On thankfulness...

Todd and Shelby returned from their trip last night safe, sound and exhausted!  Shelby couldn't stop talking about the people, the orphans and the amazing things the group experienced.  I'm shocked that Todd was able to get her back on the plane to come home!  While there she was also able to meet Jaline and hold her.  Though this was something she was looking forward to, she speaks somberly when talking about the visit.  She was broken.   I hear it in her voice and I see it in her eyes.   We have all fallen crazy in love with this little girl and for Shelby to see her, hold her and not be able to take her was indeed a heartbreak.

On Thanksgiving while us Americans were enjoying some turkey and pumpkin pie, Todd was in a court in Haiti with our attorney, Jaline and Jaline's biological parents.  They officially relinquished their parental rights to her and named us her legal guardians.  Ah, but wouldn't it have been nice if that was the end and Todd turned around and brought her home?  Sigh.  It is not.  While we are her legal guardians, the head of the current orphanage she is in still has to give us his permission to release her.  Crazy, right?  When I try to rationalize that, Todd looks at me and says, "That's Haiti."  Which is why this process is so unpredictable and so long.

We are hoping to have her moved to a place next week that will adequately care for her physical and emotional needs until we are able to do that for her.  We are waiting for our dossier to be stamped by the Haitian Consulate in Chicago then those documents will be sent to our attorney in Haiti.  From what we are told, this is when the year long wait begins.  After moving so quickly to get our dossier complete it seems rather odd to sit and wait!  Again, we are praying that God will intervene in the process, defying  all odds and bringing her home.

It really is incredible to be in the middle of something that God is moving for you.  To wait in anticipation to see where He is moving next, yet having no idea where that is, is what I believe defines faith.  We know that He has the power to move the right people into action, the power to provide for us financially and the healing power to restore a lost and broken little girl, but to wait for all that to unravel requires a patience that I often doubt I possess.  The journey seems so very long right now.  Discouragement creeps in and tries to eclipse the joy I have in being a part of this amazing journey.  And then God swoops down, pulls me in and allows me to feel His presence and His provision once again.   When I looked through my mail yesterday there was an envelope from a client of mine that I was expecting for payment on a cookie order.  The amount she owed was $96.  Inside the note was a folded check and a note that read, "We wanted to give you a little something to help in any way you needed for your little girl or the adoption."  I unfolded the note and the amount on the check was $800.  I was absolutely shocked!  I do not even know this client very well, in fact I have only met her once.  But God moved in her heart and brought this to me at a time when I needed to feel Him once again.  A time where I needed a piece of the story unraveled.

It may seem trite, but I am incredibly thankful to live in a country that values freedom and democracy.  That the founding fathers of my country sought independence and declared that, "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."  Yet not everyone is given the opportunity to live in a country that respects these rights.  We are rescuing a girl who, though she has life, lacks liberty and happiness, and we miraculously get to be a part of changing that. Indeed we are thankful for her and how she is changing our family.

Thanks again for being on this journey with us.  I hope your Thanksgiving was time spent well with those you cherish.

~Samantha

Off to Haiti

Todd and Shelby leave in less than 6 hours for Haiti along with 13 others from Avondale and Kensington. They will be there for a week working on homes and lovin' on children. Our attorney is hoping to have a court appointment with Jaline's biological parents and Todd while he is down there, in which they will sign her over to us as her guardians.  We will still have to wait for the Haitian government to go through all the paperwork, but we will have the legal right to make decisions for her regarding her care until we can bring her home.

• Please pray for safety for the Avondale group.  

• Please pray that the court appointment will go as it should and that Todd and I will make the best     decision regarding her interim care.

• And of course, continue to pray that God will miraculously intervene in this process and move mountains to bring her home sooner than what is expected!!

Letter #2 sent to family and friends

Here is the letter we sent out recently.  Don't worry, future posts will not be this long!  However, if you do have the time to read, this letter contains a lot of information.

The Rescue of Jaline

November 9, 2010                                                                       

Dear Friends and Family,

This is a long letter and we hope that you will take a few minutes to read it over.  There is a lot of information that we wanted to communicate with you and we tried to condense it all into this letter.  We promise that all other communication going forward will not be this lengthy!  Going forward all updates will be posted on our blog,  http://sixhendos.blogspot.com/ and not email.

