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Haiti is the destination of angels

By John Laird
Published: January 17, 2010, 12:00am

Americans’ response to the earthquake in Haiti has ranged from praying to braying. At the positive end of the spectrum, millions of people petition a higher power to spread love and relief among the Haitians, whose incalculable suffering will increase in coming days. At the negative end of the spectrum are the radio jackals who use their golden microphones to dispense the corrosive rust of hate. Their game plan is as despicable as it is transparent: Let no catastrophe go to waste in the relentless crusade to denounce political leaders.

Somewhere in the middle — between the longing and the loathing — you’ll find the real heroes, angels brave enough to penetrate the darkest trenches of despair and lead the abandoned, the forlorn, the wounded and the starving toward the light of life.

Here are a few of those heroes:

Amy and Eugene Brownell of Portland appeared on ABC News Thursday evening. I encourage you to view that video at http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=9567433.

The Brownells have adopted three children from Haiti: second-grade guitarist Eva, fifth-grade cross country runner Jolie and 10th-grade pianist Kerline. As the ABC interview revealed, the Brownells also are in the process of adopting three Haitian boys: 4-year-old Thomas, 2-year-old Luther and 3-month-old Lucas.

In addition to those noble commitments, Amy hopes to obtain a master’s degree in International Development. Eugene works in customer relations software development. You can learn more about the family and the adoptions by visiting their blog, the “Brownell Three Ring Circus,” http://brownells.wordpress.com.

The adoption agency in Haiti that is working with the Brownells is New Life Link, run by Dr. Jacob Bernard, who also runs an orphanage called Hope for the Children of Haiti.

Thursday’s nationally televised interview was highlighted by a moment of overwhelming joy and compassion. Through the magic of a Skype connection to Port-au-Prince and with the help of ABC, Amy and Eugene were able to see the three boys they are adopting, and to learn for sure that they are OK after the earthquake. Amy wept.

Gerald Walle of Boston has known the Brownells for several years through his volunteer work with Hope for the Children of Haiti. He has visited the couple in Portland and worked with their parents’ church to raise funds for the adoption agency and the orphanage in Haiti. In the interest of full disclosure, be it known that Walle is my brother-in-law. He has traveled to Haiti more than three dozen times to assist the HFC orphanage in the Bolosse area of Port-au-Prince.

My sister, Laurie, joined Gerald on one trip and has helped the orphanage through volunteer efforts at home. Each of their four children has visited Haiti two or three times on relief missions. HFC is more than just a refuge for lost or abandoned children. Many are adopted, but many are not. The orphanage teaches the children adult living skills, preparing them for success at work and at home. An internship program allows young Christian men and women to work at the orphanage, learning and practicing social service skills. To support Help for the Children of Haiti, visit: http://www.hfchaiti.org.

Patty Thomas of Kennewick works at the New Life Children’s Center in Port-au-Prince and called her son Thursday night to tell him she had survived the earthquake. She also said she will stay and help the children at the orphanage, which is run by Florida-based World Harvest Missions Outreach: http://worldharvestmissionsoutreach.org.

The Port Orchard family of Molly Hightower received the worst possible news, that the 22-year-old graduate of the University of Portland had died in the earthquake. A search crew found her body; she had been on the fifth floor of a seven-story building when it collapsed. Molly was doing the work she loved, providing physical therapy to handicapped children at Friends of the Orphans: http://www.friendsoftheorphans.org.

These are just a few of the countless angels who come from all parts of the world to teach, build, heal and comfort. May their lessons of love and service soften our hearts.

John Laird is The Columbian’s editorial page editor. His column of personal opinion appears each Sunday. Reach him at john.laird@columbian.com.

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