I emailed our social worker at CHI a week or so ago and she had just returned from Haiti :0)!
She had nothing but great things to say about the Créche(orphanage) which is good to hear because everyone that I’ve talked to about this particular Créche says the same awesome things.
As for the new law, not much. It’s still at a standstill but the Director at the Créche is hopeful and positive that it will move forward soon. But as I’ve stated before we are in no hurry. We are perfectly fine if we don’t start until the beginning of 2009. I know it will all fall into place when it’s suppose to! So in the meantime we’ll work on our pre-adption education, yes, we have to take online classes to help understand the transition of the adopted child and having a blended family. Which, hey, I’m all for, the more we learn the better :0)!
Oh, here is the letter that Kathy from CHI sent out to the families that are already in the process of adopting from Haiti after she returned to the states:
“Bon Jour Haiti families!
As you all know, I was very fortunate to visit the creche in Haiti this past week.
Even though the photos on C4C’s web site and forum of this place look nice, I’ve learned that photos are not typically a true picture of what an orphanage is really like. That being said, I have to say that Crèche Enfant de l’Jèsus is so much better than all the photos!
The children truly get lots of quality attention and great care. You can tell that as soon as you arrive. There are many beautiful smiles and bright eyes!
There were so many things that amazed me. Did you know that your children are bathed at least twice a day? I could not stop touching their skin and hair. They feel so smooth and smell so good! I can tell you that this NEVER happens in other orphanages. It’s a habit for me to breathe through my mouth when I visit orphanages…but not there! As soon as a baby needs a diaper change, they also get another bath. I never did get even a whiff of anything unpleasant. ;-) And they keep the whole place very clean. My tile floors would be jealous if they knew! 
We observed several mealtimes and were impressed at the nutrition the children receive. They are required to clean their plates and I didn’t see any having a major problem doing this, even though the portions were very ample. Unfortunately, this is no guarantee that your child will not evolve into a picky eater once home!
For those of you with children in physical therapy…this is money very well spent. We watched the therapist every day working with the little ones. She spends a lot of time individual with them massaging and exercising their limbs. This early intervention will make a huge difference.
The children also receive and greatly enjoy preschool from their teacher, John. He obviously loves these children and knows every one of them well. He puts a lot of emphasis on teaching them English, which will help them (and you) transition easier once they come home. He is also the person who translates/writes the monthly reports you receive. When he is not teaching, he is perched at the computer writing the monthly report for each child…alone easily a full time job!
Another thing that is so important for these children in transition is structure and they also have this. With the changes that the children have gone through in their little lives, it’s so important that they have this. Combined with the genuine care they get from the aunties, having a set routine has a very calming effect on them.
There are several families who are still in the early stages and have not traveled to visit yet. I am attaching the travel information from C4C, which is excellent. When you do travel, it is so wonderful if you can use as much luggage space as possible to take donations down with you. These donations of everything from baby formula to peanuts help insure that your children have what they need. Many of the items on the donation request list are not available in Haiti. The donation wish list is updated frequently and will be sent to you before you travel.
In the 15+ years I have been working with adoptions, I have had the opportunity to visit hundreds of orphanages in many parts of the world.. Crèche Enfant de l’Jèsus is by far the best one I’ve seen! Even though your children are not yet in your arms, you should rest easier knowing that they are in the next best place!”