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February 21: Ricky and Kara came to America on February 19, 2010. Their parents are pastors of Grace International's compound in Carrefour, Haiti. This is the same location where the girls' orphanage is located. These children are 16 and 17 years old. They have lost their adopted siblings (one boy and one girl) in the earthquake when the ground swallowed their home. Their parents are responsible for 1500-2000 people in their congregation and are doing everything that they can to help their fellow Haitian families. In turn, this precious family choose to send their remaining two children to America. Ricky and Kara have been entrusted to WOLCC on February 21, 2010. WOLCC is working with different agencies to ensure a smooth transition and a peaceful and joyful time while they are here with us. We are continuing to pray for all of the families in Haiti and safety for all the children. Progress is moving forward to receive the children to Polk County. Thank you again to everyone for your support. Praise be to God!
January 27: We have received everything that we can hold at this time for the children. We ask that you not buy any more supplies or come to the church to drop off. We are preparing the facility for their arrival (still unknown of when that is). You may subscribe to our email list for updates. Many people are asking about fostering a child. Our organization will not be placing these children in homes. The organization that is, can not take phone calls or emails at this time because their main focus is to get the children here. Once the children are here, then if there is a need for families to take these children, they will let us know. We are not able to keep up with the responses to all of your emails, phone calls or walk-ins for foster care. Thank you all again for your support.
January 26: The gathering of the items is almost complete. We are still awaiting word of the arrival of the children, which is still in process. We are continuing to work with the governments; United States and Haiti, our partners whom oversee the orphanages. We are believing for the approval of the governments and agencies involved to allow the children to come to Florida. As you can imagine , this is a monumental task as this does not occur quickly, so with patience, we do our work in preparation of their arrival. We ask that you continue to pray. Please check back daily for updates.
January 25: Due to the overwhelming response to the need of the Haitian Orphans that we are preparing to care for at WOLCC, we have to ask that you not call WOLCC's office. You may email us at church@wolccbartow.org for updated information. You may also subscribe to our email notifications. Thank you again to everyone who is donating, praying, working with companies to receive donations, etc.
January 24: The children will be staying at WOLCC facility until the agency that oversees the children identifies where they will go from there. As we know more about the actual dates we will let you know.
January 22: We are in the process of readying our facility to accept eighty-four (84) girls and boys who live in orphanages that were damage from the earthquake in Carrefour, Haiti. (We know these children and already support their homes). We do not know when they will arrive but we must get ready to receive them. We expect to house these children for approximately 7 to 10 days. With this responsibility comes the need for the basic necessities to care for them. They will come to us with just the clothes on their back. We also know that the children range from 3-24 years old. Most of them are from 8 years old to 13 years old. We will have more girls than boys.
January 19 Begins: On Tuesday, January 19th, WOLCC gave approximately $2876 to Grace International to help them with the purchase of food and water for the 15,000 people who are sleeping on the grass in their compound, Grace Village. Their girls' home is also located on this property and the girls' are sleeping in a ship container during the night. Thank you so much for your giving to Haiti.
This immediate goal of this ministry is to try to evacuate the girls (51 of them) and the boys from the boys' home (34 of them that reside a mile away on another campus) out of Carrefour to Polk County. We will be working with the overseeing international agency who gathers support for all of the orphans that we just mentioned as well as other orphanages in Haiti and around the world. The agency will be placing these wonderful children in temporary housing around the US and the balance will be placed with families in Polk County.
Our third goal is to start rebuilding all of our schools, orphanages, pastor's homes and churches. The organization that we partner with in Haiti has over 200 churches, schools, and several feeding programs that service over 6,000 people daily. Their web site is www.graceiinc.com. 
Author, Deborah WhiteBoys from the Boys home at Wanny 93, Careefour, Haiti.
Girls before the earthquake.
Thousands of people in the compound at Grace Village.
Girls living in a container after the earthquake.
Word of Life Christian Center is Affiliated with Gospel Crusade Ministerial Fellowship
"Equipping the church for the work of the Ministry."
1555 West Main Street, Bartow, FL 33830
Word of Life Christian Center is accepting financial donations for the children of these orphanages in Haiti. If you would like to donate, you may send your check or money order to Word of Life Christian Center, 1555 West Main Street, Bartow, Florida, 33830. Please indicate that your donations are for Haiti, the children, mission etc. Thank you for your support.
