Haiti On My Mind

Haiti is on my mind tonight and has been a lot lately. Between releasing the Haley and Cam "Special Report" short story, which is loosely based on my experiences in Haiti, and this news story about busting child traffickers in Haiti and the Mardy family, many of my old memories of Haiti have surfaced. (Not to mention, a lot of conversations with my parents about the shots they need to get to serve their mission in Samoa, which are the same shots I had to get to go to Haiti and Cambodia.)

The news story today really struck a sad chord with me. I have met the Mardy family. I have heard Guesno Mardy speak first-hand about how his son was kidnapped out of the church building, and who he (correctly) suspected did it and why. I have been to one of his orphanages in Port-au-Prince, and helped work on a new, under construction, orphanage outside of town. (The picture above is of the orphanage. The picture below is of me making concrete to build an outside kitchen the orphanage could use until the inside one was functional.)

All of these memories are still emotional and tough to process. The things we saw and did were so far outside the realm of expected and normal that I know I'll never experience it all again. And with the exception of the friends I served with, there is no one who can relate to what we did there. (Unless another civilian knows what it feels like to disembark a plane in the dark and be told that there may or may not be snipers dialed in on you, even though you are only there to bring medical aid.)

I truly wish and pray that I could work in the field of anti-trafficking. My time as a volunteer in Haiti and Cambodia opened my eyes to a world I never could have imagined. I truly believe if people want to "strengthen the family" and "protect" the family, fighting trafficking and helping those the most at-risk for trafficking, is the best way to do that. I wish more people would investigate and educate themselves about where, why, and how often trafficking happens. You might be surprised to learn how close to home it happens. You don't have to be like me and fly off to developing countries to fight trafficking. You can fight it in your own neighborhoods. Because I can guarantee it happens in your town, regardless of how big or small it is.

I miss being of service to the world in such a measurable way. I often wonder if I am just a huge waste of space (single, unemployed, etc). I know I made the right choices when I chose not to serve in the Peace Corps, and I indefinitely postponed moving to China. But my desire to serve in those types of capacities has not lessened.

Now, to just figure out how to be of service again.

Orphanage Day

Today was orphanage day. We had a wonderful time visiting an orphanage in Belgrade and then a home for mentally disabled men. It was so much fun. I taught the little girl in this picture how to blow bubbles, and the joy of playing with a slinky. I may have even taught her to say slinky.
I won't be in many pictures during this trip, since I'm the one taking pictures of everyone else. There are lots of stories and pictures up on the Clog America blog and Instagram feed today.
All in all, a great day.
Stories and pictures to come when I have 5 minutes to myself. 

You Can Make a Difference to a Serbian Orphan

You know me, and you my two passions in this world are humanitarian work, and orphanages. I've visited orphanages in Romania, Haiti, and Cambodia. I plan to work at an orphanage in China next year. And in just four weeks from now I will be visiting an orphanage in Serbia with Clog America. 

And we need your help!

As you may recall, I am going with Clog America on their international dance tour to Romania and Serbia in July. While they travel, Clog America makes it a point to visit different charitable organizations, and make a difference where they can. 

This year they (we) will be visiting Zdrinka Pavlovic, an orphanage in Serbia for 35-40 disabled or abandoned children. We are collecting various items to help the orphanage better serve their children. 

During the month of May, flooding caused widespread devastation in Belgrade, Serbia. Our help in this area is needed now more than ever! Your donations can help bring aid to those left homeless by these floods, and can help us bring aid to the orphanage that originally inspired this humanitarian project. Keep reading for more details. Every dollar helps!

Our goal is to raise enough money to provide the children with as many of the following items as possible:
Hygiene kits
Pajamas
Clothes for young adults
Underwear for ages 6-18
Crayons
Jump Ropes
Small Blankets (I know some of you are quilters out there! How about a small twin sized quilt or bedspread for an orphanage?) 
Soccer Balls
Sock Puppets
Bedding size 90 x 190cm
Mattress
Bed
Dishwasher
Deep Fryer


A percentage of the money raised will go towards the items listed above, and towards the relief efforts to help those affected by the floods in Belgrade. We are accepting physical donations of the above items (you can give it to me, and I can take it with me, or if you live in another state, we can arrange for shipping or a drop off with someone else), as well as monetary donations.

You can contribute towards these efforts on the GoFundMe page - http://www.gofundme.com/7aih94 . 
So far only $220 of the desired $2,500 has been raised. 


Check out this cute video of Clog America visiting a children's hospital in Poland two years ago.

