another miracle

AH, the tears of joy He had promised are streaming down my face right now, far sooner than I had ever expected. I just got off the phone with our friend Jen, whose husband Jarod is the DR right now with Matt.

Nine years ago, Jen and Jarod began the process of adopting three children. For years, they have watched other Haitian children adopted, but have never been able to adopt Daphne, Jadon and Justin. They have spent countless amount of money and time and travel and tears on different agencies and lawyers and on everything possible to make these adoptions happen, but corruption, (adoptions that are still open are still making money), ever-changing laws (cannot adopt until you’re 30…then cannot adopt until you’re 35….cannot adopt if you have biological children…) and “lost” paperwork have kept the adoption process going until now.

Because the adoptions could not be finalized, the kids couldn’t get visas, meaning that three of their five children (two biological) have never left Haiti, meaning that Jen and Jarod cannot leave Haiti together, but have always had to do short furlough’s apart while one of them cares for the kids here.

Jadon is also severely autistic, and has been unable to have access to any of the help that going to the States could have offered.

For NINE YEARS.

Since I met Jen, we have prayed for and searched with and hoped for her, but had truly seen NO progress. I have watched them struggle with coming to peace with the fact that the children that they have raised and loved and cared for and who have been THEIRS might never legally be…struggle with the knowledge that their lives might always and forever be mostly in Haiti in order to be with their children.

After nine years, it was just not going to happen.

Well, I just got off the phone with her, and TONIGHT, she and her FIVE children are flying to Fort-Lauderdale from Port-au-Prince. Due to all of the paperwork on adoptions being lost in the earthquakes, pending adoptions are being rushed through, and all her kiddos have Visa’s waiting for them in Port. Once they arrive in the States they can work to finalize the adoptions.

Tomorrow, she is taking her WHOLE family to her home country, and adoptions should be on the horizon. Jarod should be following soon, as soon as he is free from the major relief work in the DR/Haiti. She was SO EXCITED she could hardly speak, and I am so overwhelmed that I couldn’t either.

What a BEATUFIUL miracle, a miracle, and a beautiful thing arising from the ashes. I am so thankful, and so thankful for these happy tears and to see the day that nine years of the prayers of many were answered.

“Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. The Lord, who scattered his people, will gather them and watch over them.”

Jeremiah 31:9