22 Jan 2010
This is what it’s all about…..
Orphans no more; Haitian children unite with their new American families OregonLive.com
Orphans no more; Haitian children unite with their new American families
By Kimberly A.C. Wilson, The Oregonian
January 22, 2010, 7:49AM
Samuel Chancelet sees his mom, Jill Wilkins, after a long, exhausting journey from Haiti. Joe and Jill Wilkins, of Beaverton, have adopted Samuel.MIAMI — Eight hours later leaving Port-Au-Prince, after a restless night on the floor of a nondescript room at the Miami International Airport, 81 Haitian orphans were through with U.S. immigration. One by one, while others slept, they had been called up to a counter to be fingerprinted and photographed.And then came the announcement: They were done.
So the 30 or so volunteers and orphanage staffers on hand to shepherd the children to their new lives in America dressed the children in their Sunday best: tidy suits for the boys, pretty dresses for the girls.
It was time to see their moms and dads.
Their American parents – some of whom had waited in Florida for days for this moment – were in a reception area.
Overnight, the children slept on the floor of the immigration room at the airport, some wrapped in blankets, while others were held by volunteers. Airport staff came through frequently, passing out plenty of water, fresh diapers, blankets, toys and boxed lunches and snacks.
By now – after a harrowing two-hour-long bus ride from their rural orphanage to the Port-au-Prince, a nearly three-hour flight and then hours of immigration procedures – the children were weary and exhausted. Still, they sat quietly this morning. They wanted to see their parents.
Among them was Samuel Chancelet, a 20-month-old boy bound for a new life with Joe and Jill Wilkins of Beaverton. Joe Wilkins escorted Samuel on the trip from Haiti, while Jill waited for them in Florida. Through the night, Joe Wilkins texted his wife about the journey and about Samuel. This morning, he changed his son’s clothes two or three times before they headed out to see mom.
The children were united with their parents in small groups. Joyous parents juggled cameras, trying their best to capture the moment. Children snacked and sipped juice.
For the past 10 hours, Jill Wilkins had waited at the airport, achingly close to her son but not able to see him. And then she spotted her husband. He was holding their boy and walking toward her. Samuel was dressed in the brown and blue jumper and suede shoes his parents had picked out for him.
Jill Wilkins scooped up her son and, finally, held him close.
Jill Wilkins is reunited with her husband Joe and thier adopted son Samuel Chacelet Wilkins in a conference room at the Miami airport. Bruce Ely/The Oregonian
Technorati Tags: Haitian Adoptions, Earthquake, God’s Littlest Angels
WOW!!! Joyous tears are streaming down my face. From tragedy to triumph…..
Lisa Robinson
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:16 pmpermalink
AWESOME! I totally remember that feeling. Congratulations to the forever families! Welcome to the GLA (& Haiti) family network.
Pat Miles
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:57 pmpermalink
Tom,
Thank you for constantly posting updates and for sharing this story! It’s wonderful to see these children go home to parents who have been waiting for them for so long! I was there for four weeks last summer and it brings such joy to my heart to see how faithful God has been in protecting the ones I held and loved and seeing them go home to their families! Praise Him!! Thank you again for all you do and are doing! I pray your wife arrives home safely to you soon!
-Meg
Meg Dailey
January 22nd, 2010 at 5:30 pmpermalink
Tom,
and I have been keeping updated with what has been going on with God’s Littlest Angels Orphanage, and praise God that 81 are here now! I wanted to let you know that I live in South Florida now (Boca Raton) and if anyone of the families that are there, or if there are any children or staff that need a home or a place to stay, please, please let me know. My home is open — I live about an hour outside of Miami, and am available! What a wonderful reunion that must have been today. My number is xxxxxxxxx.
This is Leah (Bloemendaal) Barbar (an old member of Hillcrest CRC — and your old neighbor
Thanks for all you are doing,
Leah (Bloemendaal) Barbar
Leah (Bloemendaal) Barbar
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:34 pmpermalink
I watched this video with no sound, and still have tears streaming down my face. God bless these children and their new families, and God bless you for being His hands.
Kayla Fay
January 22nd, 2010 at 10:09 pmpermalink
Leah,
Good to hear from you. What a small world it is. I’ll hang on to your info.
Thanks!
Tom
Tom Vanderwell
January 23rd, 2010 at 10:03 ampermalink
And all God’s People said…..
AMEN!
Tom Vanderwell
January 23rd, 2010 at 10:07 ampermalink
[...] 23, 2010 by Lori I just read this post on God’s Littlest Angel’s blog about a group of 80 orphans leaving Haiti to meet their new parents in [...]
This Makes me SO Happy! « Goodbye Ordinary
January 23rd, 2010 at 12:22 pmpermalink