Catching Dreams

For as long as I can remember, my biggest dream in life has been to "have" my own orphanage. I've wanted to work in an orphanage, or work with orphanages, ever since I was a child. I've always had a small plan in the back of my head that at a vaguely defined point in the future I would move to another country, and start my own orphanage.

Over time I've come to realize it takes a lot more than that dream to do these things. My entire (doomed) foray into the Peace Corps was about me wanting to go to a country where I'd get to work with orphanages. (And then they screwed that one up on me big time. But whatever.) I worked with orphans in Haiti in 2010. I visited an orphanage in Romania in 2001. I spent a month working at an orphanage/shelter in Cambodia in 2011.

(And I've memorized every line in the movie, "Annie."  - The good version with Carol Burnett. The rest are all frauds.)
But my professional career has never lent itself well to following this dream. The harder I tried to get into a field or industry that would allow me to work with underprivileged children overseas, the further I seemed to get from that field. Last year I even took a class in non-profit marketing so I could hopefully get a job in non-profit work. Instead I landed in a job writing about the stock market. This is what I mean about the farthest opposite ends of industry!
But my situation and fate have changed again.
And this time things are coming together nicely to allow me to follow my dreams and passions and move abroad. This won't be just some simple short-term volunteer gig. Things are coming together beautifully to allow me to take a job in a country with a lot orphanages.
In the past few days and weeks relationships have dissolved and opportunities have arisen, that make me feel liberated.
It's funny how I feel like I have to explain my decision to others. I'm not doing it to justify my choices. This is who I am and what I have always wanted to do. My daydreams never looked like a husband and 3 kids in the suburbs. My daydreams always included orphanages, foster kids, and traveling the world with my laptop. I've never been a 9-5 worker, living in a condo, commuting to the city type. My heart wants to be in a developing country, where I can't drink water from the faucet, and I can barely speak the language. It's just who I am. I want to be serving others, not living for a paycheck.
But first I have to survive the next several months. I expect it will all fly by fast while I plan the singles conference, and make these plans to move abroad.
Bring it on, World! Let's do it!

Pro-Marriage, Anti-Marriage

First, let me make this one point clear- I support the traditional family movement. I have read the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' statement on marriage, and choose to endorse it. I want to make that clear, because everything else I am about to say, may lead you to think otherwise.

A little bit about me. I am in my late thirties, a product of the 1980’s and the Mtv generation. I grew up in the suburbs, in a family with a mother and a father who have been married over forty years now. I am the oldest of four children.
Most importantly, I know that my “traditional” upbringing makes me unique. I can think of few friends who grew up in similar environments, with a stay-at-home mom, a dad in the picture, and siblings. Most of my friends, by far the majority, did not have this same arrangement.
To the best of my knowledge, most of my friends were raised by a divorced mother. They knew their fathers, but his presence in their lives varied from person to person. Some had dads that lived in his own house in the same neighborhood, others had dads in far off places.
Single mothers who had never married, and yet “kept the child,” were still unusual, and mostly unheard of. It is my generation that would grow up to change that.
Each time I read another pro-family, pro- “traditional” marriage article, I want to argue with it, in spite of the fact that I try to be on their side. I often want to punch holes through weak, biased, straw man arguments.
If anything, I feel far more sympathy for the gay marriage supporters. But, I have made the decision to follow the prophet, keep the commandments, and in this case, that means I must accept the Church’s position on this issue. It may very well be the ultimate trial of my faith for years to come. I expect that it might be. But nonetheless, I choose it anyway.
Traditional marriage supporters often seem delusional to the opposing side. The arguments that a “child needs both a father and a mother” fall on very experienced, very deaf ears. I wonder if the traditionalists understand that? My generation- the generation with the political money, voting power, and the ones who have brought about much reform in the last 15-20 years, we don’t understand that way of thinking. We (the general we) were not raised in two parent homes, and we turned out just fine. The argument that in order to be smart, healthy, well-fed, loved, and cared for requires a father and a mother is inane to a generation that was not raised that way. Life experiences will always trump statistics.
If traditionalists want to convert or sway the other side, they have to understand that not only does the other side disagree with them, they have life experiences that prove the arguments invalid. All the “research” studies done by biased organizations (who knows how long ago), will never convince a college graduate raised by a single parent that they need both parents.

Be a Christmas Warrior for Bennett

I'm Bennett's 2011 Christmas Warrior!
Click Photo to Learn More!

Friends, meet Bennett. You and I are about to make a huge difference in this little man's life!

Bennett is a beautiful little 5 yr old boy living in an orphanage in Russia. He has Down's Syndrome and if he's not adopted soon he will be sent to live in an institution for the rest of his short life.

