April News Letter

This is the latest news from Chances for Children, our agency in Haiti.

A Few Home Comings

Great news for 2 families! The family that was stranded in Haiti is on the way to the airport now with their 14 month old baby who shares Beth's birth date (arrived home safely Saturday, 4/19). The other family is from Billings. They arrived from Uganda on a flight at 10:30 p.m. with their 2 babies. Anna and I were there to hug them and witness the miracle! This is the most amazing story of God's love and a family's perseverance. If you want to be inspired check out their blog.

Let's Pray Together

Many of the families adopting from our orphanage have decided to pray for Haiti each day at noon EST (that is 10:00 a.m. MT time) and each night at sunset wherever we are. It is nice to know that we can stand together in prayer with people we do not know, but do know a little of their hearts. If you would like to pray with us, join right in wherever you are!

Rioting and unrest in Haiti

The news is rioting and violence is causing trouble in Haiti: click here

In a country where many are eating dirt cookies to fill their starving stomaches, this rise in food prices seems hopeless.

Here is part of an email that gives us reason to be even more prayerful in this time!

"I am sure you are all worried about the news we are hearing concerning riots in Haiti. The reason the Haitians are so upset is that food prices have gone up an incredible amount recently. Gasoline prices have forced import charges to be huge and the costs have naturally been passed onto Haitians who are already nearly penniless. We understand that the government is trying to force a 15% price reduction on food to calm everyone down.

We have currently a family who is stranded in Haiti. They went for their coming-home trip, and when they were at the embassy they were told to leave. I will be calling senators and making a big stink because my understanding is that tomorrow is the first closure day of the consulate, and the family does not have the visa yet. As we all know, this type of occurrence is rare, but CAN happen in a country that has volatile ups and downs. The family is in a safe bed and breakfast type place and their new little son is doing well.

Please pray that we can force the U.S. State Dept. to take some action. If the family can just get the visa printed, then they can come home with their baby. They were due home this last Friday and are very anxious to be in their own country.

All the children in the orphanages are safe and there is adequate food and water for them all. With these rising prices, donations will be more and more appreciated."

Keep praying for Haiti and the families and we will update this blog as soon as we know more.

Manna

Just like God's provision for his children in the wilderness is His provision for us. Last week we had $75 in FedEx charges and a check came in the mail for $75. This week we had $100 in Kinkos charges and $100 came in the mail. Just enough for today. You know that verse we often quote about God knowing our need... That is what i am talking about! We will trust and obey each step of the way. God will provide, and we will celebrate His name!

(I think i know why FedEx/Kinkos merged... very smart investors :)

Our papers will be carried by a man in a brown uniform to the door of our adoption coordinator. After that she does what ever she does and we wait and do not worry. When our kids get to the orphanage (i have heard they are not there yet) they will have smaller stack of papers gathered for them, we will be called, introduced via email and will then know what the Father already knows; their names! That is when we send the $8000 per child in country fees and the stop and go process in Haiti begins. Then, on a day already appointed by the Lord, we will bring the newest little Bergstedt's home to our forever family.

A Big Smile and A Big Pile of Papers

Here it is.

Our completed dossier and 8 copies. Now, how do we mail this?

Kinko's here we come.

Our papers made it back from Chicago Friday afternoon. That beautiful seal that we paid $25 per document was not there! I was shocked and quite confused. I emailed our adoption rep and asked what's up. She called right way and said to check for a plain old rubber stamp on the notary page. Walla! There it was, a boring old round stamp. $25 each for a plain old stamp. Who cares! It is there and we are ready to complete our Dossier. By morning we will be ready to make 8 copies of every page, collate, clip, and mail our package. Then it is done, all but the money. We will then just wait, pray and send thousands of dollars over the next several months.

Next Step

Thank you for all the re notary work! Our papers are on a FedEx plane on the way to Chicago! They will get a pretty seal and be returned to us ASAP. Then 8 copies of everything and a big FedEx envelope to the agency to be checked and then sent to Haiti. Should have bought stock in FedEx. :)

On the home front, Beth is taking steps and climbing on every thing. Anna is learning letters and excelling in back yard swinging and head stands. The basement is waiting for me to paint the trim and then carpet and more trim.

Our papers are on the way back to Helena!

Thank you everyone for re doing your letters! Hope all is well this time. Should know by Thurs or Friday.