Adoptive parents await word from Haiti

KINGSLAND, Texas (KXAN) - Five years ago, Lonnie and Kim Harmon of Kingsland had a much quieter dining room. Their own children were grown and gone.

"At that time, we just felt God led us to adopt our own," Kim said.

They traveled to Haiti when their daughter decided to adopt. Over the next half decade, they ended up with not one or even two but five of their own orphans around the dining room table.

"Everyone was surprised when it happened,” Lonnie said. “You know, 'Are you crazy? Do you know how old you're going to be when they grow up?' Those kinds of things."

During that time, Kim also became president of the adoption outreach group “For His Glory,” managing more than 130 orphan cases in Port-au-Prince. After this week's earthquake there, she waited for word from the orphanage director there.

"He's obtained potable water, food,” she said. “He received tents. They slept outside the first night. He said the babies were cold, but everyone appeared to be doing well."

Including a little boy named Johnsley - the sixth child the Harmons plan to adopt. But the process can take years, which is why they're calling every contact they have on the federal and state level.

“We've told everybody as high up in the government as you can go,” Kim said. “If you can get Hillary Clinton's phone number or George Bush's cell phone, let's go that route."

Their hope in the wake of this tragedy is to speed up the adoption process at their orphanage. Most of the children are already spoken for.

"If we can move those children that are in process out,” Kim added, “we can take care of those that have been recently orphaned."

"I saw a little boy last night,” said Lonnie. “His father had died. He was just sitting there, wanting him not be dead."

The thought of Johnsley, their number six, in that same situation is heartbreaking to the Harmons and still motivating enough to keep moving forward with their plan.

"There will be some hugging and tears and crying,” Kim said.

The Harmons already had tickets to travel next week to Haiti before the earthquake struck. Depending on how air travel is, they still want to go.

The couple is working through its church, Packsaddle Fellowship Church, in Kingsland to collect supplies and money for the orphanage. Donations may be given on the Web site www.forhisgloryoutreach.org. Checks can also be sent to Wells Fargo 939 RR 1431 Kingsland, TX 78639.

The church is also collecting donations. Call 512-431-3815 or 325-379-1245.