Reece's Rainbow is an amazing organization that helps families adopt children with Down's Syndrome, HIV, and other physical disabilities, by collecting tax deductible donations and putting them into funds for each individual child. Do you know my amazing friends the Riebens with the 5 adopted children (soon to be 7) (and their beautiful biological triplets)? Their adoptions were blessed with assistance from Reece's Rainbow. Since Reece's Rainbow began 5 years ago, over 500+ children and their families have been financially assisted in their adoptions with these grants.

International adoptions can cost more than $20,000, even up to $40,000. There are families who would love to bring these sweet children home, but finding the money to do it is difficult. Every cent you donate goes to bringing Bennett home!

I have signed up this year to be Bennett's Christmas Warrior. Throughout November I will be personally raising money for Bennett's adoption fund. If you donate at least $35 Reece's Rainbow will send you your own Angel Tree Christmas Ornament with Bennett's picture on it! Wouldn't that be a great gift for friends? Donate $35 in their name, and give them the ornament! I know I would love such a meaningful gift!

And I want to add my own little prize to the pot. For each $100 that is raised through my links for Bennett, I will do my very own happy dance video! The donations are direct to Reece's Rainbow, so I won't touch the money or see the names. But if you want to tell me (on your honor) that you made a $100 or greater donation, I will even let you pick the song that I dance to! Just to make sure we are clear- for every $100 that the count goes up, I will do a happy dance video. But if you personally tell me you donated $100 or more, you get to pick the song I dance to.

Are you ready? You can click on Bennett's picture, you can click on his name, or you can click right here to DONATE TO BENNETT'S ANGEL TREE FUND!!!
His total account is currently at $2207.50, with zero from Angel Tree. As soon as the Angel Tree donations hit $100, I'll do my first happy dance!


More information on Reece's Rainbow, the Angel Tree, and how to send a check.

PS- lest there be any confusion, I am NOT looking to adopt Bennett myself. I wish I were in a position to be adopting such a beautiful child right now. But I am not. Donations to Bennett, go to Bennett. Not to me!

Understanding Child Trafficking and Sex Slave Trafficking

While I am off traveling to Cambodia for the next few days, and unable to reach the internet for a while, I have left you with a few posts on the history of Cambodia, orphans, and child trafficking. You will also notice on the right sidebar I have linked to a few books on the subject if you would like to learn more.

The Kingdom of Cambodia, called Kampuchea in Khmer, is a small state in South East Asia. Cambodia borders Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. The capital is Phnom Penh with about 4 million people

Most of the 13 million population is ethnic Khmer, followed by ethnic Vietnamese, Chinese, Muslim Cham and some hill tribes. Most people are Buddhist, with animists and Christian minorities. Most people are young and poorly-educated. There is a dramatic lack of professionals and expertise, as the Khmer Rouge specifically targeted educated people. Rumors include that during the regime of Pol Pot he had all of the educated people killed, including anyone who were glasses, because they appeared educated. The country has been forced to rebuild for the last 30 years without its more educated, leading class. 

In the 1960s-1980s, one of the worst genocidal civil wars began. After political coups and with the Vietnam War next door, the Khmer Rouge took power and began systematically dismantling culture, infrastructure and families. Up to 3 million Cambodians are estimated to have died during the war and subsequent starvation.

Cambodia’s economy was once largely agriculture, then relied on foreign aid. However, it is improving and diversifying with tourism and the garment industry growing rapidly. Rice, fish, timber, garments (lots of international brands made in Cambodian factories) and rubber are major exports.

Cambodia has major problems with landmines, child prostitution, rural poverty and corruption. The Riverkids Orphanage (where I will be working) specializes in victims of extreme poverty and in child trafficking/prostitution. Many of the children may have one or two existing parents. But their definition of "orphan" is different from the US version. To them it means they do not have parents who are able to provide for them. 

Stats on child trafficking- (borrowed from Stop Child Trafficking Now)

• Child/Human Trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. Child/ human trafficking is the world’s second largest criminal enterprise, after drugs. U.S. State Department
• The global market of child trafficking at over $12 billion a year with over 1.2 million child victims. UNICEF
• As many as 2.8 million children run away each year in the US. Within 48 hours of hitting the streets, one-third of these children are lured or recruited into the underground world of prostitution and pornography.The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• The average age of entry for children victimized by the sex trade industry is 12 years. U.S. Department of Justice
• Approximately 80% of human trafficking victims are women and girls and up to 50% are minors.  U.S. State Department
• The average number of victims for non-incestuous pedophiles who molest girls is 20, for pedophiles who prefer boys 100! The Association For the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA)
• 300,000 children in the U.S. are at risk every year for commercial sexual exploitation. U.S. Department of Justice
• 600,000 – 800,000 people are bought and sold across international borders each year; 50% are children, most are female. The majority of these victims are forced into the commercial sex trade.  U.S. Department of State, 2004, Trafficking in Persons Report, Washington, D.C.
• An estimated 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States each year. The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country is even higher, with an estimated 200,000 American children at risk for trafficking into the sex industry. U.S. Department of Justice Report to Congress from Attorney General John Ashcroft on U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons
• Investigators and researchers estimate the average predator in the U.S. can make more than $200,000 a year off one young girl.  NBC Report by Teri Williams

