Haitian Orphans Experience Oklahoma At Bristow Ranch

Lacie Lowry, News On 6

BRISTOW, Oklahoma -- A Green Country ranch is giving orphans from Haiti a chance to see what life is like in Oklahoma.

The owner of the ranch in Bristow has visited Haiti several times and wanted to open his home to the orphans he met.

This weekend, his dream came true. Jake Jones has opened his JCross Ranch to fifteen orphans from Haiti.

Jones visited Haiti more than ten years ago to help orphanage raise money. His family has visited every year since then, growing closer to the orphans.

"These kids that we have known, we love, my family has grown up with and so to have them in my home is just a real blessing and kind of a dream come true," Jones said.

Eighteen-year-old Francia is one of the children Jones has watched grow up.

"When I was little, I always dreamed to come to the U.S. one day and I never knew it would come so fast, like while I'm young, so it's like a dream come true," Francia said.

Francia's mother died when she was very young and Francia went into the orphanage so she could have a better life.

"I'm thankful for everything. Everyday I wake up and it's like, everything is new for me and I love it because I am experiencing new stuff and knowing new people," she said.

The orphans are experiencing horse-back riding, kayaking and hayrides for the first time. But they're not just here for the ranch life.

The orphans are in a children's choir and touring America and Jones helped coordinate a stop in Oklahoma.

"It's really great to be in the choir singing and sharing Jesus Christ with people everywhere we go," said Haitian orphan Loudrige Pierre.

They're visiting schools and churches from California and New Mexico to Nebraska and Tennessee while also spreading awareness about orphans all over the world.

"Help children who are in need because there are a lot of kids who are in need," Pierre said.

"A very large world, a lot of great things out there and so even for us, the Joneses, it's allowed us to think outside of ourselves," Jones said.

The orphans will be performing Sunday at Life Connection Church in Jenks at 10 a.m. and Victory Christian Center in Tulsa at 6 p.m.