What a roller coaster the adoption process is!  As I sit here to pen this letter I am overwhelmed by the utter chaos that exists in Haiti with the recent Cholera outbreak and Hurricane Tomas.  I sat Spencer and Sophie down recently and tried to get them to visualize life outside of Bloomfield Hills and it was difficult.  We are all so blessed with what we have that to explain a place with no houses or walls, no food and no clean water is something they struggle to understand.  For that matter, it is even difficult for me to fathom.  

We are in the midst of the arduous compilation of our dossier, which is what is sent to the Haitian government to see if we are worthy of adopting a Haitian child.  Since our dossier could sit for months once it leaves the US, we are doing everything in our power to speed up the process here and send it off as quickly as possible.  Medical exams, references, personal letters of intent, bank statements, a Home Study, and psychological assessments make me think that if people had to go through this before having a biological child the world’s population would be exponentially smaller!  We were fortunate to get in touch with an old acquaintance who is a social worker who handles International adoptions, and she graciously agreed to schedule all of the meetings for our home study within a week!  She has been a great encouragement to us and our dossier is well on its way to being completed.

As I look back at the last few weeks, Todd and I have been so touched by how Jaline's story has moved so many of you. Your words of encouragement and prayers have truly been a blessing. Thank you for responding to us and letting us know that you are standing beside us.  I recently read an excerpt called "Home Team" from a book entitled bittersweet.  The author described how essential it is that we all have a home team. A home team is made up of friends and family who are your cheerleaders when you need encouragement and your shoulder when you need comfort. They genuinely care about the people and events in your life.  They are the people who drop in unannounced and you are thrilled that they have come to visit.  It was difficult for me to read the words on the page without thinking about all of you and how you have jumped on this journey with us.  The importance of a Home Team never became more meaningful to me than now, as Todd and I embark on the most difficult and heart wrenching journey that we have ever traveled.  One of the most difficult parts of the process for me, is knowing that along the way, there are so many things that could prevent us from moving ahead.  If we didn't have faith in God that unequivocally this is exactly what He has called us to, I don't know how we could continue to move forward.  In Philippians 4 it says, "6-Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  7-And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Those verses run through my thoughts constantly, the peace of God which goes beyond my thinking.  The other night Todd looked at me and said, "In reading the Psalms, I have never identified with the highs and lows of David's heart as much as I have in the last few days."  With that roller coaster of emotion, we know that many of you are riding right along with us. 

So, in assembling our Home Team, we are asking that you join us in, "The Rescue of Jaline".  When you saw the pictures we sent you, it was no surprise to you how we fell in love with her and those sweet eyes.  I think it was unanimous, based on your responses, that the third picture of Todd holding Jaline with the mountains in the background, evoked an emotion in some of you that called you to join the rescue.  In looking at that picture it makes me feel like there are no words to express what I see, yet I am moved and I don't want to leave it.  It's as if I were sitting on a bench in a museum processing the beauty of an extraordinary work of art.  To me, it's that evocative; however, to the subject (Todd) it was a captured moment of sadness, as he tearfully knew he had to return her to the orphanage before returning home. And yet we know there is a future and a hope for her.

Todd and I met with a friend of ours, Steve Biondo, who put us in touch with a non-profit organization that helps families financially with the expenses of adoption.  As he explained it, they set up a fund as a matching grant so that once a certain amount is INVESTED, the matching will occur.  At first we felt a little awkward with the idea of raising support for an adoption, but as he continued to describe the meaning behind it, it made perfect sense. We want friends and family to INVEST in this rescue with us.  We want you to feel a tangible part of bringing her home, as you would any other family member.  Your investment may be monetary, it may be prayer, it may be a meal delivered in a time of stress or it may be taking care of our kids as we travel abroad to get her.  Regardless of the type of investment you can help with, we know that each member of our Home Team will operate within their God given capacities and resources.   

