Then
you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will
say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in
behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light
will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The
Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a
spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:9-11
A
good friend reminded me that we should not become weary of sharing the wonders
of God. That we should not become tired
of sharing His good deeds. That we
should not become tired of singing His praises.
Well here goes….God has opened up the floodgates of blessings on our
family. He is doing wonders that no man
could orchestrate. I don’t have any
other option than to stand at the roof tops and shout, “How Great is My GOD!”
Eight
months ago nothing with our adoption process made sense. We had road blocks that most families never
even encounter on this journey. Most of
them due to man getting in the way of God.
However, if there is one thing I have learned throughout this process it
is that man plans, but the Lord’s will prevails. Six months ago we parted ways with one of the
only two agencies that handle adoptions with the orphanage our baby is in. I found the only other agency by matching the
pattern on the floor of the orphanage, of the only picture I had of our baby
girl, to a picture of the pattern of the floor of an orphanage I found
searching the internet. I found an organization
that advocated for this orphanage and it had a picture of kids sitting on the
floor…it was the same floor. Through
that website I found the only other adoption agency that was able to carry out
adoptions with the orphanage in Haiti where our baby was. Last week the same organization that
advocates for this orphanage, that led us to our new agency, allowed us to go
on a mission trip. I was led back to
this organization by a chance meeting of a sweet lady, at a craft show, who put
us in contact with a family member who lived in another state, who happened to
partner with this organization, who happened to be adopting from this same orphanage,
who later invited us to go on this mission trip! Last week I stood on the top of a mountain
over-looking the Caribbean, under a pavilion listening to 50+ Haitian women
praising God and signing His name in their sweet Haitian language, with the
warm air blowing all around me. The presence of God was so strong it felt as if
He stepped out of Heaven enveloped that pavilion with His presence. Eight months ago we thought our journey was
over. last week I experienced the wonderful country of Haiti. Last week I experienced the presence of God
like I have never felt. Last week I held
orphans in my arms for five days. They
slept on my chest, we played basket ball.
Last week I got the privilege of washing 50+ Haitian women’s feet. Most of who have never been touched in a
loving way. Most of who are repeatedly violated
and mistreated. Most of who never get
more than one meal a day if that. Some of
them had medical conditions that needed to be treated, but because of lack of
doctors and funds their ailments were left untreated. As I washed their feet, I thought selfishly
of all the times I have sat and had a pedicure and never thought twice about it. These women’s feet were nasty and dirty, but
I have never seen more beautiful feet.
One woman’s ankle was so swollen and it was obvious she had been in some
pain for quite some time, but she allowed me to wash her feet anyways. And as we washed, their voices began to sing. They sang Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Lord, Lord,
Lord, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor and as they sang every name that described our
Lord in their beautiful language I couldn’t help but realize these women had so
much more than I did. They had a faith
and a love for their Jesus that was so much deeper than mine. They had a passion that far out shown mine. They had a boldness that I have yet to
attain. By worldly standards they are
very poor, however by Heavenly standards they are rich far beyond what they
realize. And as we finished up washing
their feet, and as I dried my tears they asked if they could wash our
feet. Here we were to serve them, here
we are the Americans who have everything…and they again were the ones with the servant’s
heart. And as they washed my feet and
sprinkled that sweet smelling water over my ankles I fully understood Jesus washing
the disciples’ feet. It took the Lord
pulling me out of Alabama and sending me out into an impoverished island in the
middle of the Caribbean, but He showed me Himself in the hearts of a remnant of
women who live on an island with nothing, nothing but Jesus. And as they sang “This is my story, This is
my song, Praising my Savior All The Day Long” (even with the language
barrier-you can still tell a good ole hymn) I realized their story was so rich,
so full of Jesus. This was my most
favorite part of the trip. Yes, meeting
our daughter was incredible. However, experiencing the presence of God in such
a powerful way far exceeds it.
