Woman to rescue 40 orphans from Haiti

Woman to rescue 40 orphans from Haiti

Updated: Monday, 25 Jan 2010, 12:24 PM CST

Published : Tuesday, 19 Jan 2010, 10:45 PM CST

John Rogers

Blanton Box

Photojournalist: Riccardo Montgomery

STAPLETON, Ala. (WALA) - On Monday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a humanitarian parole policy, making it easier to bring orphans into the U.S. Many of these children have been caught in government red tape for years as their adoptive parents waited here in America. FOX10 News sat down with one woman who is finally bringing some of these kids home.

On January 14, we spoke with Keith Lashbrook, a missionary in Port-au-Paix, Haiti. He runs an orphanage with 118 kids, and refugees from areas destroyed by the earthquake were coming to him for help.

Lashbrook said in the January 14 interview, "They're devastated, there's a lot of wailing and crying going on."

Lashbrook housed the refugees in a school and church on his property. Now he's overwhelmed.

"As the aftershocks have continued through the week and into the weekend, those buildings are not livable. The walls have separated and have begun to crumble," Lashbrook's friend Natalie Lewis said.

Friends say his rations are running low and he's running out of money.

So Natalie Lewis is going to help. On Wednesday, she will travel with five others to the Dominican Republic and take a charter flight into Port-au-Paix.

She's going to bring cash along with diapers and baby formula. But she's returning home with precious cargo.

"The children will be able to leave on emergency visas," says Lewis.

Lewis will come back with 40 orphans. Some have already been adopted, but have been caught in red tape as the adoption process dragged on.

"Being able to get on that phone and spread the news to those parents saying their kids will come home, there's no words to describe it," Lewis said.

Lewis is not worried about herself or her safety. The only thing on her mind is getting those 40 kids out of the country. And for her, it's personal. Four of those children have been waiting to call her 'mom'.

FOX10 News has provided Lewis with a flip cam which she will use during her trip, and we will share that with you when she returns. If you'd like to help this ministry click here.