The children who arrive at Riverkids have most likely at some point attempted to be sold by their parents. Why would parents do this? Generally because they were destitute and could not provide for their children. In some cases the parents were told their child was going to work in Vietnam and would taken care of. In those cases the parents thought they were doing a good thing. The "river kids" also get their names for being the orphaned children who were found going through the slums on the side of the river, looking for trash to sell or eat (think Slumdog Millionaire). Many of these orphans were truly kidnapped right off the river and sold down stream to someone else. 

It is because of the difficulties identifying how a child ended up in an orphanage, and identifying who the parents were, that has halted the progression of adoptions out of the country. This all involves the Hague Treaty, and that is a post for another day. 

If you would like to make donations to help out these sweet children, Riverkids has provided some simple ways to see how your money makes a difference-

For instance-
$15 for coal for cooking
$10.60 for groceries
At the site I believe I will be at (Railway 2) they say a donation of just $17.10 will provide lights and wiring for the school rooms.

If you want to help these children you can visit the Riverkids What to Give page and make a donation there.

And I will also offer this to you, if there is something special you would like me to do on your behalf while I am there (that is not listed on their website), whether it be buy them new toys, get them a special treat, send them letters (email them to me, or scan a child's drawing to me, and I can print them up), I would be happy to make that happen for you. If you would like to send me a few dollars via paypal , you can reach me at erinannie at yahoo for my account there. Just add a note telling me how you want your money spent. I promise to spend it your way, document it, take pictures of it being done, and get it back to you. For instance, sending just $10 via paypal, could take over a dozen children to see a play, or to go swimming.

I would love to act in your proxy to make things happen for these wonderful children!

Cambodian Orphans

If all goes well (there is still one MAJOR hurdle to overcome), I will be in Cambodia in just a few weeks. "Little" is visiting me in Virginia this week (more on how awesome that is later), and we have started to do a little research to get me ready for the trip.

If you haven't heard yet, I will be going to Cambodia for a 3 months internship, learning the more administrative, legal, and fundraising side of orphanages. I will be at 2 different orphanages during my time. (I believe one will be more rural, and the other in Phnom Penh, but I'm not positive.) One of the orphanages specifically provides care to children caught up in child trafficking.

Our research taught us the following information today-

Governmental lack of urgency condemns half a million Cambodians to life as orphans (Issues regarding the Hague Treaty ratification.)

Understanding intercountry adoption and what the Hague Treaty is all about.

258 orphanages in the country. 21 government run, 237 privately owned.


There are over 550,000 orphans in Cambodia. (The definition of orphan is different in Cambodia. Many children do still have one parent, or a family member living, but the child has been placed in an orphanage.)

In spite of this high number of orphans, there are only about 10,000 children in "institutions" (orphanages).

There are several conflicting statistics on how many of the orphans are HIV positive. Suffice it to say, many of the orphans are the children of prostitutes, and are HIV+.

There is currently a moratorium on intercountry adoptions. (Meaning children cannot leave Cambodia.) This is due to a lack of ratification of the Hague Treaty.


As excited and ready as I am for my trip, everything is completely dependent on a client paying me in full this week. If the client doesn't pay, my trip will likely be postponed indefinitely or completely called off. Will you think positive thoughts for me and pray everything goes smoothly? Thanks!

Dusty gets a family!!

A beautiful family has committed to adopt Dusty!! Donating to Reece's Rainbow works!!
So now let's get Katie a family!

This little doll is HIV+ and in an orphanage in Russia. If she is not adopted within the next 1-2 years she will be turned out to live on the streets. Because she is an orphan and HIV+, no one will give her a job or assistance once she is turned out. She will have no future.
Donating to her fund will help a family be able to afford to adopt her. In the US (or another Western country) she would live a very full life with decent medical care and a family to love her!
And you never know just who might be the family that is lucky enough to adopt this little darling!! It may just be someone you know! (Dusty's family is from my hometown!!)