The
last night we were there, we knew we had to leave all the kids who had stained
our hearts. We got to experience a going
away party for a little boy that got to come home with the couple that was
leading the trip. (This was an added
treat for us to see the process does come to a happy end) It was bitter sweet watching all the kids experience
ice cream. Some of them were happy and
some were sad. There was one little boy
that broke my heart. He couldn’t enjoy
the party for the sadness he felt at his friend leaving. It was time to hand our baby back over to the
loving nannies who care for her each day.
Brad was holding her and handed her back to me. As I was
walking back to hand her over, we huddled in a corner, and just as we have done
many times with Anna Lee, I held her and Brad prayed. I don’t even really know what all he prayed
for, for our tears and the noise around us, but in that moment I had a peace
and a joy that is unexplainable. We were
able to hand her over and walk away with joy, excitement and anticipation and
that my friend is only due to the power of God and praying friends. I had experienced a joy earlier in the week
that can only be found in the Lord. This
joy is what keeps us going. This joy is
what keeps us from overwhelming sadness.
This joy is what keeps us from questioning this process and why we have
encountered so many roadblocks. We are
beginning to understand and see the full picture for our family. And what a beautiful picture God has allowed
us to have.
When
we returned home we got a call that our paperwork is finally in Haiti. It is now up to the Haitian government to
match us, Lord willing, to the little girl we have come to love so much. When I got home I found myself bargaining and
pleading with God…”Lord, I have smelt her hair, I know what she feels like, I
know how soft her skin is, I know that her eye lashes are so long that they
have curled into one another, I know that she sucks her hand to soothe herself,
I know that she hides her right eye until she feels comfortable, I know she has
a big personality buried deep inside and only lets it show every once in a
while, I know she laughs when you tickle her right side, and there is so much
more that I want to know about her…Please don’t bring us this close to take her
away. Please don’t allow all this to happen
only to have the government say, “no, you can’t have her.” Please Lord my heart can’t handle that. And through some very sound advice from a
person I love dearly, if that happens, the Lord is big enough to heal me, and
if that happens the Lord has a plan and we just have to trust, and if that
happens He will hold me up just like He has held up all those beautiful women
that allowed me into their life for a brief time last week in Haiti. However, for today I am choosing to trust
whatever His plan is, and I am choosing to trust He will still provide a way
for this sweet baby to come home, and home being to us and our family.
When
and if the Haitian government says we can have her we have to send $8200. Then, before we bring her home we send $8200
more. Plus our travel fees for two more
trips. The lord has provided all the
payments we have needed to this point, and through our craft shows and
fundraisers we have always had a cushion.
Well, we don’t have the cushion for that next payment. As we were traveling home from Haiti, Brad
asked me what our plans were for the next payment. Craft shows don’t start up again until March…I
wasn’t quite sure what we were going to do, but I had a peace. I got a call yesterday from the last grant agency
that we applied for. They have partnered
with the Tim Tebow foundation to help adopting families bring home children
with special needs. They approved our family
to receive a grant totaling $8000. OUR
NEXT PAYMENT!
For
two years we have been on this journey.
For two years we have felt as if we were sitting still. For two years not much has made sense. In a matter of two weeks the Lord has put us
in Haiti, allowed us to meet some very special children and people, has allowed
us to experience Him in ways like we never have, and had provided for every
need that we have. Man cannot
orchestrate the things that are happening in our family. ONLY GOD CAN! I have stacks of prayer journals filled with
prayers for this baby, those children, the nannies, my family, the Haitian
government. I am seeing with my own eyes
the answers that are coming. I have
prayed many times what it would feel like to hold my baby. I know.
I have prayed many times for the nannies who are caring for these
children…I have seen them with my own eyes.
I have prayed many times to experience the Haitian culture so when my
baby asks what her home was like I could tell her. I have experienced it to the fullest, even
being allowed to attend a Haitian wedding.
I know what her country smells like, I know the women carry baskets on
their head, I know what church looks like and how they worship with a depth
that is overwhelming. I know their
traffic is ridiculous, and that is one thing I care to never experience again. I know the colors that fill that country and
the beautiful mountains and water. I
have prayed time and time again for this experience. God exceeded my every need, want and
expectation. I dare you to tell me there
isn’t a God…I CAN PROVE THERE IS!
I will
Praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will
sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:1-2