I had lunch with a good friend the other day who gave me a note that said, "thank you for growing our faith family by bringing another one in."  Included with that note from her was a check written to us to put towards any expenses we had in our adoption process. It was the first contribution we have received.  By no coincidence, she used the word INVEST. She said, "Our family wants to INVEST in what you are doing, to be a part of this with you."  This was a complete surprise to me!  Prior to this meeting I had not discussed anything with her regarding funding.  When she used the word INVEST I smiled and thought how amazing God was to put that on her heart, knowing that that was the exact term that our friend Steve had used.  It was confirmation to us that God will provide.  Her gift has started the fund to rescue Jaline, and we are fortunate to be able to cover some of the immediate expense of the adoption, so that there is not a delay.  

WAYS YOU CAN BE A PART OF THE HOME TEAM AND PARTNER WITH US:

1.     PRAY!  We need an enormous amount of prayer for:

·       Safety and protection for Jaline.  She needs to be nourished, cared for, and protected from any illnesses or diseases and for that matter natural disasters!

·       The emotional well being of Jaline.  As this 3 ½ year old child copes with malnutrition and the anguish of her parents having to give her up for adoption because they couldn’t provide for her, pray that God will give her “the peace of God that no one understands.”

·       Timing.  That this process will go quickly.  Ultimately that God's intervention will defy all odds and that miraculously she will get here far sooner than the 12-18 months they have told us.

·       Wisdom - That we will make the best decisions on her behalf while she’s in Haiti.  

2.      If you are interested in learning more about supporting Jaline’s rescue financially there is more information at http://sixhendos.blogspot.com

3.     Donate airline miles.  Todd has already taken three trips to Haiti, with more to come.  Some court proceedings require the adoptive parents’ presence.  In addition, there will be other trips to check on her well-being and handle arrangements. So if you have extra miles through American Airlines or Delta, they could be transferred over to us and applied to a trip. 

In closing, Todd and I are very grateful for you and your interest in walking this journey with us.  Thank you again for your emails, kind words and encouragement.  As I end this lengthy letter, I leave you with an excerpt from a letter Todd wrote me in the Miami airport on the return from his 2nd trip to Haiti,

“I have so many pictures and videos to show you, but I'm warning you, she'll break your heart.  I'm a little scared because you haven't been here and you haven't met her, but I know you will be smitten by this precious child. She melts the heart, yet she is so weak. So frail. Yet there's a beautiful child of God that will blossom in an amazing way when she gets the love and nourishment she needs… She's going to need a lot of love and I know our family will provide that for her. … I know the Lord will move mountains and continue to open doors…  I'm ready to do whatever it takes.  I am convinced that God led me (us) to this child. I thought he was pulling me toward her after I returned the first time, but I'm convinced that Jaline is the child he has answered our prayers with.”

With love, on behalf of the Henderson Home Team,

Samantha and Todd  

Letter #1 "Adoption Announcement"10/12/10

October 12, 2010

Dear friends and family,

Our family is about to change and we are all ecstatic to share the news with you.  Below you will see three pictures of a very sweet little girl named Jaline (Jzha-leen).  We have started the application process to adopt her into our family changing our family of five to a family of six!  

The details:

Our church did a big drive last January on sponsoring kids living in poverty abroad.  After the drive to sponsor the orphans, Shelby came home with a picture of a child.   She came to us crying saying that we had to do something right now.!  Her heart was completely broken, outraged at the injustice.  When I told Shelby that our house was small she said, "but it's bigger than the hut they are living in!"  That prompted many conversations between Todd, me and Shelby.  We have always been sensitive to adoptions since there are three adopted kids in Todd's family.  Since January, God has placed a growing burden on Todd's heart for the needs of orphans around the world, particularly after getting involved at Avondale with a fundraising campaign for Haiti. That burden has existed for many years, but he probably "needed his daughter to challenge him to have enough courage to act upon his convictions" -Todd's words:).  He continued to have God tug at his heart through so many different ways.  Through the six months leading up to our time at UPBC this summer, time and time again there were so many ways God continued to draw his heart closer to the plight of orphans. As he shared his thoughts I was right along side him, walking on the journey with him.  We prayed that if God desired us to adopt that he would reveal a specific child to us, somewhere in this world.  So, while we were moving towards this amazing change, we had no idea where this child was.  

Until ....

