Morrell Family Charities

Notes from Deanna and Amy visit Haiti

Nov. 16, 2008

Notes of Fontamara

We went there during feeding hour.  Very chaotic, but very well fed and taken care of.  The nannies were very aware of the children’s cries and would tend to them accordingly.   We were concerned of some of the new babies that looked starved and sick, but Margret said “no worries sister their new and just need time.”  Then they showed us several babies in the same condition when they arrived and at seven months old, they were healthy and happy.

We really like the Bishops morale’s for example he refuses to bribe government workers in order to make the adoption process quicker. Also he has had the opportunity to live and stay in America but refuses to leave Haiti because he feels as though he would abandon his country and the good he can do here.  He plans to live in the new orphanage to oversee everything and keep good relationship with all the children.

It doesn’t matter how many babies they have they are all held equally and very loved.

Nov. 17, 2008

Notes on Leogane

Today we went to Leogane orphanage.  The first things we noticed was how well behaved and how clean the children were, also very happy.  Corey had brought gifts for all of them and we handed them out and the children were very appreciative.  We like the fact the bishop pays as he goes so he has no debt so there are no chances of anything getting taken away.  They also have food storage saved they just have to pay to get it when needed; also the non profit board called Foyer de sion Inc. fill a semi truck full and send it every year and saves money every year to send a container to Miami and then shipped here they are out of Boise Idaho they send enough food for a year so they well be self sustaining with food.   They have had there cars and van donated to them so they have transportation for the children.  Even with the gas prices twice a week the bishop or his wife make the hour and a half drive to the farthest orphanage to make sure the kids are ok and well taken care of in all dimensions.   The bishop also was farming for the children he had a thousand pounds of beans growing but the recent hurricane destroyed the whole crop, but at the new orphanage as in land as it is crops will be safe.

We were told that the culture here the women control the household and men have high respect for them.

Today we thought we took 17 kids to the ocean however when we counted for meals there was 19 so two had jumped into the truck when they had there chance it was pretty funny.  He said he would only bring 15 but when the little ones started crying he gave in like any caring father would, but he didn’t anticipate the two mischievous ones.

De and I both really like the way he treats all 200 of the children as if they were his own.  Corey told us that the bishop and his wife both know which child is crying just from the sound, it is really cool to see him interact with the kids they don’t seem to have any sadness of not having a father because they are treated as though they have one.

Nurses: Francois is the head nurse at the Fontamara.

Thursday notes:

We like the fact that the top level of the new orphanage is built for volunteers to help it be more affordable for them to come, and to make them feel more secure and protected.  He said with the right funding they could have the new orphanage open and running in 6 months.

Amy’s personal notes:

IM IN LOVE AND WANT THEM ALL!!!  The children are all so happy and so loved by the workers and by the bishop and his wife Margaret.  I have felt nothing but good here, the spirit is strong in the presence of each orphanage I would love nothing more than to help them.  If I never achieve anything else in my life but helping them (dad helping them) I will forever feel at peace and happy.   Thank you dad I love you for the good you do.

De’s personal notes:

My notes are on Amy, we all know how grumpy Amy gets in the morning and she didn’t even have a red bull, she fed seven screaming babies and loved every minute of it.  Even though I could tell her anxiety was high she didn’t ask for a pill and neither of us stepped out to smoke, and she  kept on trucking then she cam home in a good mood I am very proud of her. She is talking total control in sponsoring this organization and I am just sitting in the back ground giving her ques.  I am very proud how she has stepped up to the plate and taking responsibility.  Then the next day we found 5 red bulls and we were all at peace thank you daddy.

Nov. 18, 2008

Today we went to the new orphanage that is being built, it is absolutely amazing.  There is an infirmary downstairs for the new babies and any sick kids.  It is very secure it has a fairy tale type feeling about it so the children can be proud of were they came from.  It has beautiful land around it that the bishop said is ready to be planted and for chores the kids would help maintain the crops, they also have there own goats and animals for food, and well be able to be self sustaining.  His dream he said is to have a bed for all 200 children.  He is such a good man and this orphanage is breathtaking.  He has reunited some of the older kids with there biological families but supplies food, school costs, and checks on them weekly.

He said the kids feel as though they are brother and sister and they have never had inappropriate actions from the kids romantically.  But as a precaution he has separated the boys and girls so there are no chances of problems.

Here is the report so far now we are just helping in the Fontamara is there any questions we have not covered?

De Anna and I are 100% on board and think it is a very worthy project..