Posted: January 18th 2010
From KELO News:
A Watertown couple's prayers have been answered. Over the past week, we've told you about Bruce and Jill Lear. They've been trying to adopt two children from Haiti for two years and feared their adoptions were rocked after the devastating earthquake.
But thanks to South Dakota's Congressional delegation, the Lears will soon bring nine-year-olds Pierre and Anje-Laurette home to South Dakota.
They're calling it a miracle. The Lears just learned Pierre and Anje-Laurette will soon be evacuated to Florida where they'll meet up with their adoptive parents.
Haiti began sending orphans who have adoptive parents to the U.S. and the Netherlands just Sunday; Pierre and Anje-Laurette are scheduled to leave soon.
The Lears can thank Senator John Thune for writing a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton asking her and the Department of Homeland Security to put pressure on the Haitian government.
"So we are trying to get Secretary of State Clinton and the Homeland Security director to get really focused on this issue and doing as much as they can to help expedite the process," Thune said.
Pierre and Anje-Laurette are being granted what's called "humanitarian parole" so they can take refuge in the U.S. with the Lears until the adoption paperwork is completed.
"I'm glad to see that there is an effort being made by our government, hopefully, that will continue to provide some relief to more of these children," Thune said.
The Lears were thinking they wouldn't be able to bring the two children home until this summer, but now it could be just a few days.
The Lears are flying to Florida so they can be there when Pierre and Anje-Laurette arrive. ...
