Snow Day Greetings

Sitting at home on a snow day, wondering how our little Haitian girl will handle her first snowstorm. Our updates have been a bit less frequent because there hasn’t been a whole lot to report.  However, we rest much easier at night knowing the quality of care Jaline is receiving in her new crèche.  We’ve just received some great news out of Haiti regarding Jaline’s health and progress. Like many of you, we’ve been anxiously awaiting for updates from Haiti.  The director of Chances for Children, the agency which operates Jaline’s creche and has been advising us on the adoption process, just returned from a trip to Haiti. She reports that Jaline is doing very well in her new surroundings.  She is now up to about 24 pounds, which is a tremendous improvement from the 15 pounds she weighed in October.  Jaline has gained strength and her hair is starting to grow back, slowly… For a while after she arrived in her crèche, she was eating well but her body wasn’t fully able to digest the new food she was consuming, so much of it would go right through her.  Now, she eats until she is full and her body is properly digesting the food.  The doctor is very pleased with her progress.  Jaline is learning every day, through play and from the teacher at the crèche. Kathi reports that she is doing a great job learning colors, numbers, and other words in English.  When her teacher asked her what color her shirt was the other day, she responded in English: “My shirt is red”.  While it is quite common for kids who have grown up malnourished to struggle with learning disabilities, as of now, it appears that Jaline is picking things up quickly. Kathi also reports that her favorite toy is one she says she got from her Poppi (that’s meJ)– a jar of beads.  She saw a bit of the stubborn streak that Jaline possesses.  When she decides she is done learning, she just stops for the day.  I’ve seen this a bit when I’ve been with her, especially the past couple times.  I have sensed it a bit with her distance the past couple times.  It’s as if she’s saying “If you’re going to connect with me and keep leaving, then I’m going to play hard to get until you finally take me home”  The survival instincts of life in the orphanage manifest themselves in different ways… So – When can we finally bring her home?  Great question, but we don’t have a clue.  All her paperwork is in Haiti and we are waiting on the process.  Our lawyer meets with his contact in the Haitian adoption department, IBESR, on Friday, February 11th.  At that time they will review all our paperwork and start it in the Haitian system.  Why do all these things take so much time?  I have no idea, but I know it’s out of our hands.  Please pray that our paperwork will be processed safely and quickly through the Haitian agencies.  Please pray that while we wait Jaline will continue to grow, learn, and be ready to transition to her new life in our family.  While we struggle to understand why this process takes so long, we know that God’s timing isn’t always our timing.  We are so thankful for all your prayers and questions, as we continue the adoption process.  We are grateful to the ladies and the Lahser Boys Basketball team who put on the pancake breakfast for Jaline at Lahser last Saturday.  The money raised will be very helpful in providing for Jaline’s care in Haiti and in covering the many expenses that arise in the process.  We have been blessed by so many who have invested in The Rescue of Jaline, through prayer, financial donations, and encouragement.  Our sweet little girl is so blessed to have so many people helping out with her adoption and praying for her.  We can’t wait for you to meet her and be part of the village that will help raise our precious Jaline!  ~Todd