Reece's Rainbow and Dusty

Thoughts of adoption and loving little children are never far from my heart. Two of my heroes and inspirations are my friends Richard and Valerie Rieben, who have adopted 4.75 special needs children (#5 joins the family in January, and #6 comes in 2011), and have triplet homemade darlings.
Richard and Valerie have introduced me to Reece's Rainbow. RR is wonderful organization that raises funds for the adoptions of special needs children in international orphanages. Many families would love to adopt these special children, but just can't find the $19,000-$30,000 it can take to adopt! Reece's Rainbow allows individuals like you and me donate money to help bring these beautiful children and families together.
The Riebens have chosen Dusty as their Christmas project. They will not be adopting Dusty. They are raising funds to help someone else be able to afford to adopt Dusty. I have decided to assist and support them in these efforts.

Dusty is 5 years old. He was born with Down Syndrome and other challenges. Birth trauma affecting multiple internal organs/systems. Multiple instances of CNS damage. Ischemic cardiopathy, Anemic stage 3, prematurity stage 1. His orphanage has a history of medicating the children, so many of them look sleepy and zoned out in their photos. (How sick is that?!)
Somewhere there is a family out there that could love this little man. With proper Western medical care he could thrive and live a healthier, longer life. If he is not adopted soon, he will be sent from the orphanage to a mental institution (where all children go when not adopted), where he will likely die from lack of care and provisions for his needs. 
I hope you will consider donating a few dollars to Dusty's fund. How about skipping Starbucks this week? Or buying a few less iTunes? Or telling your Secret Santa at work that instead of a new stapler, you would appreciate a donation to Dusty and/or Reece's Rainbow? Or spending $10 less on a frivolous gift, and instead, send it to Dusty?
For the month of December there will be a link of the side of my blog reminding you about Dusty. Please join me and the Riebens in giving Dusty the chance to have a family!
To donate just click Dusty's name, and then the DONATE button on his page. If you would like to participate in the Rieben's quilt and fundraiser for Dusty visit their blog!


I have to also mention this beautiful little girl- Katie. Isn't she just darling? Oh how I wish my circumstances were different right now. I'd take her home in a heartbeat!

One Heart in the Right Place

 one of my favorite little girls in the pediatrics tent at general hospital

This morning I had the chance to speak to a group of students at BYU regarding my Haiti experiences. I brought along my favorite translator, Neil, to help me out. These students are working on a plan to go to Haiti this summer to make a difference doing things from "holding babies" to "enabling the Haitians." Their faculty adviser, Prof Woodworth, asked Neil and I to be counselors of sorts to the group. And Neil and I are both hoping to possibly join them when they go down to help. If you are looking to make a difference or to help in Haiti, please support this group! You can find them at Sustain Haiti on Facebook or their blog at http://sustainhaiti.blogspot.com


Also, if you haven't already, check out my guest post for therhouse adoption advocacy blog today!

Orphans in Haiti

There is a lot of focus on the orphan situation in Haiti. I don't know what the current legal situation is regarding adoptions. There are too many rumors and not enough stable facts. And I do know everyone (American and Haitian) is trying to make some fast changes. I've heard way too many conflicting things to know enough concrete facts to be an expert on how to adopt out of Haiti.

But this is what I can tell you. I will be going back to Haiti (soon) to adopt my own children. I will adopt them from the orphanage I helped build. I will go back and rescue my own children from that field. I can tell you I left a part of my heart in that field. And there will always be a part of my heart in that field.

There are thousands of orphaned children in Haiti. There were thousands before the earthquake, and there are thousands more now. They are in orphanages, in the streets, and in the hospitals. Not all are available for adoption, because they are parental surrenders. Their parents hope to come back for them. This is when they parent(s) voluntarily signs over custody of children because they can no longer provide for them. This happens a lot with special needs children. The number of special needs children has increased exponentially since the quake. The pediatrics wings of the hospitals are full of children with amputated limbs. These children will be likely discharged to go home with their parents back in their tent cities. It is just a matter of time until their parents will decide they cannot provide for a handicapped child while living in a tent in a street. Soon the child will be surrendered to an orphanage. There is an ever increasing need for families willing to adopt a physically  handicapped child from Haiti, in addition to the full-bodied children who need homes too.

 (this little sweetheart is not in an orphanage, nor up for adoption, but is a good representation of what sort of injuries you will find in Haiti.) 

 (a common looking "tent city" community where 1 million homeless and displaced Haitians are living. can you imagine raising your family, let alone a handicapped child, in these conditions?)

I cannot give advice on how to adopt from Haiti. I will recommend using Wasatch International Adoptions. This is the organization we worked with to help get children sent to their waiting adopted families in Utah. I trust them to be honest and work quickly to help adoptive parents.