to get the children home to their families in the United States. Lisa Vertulfo and Director of Social Services for Haiti, Mike Noah, accompanied the children traveling to the United States.

Holt Director of Services for Haiti, Bruce Dahl, will be staying at Holt Fontana Village to assist Holt Haiti Director, Mansour Masse, with future plans to help more children and families in need.

“I always miss the children when they leave, said Mansour. “But I always look forward to the day when the kids finally go home to be with their families.”

Holt will keep you updated as the rest of the children are united with their families, and how we are continually working to help the children and families of Haiti.

Read a news article about the Polzin family waiting to be united with their daughter.

Read a news article about Alicia Swaringen’s emotional reunion with her son.

Help the children and families in Haiti.

A blog entry from Bethany Hutchison

I haven’t posted anything on my blog yet regarding the earthquake in Haiti, because honestly the tragedy has almost felt too overwhelming for me to put into words. Where do you even [...]]]> A Holt adoptive mom shares her thoughts on the Haiti earthquake and the children affected by the devastating tragedy

A blog entry from Bethany Hutchison

I haven’t posted anything on my blog yet regarding the earthquake in Haiti, because honestly the tragedy has almost felt too overwhelming for me to put into words. Where do you even start? Well, definitely with prayer. Continued prayer for Haiti will be especially important as the media coverage begins to dwindle, and we are no longer confronted with horrifying images on our televisions every day.

My heart is burdened in particular for children who were orphaned prior to the earthquake, and children now who have not yet been able to find their family members. Will you join me in continuing to lift up these children, and all of the Haitian people, in prayer throughout the coming days, weeks, months, and year?

Holt International, our adoption agency, has received an enormous amount of phone calls since the earthquake, from people who are interested in adopting orphans from Haiti. I think it’s often a misunderstanding how complex international adoption truly is. On one hand, it is WONDERFUL that people are opening their hearts to the idea of adoption. On another hand, I think that tragedy sometimes spurs very emotional responses in people… and that is definitely not a reason to rush into anything.  After all, international adoption is not an act of charity…it is an act of lifelong parenting.  Quite a difference.

There are many children, as you know, who were already in the process of being adopted prior to the earthquake, and it’s wonderful that many of those have been granted expedited entry into the U.S. to unite with their adoptive families. I know of some families who are still waiting or trying to find their adoptive children in Haiti, and we continue to pray for those families.

For the children who “appear” to be orphaned since the earthquake, it is of utmost importance that due diligence is done to ensure that every effort is made first and foremost to unite those children with living family members. This crisis has the potential to create a highway for child trafficking… and agencies must be vigilant in the actions they take to work on behalf of children during this unstable time.

Holt International is one of many agencies who work on behalf of children and families in Haiti, and they issued the following statement on their website after the large influx of calls they have received about adopting from Haiti:

“Because of the uncertainty of the Haitian government’s ability to function at this time, which includes processing adoptions, Holt’s Haiti program is currently closed to new adoption applications. We will continue to assess the situation, but we anticipate that it will take months to determine whether children orphaned by the earthquake have surviving family members who may be able to care for them.”

I would encourage anyone who is able, to donate money or time on behalf of the children of Haiti. If adoption is truly on the forefront of your heart, and you are ready to pursue it, I would urge you to contact an adoption agency and begin the process of your home study. That process is designed to allow you a chance to reflect on yourself as an adoptive parent, while at the same time educating you to understand the world of international adoption, and the realities of what to expect once your child is home.

There are so many children all around the world RIGHT NOW in need of loving, forever families. Maybe the crisis in Haiti IS part of your adoption story… maybe it provided confirmation in your heart that this is the direction you need to head… but maybe your son or daughter resides elsewhere in the world? Although Haiti is on the forefront of our minds, there are children in dire situations across the world whose stories are equally as tragic, yet not being broadcast on the evening news. I encourage you to take the first steps on this journey, trust God, and see where He may lead you…

And no matter what, let us continue to pray fervently, and give generously, to those in Haiti whose suffering many of us can’t come close to even fathoming.

