Kim and I were in Haiti last week and we met Francesca and really had a blast with her. We cannot wait to get back down there and spend some more time with her or take her to Christianville for a weekend. We will be going back and forth to be with her every reasonable chance we get and cannot wait to get to know her better over the next few months.
Francesca was born a few months before the earthquake. Her dad has not been around since the beginning and has legally abandoned her. Her home was destroyed in the earthquake and she, her mom and two sisters have been living in a tent city since the earthquake. Her mom surrendered her to an orphanage as she was simply unable to support her or care for her. Also, those tent cities can be very rough especially on girls with no fathers around. The orphanage she took her to requires the mom's written, (but not legally binding), consent to adopt at the time she dropped her off, which she happily gave. That orphanage however was full; luckily this place has worked with Sue's orphanage, our friend, to accommodate overflow kids when necessary, and thus, Francesca went to Sue's....this is where we met Francesca!
We hope to be back down late July or early August to see her again. At the same time, Jimmy Carter may be going to Christianville in late July and August with 400 people to build 1200 homes in 6 weeks as part of Habitat for Humanity program. If that happens, Kim and I and maybe a small group will go down and stay at the orphanage, but spend time documenting some of this amazing efforts on our campus.
on another front, while we were there we had a very sad meeting with Jhonnico, Gladine's dad. He so desperately wants Kim and I to adopt Gladine, but her mother, who actually is not living with Gladine at this time but with another guy, is saying "no". He knows her "no" is all about him and not about Gladine and he is really heartbroken. As we explained to Jhonnico that our pursuit of Gladine is over, he kept asking for "more time, more time", but we explained, without the enthusiastic consent of Ket li, the mom, the process is far too risky for us. We cannot invest the time and money if at any point the mother can change her mind. As we told him, "Fini.... Fini" he pushed back from the table and I think he may have been crying a little. Even as he left he was telling me he was going to work it out, but I cannot see how. We did tell him we wanted to sponsor Gladines education and this way, we can stay in touch....(and who knows??......did I just say that?)
This is Fedeline (in the pink) and Gladine (in the red dress)
We went up to see Gladine and she was as is usual with a lot of these kids, a little sick, in a t-shirt and no shoes. We found out their well is not working, which may be a good thing as two of the kids are suffering with Cholera. We now are also looking at adopting one or two sisters from on the Hill, (officially named Bognette), Samantha and Donna. I wish we could take all 16 kids up there. The conditions are deplorable, I am led to believe that some of the adults are stealing provisions, as I said the well is broken, a few kids have cholera and yet when we see them, they smile and laugh.....that seems to be what they are doing every time we see them, smiling and laughing. We do have plans underway to help these kids. Kim and I are going to start a program to get all 16 kids education sponsored, we are working with FISH Ministries, our sister mission, to build a kitchen so they can stop cooking in the dirt and we are regularly sending food and supplies up there. We are also talking to a Haitian we know and trust to oversee all these projects so we can be sure what we need to happen, is happening..
Donna is 9 and Samantha is 4 and they have a screwed up parent situation as well, but we are still going to try. The dad has not seen them in over a year but last week said he would love to have them adopted and prayed it would happen. The mom lives in Ghana....that's right, Ghana Africa, (OK, I know what you are thinking but we are going to try anyway! We have to try). We will contact the mom this week and hope she is as enthusiastic as the dad because she is really going to have to want it and to work for it given her location.
Donna age 9
Samantha age 5
bottom-line, (today), we are thrilled we at least have Francesca on the line now and we will keep working for at least one more, maybe two, (why am I picturing rows of bunk beds in our basement?)
Anyway, it is a happy, exciting time and we know it is because of your prayers and the gracious God we serve. THANK YOU! Keep 'em coming.
