Haitian Children Detained – Please Pray
Children of Promise
Haiti Update
January 21, 2010
We received word this morning from Phil and Lonnie Murphy (founders of House of Blessings and the COP ministry in Haiti) that as Phil was returning to the U. S. from Haiti, the three Haitian children accompanying him were taken by the immigration authorities to a holding center in Miami. These are the children of the directors of House of Blessings, Tania and Francky Desir. (Children of Promise sponsors six children at House of Blessings.)
The children were being brought to the U. S. for safety and security reasons. Two years ago, one of the children, Fabby, was kidnapped and held for ransom. The kidnapping ended with the child being returned to the family safely. Those convicted of the kidnapping are now at large due to the earthquake damage to the prisons. Concern for the safety of the children prompted the decision to bring the children to the U. S. for a time.
Please pray for their safety, security, and return to the Murphy’s. And please pray for the Murphy’s and the children’s parents. Tania, the children’s mother, was raised by the Murphy’s at the House of Blessing. The children speak only Creole, and the authorities who took them away only speak English. At this moment, the Murphy’s are en route from Orlando to Miami to try to locate where the children are being held.
The children attempted to enter the country with current passports and valid visas approved by the U. S. Consulate in Haiti. All requested and appropriate documentation was submitted to the authorities. Mystery still surrounds the event and why they were detained.
When asked if there was anything he would like us to say to Children of Promise sponsors and friends, Phil replied, “Ask them to pray and to call their congressmen and senators. “ Children of Promise encourages its sponsors and friends to do so.
Please join us in calling upon the Lord for intervention, comfort, safety, and the return of the children to the Murphy’s, and that His Name will be blessed through this.
“Ah, Sovereign Lord,
You have made the heavens and the earth
by your great power and outstretched arm.
Nothing is too hard for you.”
Jeremiah 32:17.
Continuing efforts to reach Isaac Adrien, COP director in Haiti, have not been successful due to jammed circuits. We have not yet had opportunity to speak in detail with Phil Murphy regarding his visit to Haiti. Efforts and energy at the moment are being concentrated on the immigration crisis.
Children of Promise is calling for donations to be used for the immediate needs of food, clothing, medicines, and blankets, and the long-term needs of rebuilding homes and providing ongoing assistance for food and household items destroyed.
The first round of funds will be sent at the end of January. In order for funds to be sent on January 31, donations should arrive in the Children of Promise office by Friday, January 29, 2010. All funds received by that date will be delivered to Haiti at the end of the month. Funds received after that date will be delivered on a date yet to be determined.
Donations may be made through Children of Promise in the following ways:
a. Checks should be sent to P. O. Box 2316, Anderson, IN 46018 indicating emergency relief for Haiti.
b.
Credit or debit card donation over the websiteand fill out the form and submit. Under Fund, select Emergency Fund, and in the comment box, write “Emergency Relief for Haiti.”:
go to www.echildrenofpromise.org, click on DONATE ONLINE
c. Credit or debit card donations will also be accepted over the phone in our offices (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday).
Phones: 1-800-848-2464 (ext. 2190) or 1-765-648-2190. Please have credit card information available, including card number, expiration date, and the security code on the back of the card.
Thank you for your generous support and outpouring of compassion for our children and their families in Haiti. Updates are also posted on our website at www.echildrenofpromise.org .
Dr. Paul Maxfield
Executive Director
Children of Promise