“The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. ” Psalm 9:9

Members of Holt staff arrived in Port-au-Prince Wednesday morning (January 27th), and traveled directly to Holt Fontana Village to provide assistance and support to Holt’s dedicated and [...]]]> Holt Director of Social Services for Haiti, Mike Noah, Vice President of Adoption Services, Lisa Vertulfo and Director of Programs for Africa, Bruce Dahl, arrive in Haiti

Members of Holt staff arrived in Port-au-Prince Wednesday morning (January 27th), and traveled directly to Holt Fontana Village to provide assistance and support to Holt’s dedicated and caring Haiti staff.

“Over the next few weeks, Bruce Dahl (Africa Program Director) and Holt Haiti Director, Mansour Masse, will be assessing and determining what role and task Holt will have next in helping the children and families in Haiti,” said Holt Senior Vice President, Phil Littleton.

Holt is currently waiting for the Haiti Prime Minister to sign off on the visa paperwork that will allow the majority of children at the Village, matched with families prior to the earthquake, to travel to the United States and be united with their adoptive families.  From there, Holt hopes to be able to provide care to more children who lost their families in the earthquake.

Click here for more updates on Haiti

Click here to read a story from the Journal Sentinel about a Holt adoptive family who hopes to have their daughter home with them soon.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday saw children and families, already starving and impoverished, left with nothing. Holt is now in Haiti helping to assist the children and families who are struggling to survive in this broken country.

Although communication with [...]]]> Holt is assisting Children and Families affected by the devastating Earthquake

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday saw children and families, already starving and impoverished, left with nothing. Holt is now in Haiti helping to assist the children and families who are struggling to survive in this broken country.

Although communication with our staff in Haiti continues to be difficult and there are still many unknowns, we have learned from Holt-Haiti Director, Mansour Masse that the 30 children being cared for at Holt Fontana Village are “OK.”  Holt has been in Haiti since 2004 and the Village, located about 40 miles North of Port-au-Prince, is home to children waiting to go home to their permanent families in the United States.

“We are profoundly grateful the children and staff in our center are safe,” said Holt President and CEO, Kim Brown. “We still do not have an assessment of the 120 families in our Family Preservation program, and we are doing all we can to determine their safety.”

Christian music group and Holt advocate, Julian Drive, was in Haiti on a humanitarian trip when the earthquake hit. The group has now safely made it home to the United States.

“As we flew away and looked over the devastated city,” said Shane Bowers. “I could not help but have a huge burden in my heart for those left behind that are now forced to try and reassemble a life that was already so broken to start with. God help the people of Haiti.”

Before departing Haiti, the group did whatever they could to help in this dire situation and be an encouragement to the frightened children at Holt Fontana Village. They put on a concert for the children in the Village and the surrounding community and brought a little brightness into the lives of the families who have lost so much.

Holt will continue to help the people in Haiti. We ask for your continued support and prayers for the devastated children and families.

The Following is a blog entry written by Julian Drive member, Shane Bowers, while in Haiti….

Hello everyone. For those who are not aware, Shaun, Josh, James and I have been in Haiti since this past Monday with Holt International. The earthquake was devastating and frightening to say the least. I wanted to update you all, and assure you that the guys and I are doing okay.

We are here supporting Holt International and have been visiting with the orphanage and observing the dire poverty that plagues this nation. Fortunately, we were 40 miles from Port Au Prince in a small village when the earthquake actually hit. We immediately realized the destruction in Port-Au-Prince would be severe, because the view as we flew in and drove through the city was of a very crowded city with literally nowhere to run. People pack every street, along with pigs, goats, cows, and garbage between old, rundown buildings. While we are overcome with grief for the people of Port-Au-Prince, it’s no surprise that there has been such a loss of life.

If you’re looking for a way to specifically pray for us during this time, please pray for our families first. All our wives, parents and siblings are nervous; understandably. We’re more worried for them! You might also pray for our finances, wisdom, and most importantly that we won’t miss this opportunity for ministry. God has placed us here at this specific time for a specific reason. Pray that whatever comes of our trip here will be used for His glory.  More than anything; pray for the people of Haiti.

If you wish to help in any capacity with the relief effort here in Haiti , you may go to www.holtinternational.org. They are on the ground meeting needs as we speak and need your help. The best way to do that is through monetary donations. Also, the very orphans we are here to help and love on will need our ongoing help now more than ever. If you want to help through a child sponsorship of $30 per month, click here. Blessings to all and I hope to see you soon.

Click Here For up-to-date information and news articles

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