Family worries about Haitian adoption

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A Wabash Valley family hoping to bring one of their members home--a member they've only seen in person twice.

The massive relief effort continues to mobilize to help in Haiti, a country devastated by an earthquake earlier this week. Possibly as many as 200,000 are feared dead, including 15 Americans.

"This was a very clear message from God that this was our child," said Amy Mason.

Amy and her husband Floyd Mason felt that message almost two years ago on a missions trip to the Rivers of Hope orphanage outside Port-au-Prince. The first time they saw Joshua, he just 8 weeks old and his biological parents were dropping him off because they too poor to take care of him.

"It was just something, we were called, basically, that we was left on our doorstep," said Floyd. "We decided pretty much then he was going to be ours."

The Masons got a text Tuesday after the earthquake hit. For three hours, they didn't know if the orphanage was still standing or if Joshua was even alive.

"I was sick, just sick," said Amy. "I couldn't imagine if that had happened, what we would have done."

Since finding out Joshua's okay, the next worry is how the earthquake affected the adoption process. They don't know how the disaster affected the Social service building with their paperwork inside.

The Mason's older child, Ross, 8, just said he badly wanted Joshua home badly.

Floyd will get a chance to check in on Joshua in about 10 days, when he plans to travel with a relief team down to Haiti. But he will have to leave Joshua behind.

"We will continue to wait," said Amy. "Continue to be here, ready for him."

Ready and waiting, but no one knows just how long the wait will last.

The Masons were hoping the Joshua may be cleared to come to Terre Haute this fall. They ask for prayers for all the children newly orphaned in Haiti.