Now a Daughter

A couple weeks ago, we had the privilege of hosting a wonderful couple who was here to finalize their daughter’s adoption.  It was amazing to see how God had our paths cross for both of their adoption processes.  I worked with them as their family coordinator when they adopted their first child from China several years ago. How crazy that we ended up meeting at the guesthouse in Haiti while they completed their 2^nd child’s adoption. Amazing how it worked out!  I didn’t meet them in the U.S. when we were a couple states away, but we found ourselves living under the same roof for a week in Haiti!

It is a unique experience to go from the paperwork side of the process to being here in-person to witness the actual adoption taking place. 

When a family begins the adoption process, their hearts begin to bond with a child that they’ve never met, then they say “yes” to a child whose picture they spend hours gazing at and then finally the day comes when the child is in their arms forever.

On Sunday, we witnessed an end and a beginning. The end of a long paperwork process, months of waiting, longing & anticipation, the end of life as an orphan, the beginning of life as a daughter, a member of a family, a sister and life filled with new experiences and opportunities.

It was a powerful moment to see this little girl at the orphanage with all of the other children. She was at the table eating breakfast, but her day quickly changed when we showed up. She got a bath, powdered & dressed up and put in the arms of her mama. And that was that. Her life changed forever in that moment.

It has made me think a lot about our adoptions as sons and daughters of God. We did nothing to earn His love, we can’t buy it or pay it back. Fully knowing that, He willingly sent His Son who walked a long, hard, painful journey to bring us into His family.  Once in His family, its just the beginning of new life, opportunities and  perspective. Its not to say that life will be without challenges. But it does say that no matter what, we are His.  In a moment our lives change and we are never the same.  We are reminded that this is not our home and we wait in eager anticipation of our heavenly home where all will be made right.  A child becoming a part of a family is such a tangible example of the gospel. How incredible to be able to watch these first few days of a new family.

My heart breaks for the many other children who stood at the gate watching us leave the orphanage. It must be so painful to see one child leave and wonder why it wasn’t you. I pray that each one of them would be able to leave the gates of the orphanage with a loving family.

This week was filled with many adventures as well!  We visited a ministry called The Apparent Project. It was encouraging to see lives being changed by the opportunity to work, use their talents & skills and hear the gospel. You can read more about it here: http://www.apparentproject.org/

We also experienced going to a clinic in Haiti.  A partially covered outdoor area filled with benches was lined with moms and their adorable tiny babies.  I guess Wednesday was pediatric day, so it was cute-baby central!  The fee for the clinic was about $1.50 and the medications needed were not much more than that.  Its wonderful to see the children receiving the medical care they need, but its not an easy process for them to first get to the clinic, pay for services and the wait could be hours to be seen by the doctor.

We also spent the day at the beach. It was beautiful! The mountains wrapped around the beach, the water was blue, it wasn’t too hot and it was such a nice day away.

beach babe

a jelly fish!

We had heard about a pizza place and thought it would be a nice change to have something different. It was delicious! We were thankful for something familiar and a change from our new Haitian diet. J

Another new experience included going to an outdoor market. I have a new respect for the hard work that it is to simply eat.  The meat, vegetables, fruit, rice, oil & beans are all brought to the market. People are selling things everywhere including the streets, sidewalks and inside a building. 

There were so many people, animals, vehicles and it had rained so it was a slippery, muddy mess to get through. We are so used to our fluorescent lights, ultra sterile supermarket experience that this was quite an eye-opener. The woman who cooks at the guesthouse was our guide through the chaos. At one point, she took my wrist and hauled me to the back of the building. This must be where she does most of the shopping. It was dark, hot and thankfully less crowded, but where we stopped was the “meat department.” Tim and I decided it was best just to look at each other to avoid seeing anything that would cause us to lose our cool.  We were much more at ease by the time we made it to the vegetable and grain section.  

We waited while she did her shopping, thoroughly examining all of the fruits & vegetables. In other sections, people were cooking food in massive pots, a few people napping, chickens clucking and a man making a whistling/buzzing sound with his mouth, cheek and hand.  I guess he was the “grocery store music”.  It was all I could do to just take it all in.  I couldn’t believe all of the stuff that our cook normally brings home on a motorcycle. The bags were so heavy & awkward and it was SO hot.  I will not take for granted the day she says she’s heading to the market.  It’s so much more than that. It’s a long, difficult, hot process to simply grocery shop.

So much of every day life, tasks, errands and processes take on such a different level of involvement, work and challenges here. I’m never quite sure what to do with what I see and how it should change me in order to have it alter my perspective in a way that would benefit others. Surely a shiny supermarket is not the answer to the challenges. Maybe my perceived difficulty of grocery shopping is not even seen as a problem? So many questions fill my mind as I take in life around me. 

It was a great week filled with many adventures and I’m so thankful that there is one less orphan in the world! Your family loves you, sweet girl.