My trip to Haiti was an incredible experience. I do not know how to accurately describe all that I saw and felt in words. The poverty of Haiti is staggering, yet the spirit of the people is indomitable.

I felt my time in Haiti was very productive. I was able to meet the director and social worker of the orphanage, Foyer de Sion. I was very impressed with them as people. They are trying so hard to help the children of Haiti. The orphanage is currently split into 3 different locations. There are not enough hands to help all of the needy children, but the staff are doing their best and really seem to have the children’s best interest at heart. It is very exciting because Foyer is currently in the process of building their own orphanage outside of the city on a plantation (as opposed to renting buildings). It will still take lots of time, money, and man-power, but eventually this will be a wonderful thing for Foyer de Sion and the children this organization helps.

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with Vanessa Carpenter and the children at her orphanage. She is the director of Three Angels Children’s Relief. Wasatch is very happy to announce that we are networking with such a fantastic organization. We already have 2 children from this orphanage assigned to adoptive families. Three Angels has a lot of really wonderful ideas and is devoted to helping families as well as orphans. They have a very large staff (larger than the number of children in the orphanage). One of their goals is to provide as many jobs as possible so that they can keep as many families intact as possible. This also means that the children get a lot of love and attention!

Regrettably, I was unable to travel to our third orphanage, Creche Infant Jesus (A Child’s Hope Foundation). I was very disappointed because I have been looking forward to visiting with those children for a long time! I know they are a great organization and it is unfortunate that I was in Haiti and didn’t get to go there. But Haiti is very unstable at the moment and much caution must be used in travel. Luckily I never felt threatened or worried for my safety during our trip. I am grateful for those thoughts that went out to me as I was in this dear country. I felt strongly at some points that it would be good to go to a certain place or I should NOT go to another. I am grateful to have been safe the whole time.

This trip was also a very wonderful trip for me on a very personal level. Many of you know that I am in the process of adopting a little boy myself. I was able to have Andre with me during the entire trip and am very in love with him. Although it was extremely difficult to leave him as I wait to get through the legal process in Haiti, the time I spent with him was invaluable to me—and I hope to him.

I want to express my gratitude to all of you who sent donations for this trip. They were very needed! For example, the first day I had arrived, I was down helping in the baby room at Foyer. There was a little one with diarrhea and the nurse was changing her. I don’t understand a lot of Creole, but I understood enough to comprehend that this nurse had said, somewhat desperately, to another, “There are no more diapers.” They have some cloth diapers but due to the lack of clean water and sanitation supplies, it is much safer to use disposable diapers. I quickly said, “Yes! You do have diapers!” I had just barely stocked their storage full of diapers, wipes, and formula. A big smile came across the face of the workers as I ran to get them the things they needed to clean the little baby.

I look forward to the continued growth of our program in Haiti. The people are beautiful. The children are wonderful. They are also in desperate poverty. I plan to make many trips to Haiti in the future—throughout my whole life, actually, as I want my son to love and personally know his culture. Your continued support at any time is welcome. I hope you all have wonderful holidays. And please say an extra prayer for the children of Haiti.

Sincerely,

Shannon Cox