Todd went on a trip to Haiti this August to study things for a future trip with students.  Avondale High had raised $14K after the earthquake specifically to build homes or an orphanage in Haiti.  It was an amazing trip for him and he was forever changed.  The disparity between their lives and ours was almost too much for him to even take in.  When he visited one of the orphanages, the eyes of a little girl broke his heart.  (See Picture #1).  He could not get this sweet nameless girl out of his mind.  This picture are of her sad eyes because she had nothing to smile about, no hope whatsoever.  She didn't talk, smile or show any signs of interest in anything.  He had another opportunity to take a second trip to Haiti last weekend to fill in for someone who was going on a medical missions trip with a woman he knows.  On that visit he found out that she lived in the mountains with her parents.  About six months ago, they were unable to continue to care for her so they took her to this orphanage.  She is 3 1/2 years old and only 15, yes 15 lbs.  She is severely malnourished.  There were pediatricians on the team that he was traveling with.  They evaluated her and said there appeared to be no real medical issues other than that she was starving and malnourished.  After some nurturing and FOOD AND DRINK she would begin to show signs of life.  Though Todd did not see her smile, apparently she did the day after he left and Carrie (a worker at the mission Todd visited) took this picture.  (Picture #2)  She is in a "not so nice" orphanage right now, so the organization Todd was working with, Children's International Lifeline, would go get her with Todd, have her spend the day playing with her and feeding her and then returning her (tears) in the evening.  Todd had to leave, incredible that he was actually able to leave, to return home.

So without making this email too too long, we knew this was the girl that God wanted in our family.  She stole each one of our hearts.  When we told the kids individually, they responded the same way, "Why can't we get her now?"  But ... there is so much that needs to happen and big mountains are set before us that with take a LONG time to climb.  (18 months or so!)  The most immediate need is making sure her birth certificate is correct and to locate her parents to have them sign all legal rights (you think would be a given when you drop your child off at an orphanage!)  Once those are found, then it establishes her legitimacy to actually be adopted.  Todd is working with agencies here and people in Haiti to try and get things moving as quick as possible but the amount of red tape that tangles up the process is huge.  Not to mention the Haitian government is not easy to work with.  The expenses and fees will be huge, as most international adoptions are.  In addition to those fees, we are imagining several trips to Haiti over the course of time.  

So, if you would support us by praying for Jaline to join our family, we would love to know that she has an army praying for her.

1.  Pray for immediate safety.  The orphanage she is currently in is "not so nice", obviously when she is so malnourished.

2.  Pray that the birth certificate and the "Extrait des Minutes du Greffe du Tribunal" (parental release) will be obtained quickly and be placed in the hands of people we trust, so we can proceed.

3.  Pray that Todd and I, along with the people he trusts at Lifeline in Haiti, will make the best decisions for her while we are waiting to bring her home.  (There are different possibilities, one is having the director release her so we can get her into an orphanage we trust.  Lifeline does not have an orphanage, they provide food and medical relief to those in the area.  But there are other possibilities too.)

 

4.  That we can financially cover the needs as they present themselves and trust God to provide for what we cannot.

5.  That we will be able to REALLY trust God to take care of things.  That's easier said than done.  As I told Todd today, I feel like I've gone skydiving in the dark.  I know God has the parachute, but I can't see it.

 

6.  Pray that God's awesome power will speed up the process in a way that contradicts everything we are being told.  Pray that walls will be pushed aside, doors will be opened, and hands will move this process along in a manner that's unheard of.  She needs a great deal of nourishment and love as soon as the Lord can bring her home to us. 

 

We are well aware that the obstacles in front of us are huge.  We are also aware that the reality of bringing her home is not guaranteed.  But we will do everything we can to fight for her and rescue her from the depravity that envelopes her.  We are confident that God will move the obstacles.  I'm thinking if He can make the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef and all the stars in the sky, then this will be nothing for Him.  

Picture #3 is about Hope.  It's about a little girl in her daddy's arms, holding her securely so she knows he won't let go.  But it doesn't stop there.  The hope is also that one day Shelby, Spencer, Sophie and I will be able to hold her securely so she knows we will not let go.  It's about a family and how creative God is in bringing us together.

We are excited to bring her home and tomorrow isn't soon enough.  Of course we will keep you posted on any movement that occurs in this process.  

Love,

Samantha and the rest of the Hendersons