I just thought that maybe I should update you all on where we are in the journey to adopt Aaron. If you haven't done so, please read "How it all began" under the tabs on our home page to find out how God began this journey that we are on.
As you know, our family traveled to Haiti in January of this year. God had several purposes in mind for us on that trip but one of those was to find an orphanage that had a license for adoption. Ms. Dorothy's orphanage (Faith Hope Love Infant Rescue) is primarily a home for children with special medical needs. While she is presently in the process of getting a license from the Haitian govt, her primary calling is to meet the needs of sick babies/kids. Some of the kids in her home come to her in order to get through critical health challenges and then return to their families. Though Aaron has been diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease, he is, for the most part, a very healthy little boy thanks to the love and care that she has given to him. Moving him to a licensed orphanage will not only provide a means for us to begin adopting him, but it will free up a spot for another child who may have a critical medical need to be loved and nurtured in Ms. Dorothy's care just as Aaron was.
God surely directed our path as we sought for the right place for Aaron to live until we can bring him home. Over a course of events, God directed us to Cathy Fitzsimmons. She and her husband, Rodney, have ministered in various ways to the people of Haiti for 30 years. They have raised their family there and have devoted their lives to the work of the Lord there. They presently over see, through the help of Baptist World Mission, an orphanage that is directed by Pastor Anesse Aristild and his wife Madam Aristild. When Cathy introduced us to the Aristild's and showed us around their orphanage, there was such a sense of peace. All I could do was cry as Cathy translated for us to the Aristild's about the need that we had for Aaron. Through tears of joy, I managed to whisper a "Thank you" after they told us that they were willing to take Aaron and love him "as their own son." I can't even tell you what a comfort those words were to this mama's heart. Even though they couldn't speak much english and we couldn't speak ANY creole at all, there was a calm assurance way down in my heart and an unexplainable "connection" to them that let me know that these people would love and nurture our son in the same way that we would if we could be there.
After finding the right orpahange, the next step was to find out if we would be able to qualify to adopt Aaron. We wanted to be sure that we met the guidelines before we put him through the pain of leaving Ms. Dorothy's home to go to a place that he had never been, to live with people that he had never met. It was such a HUGE thing to think that we would be affecting this child's life in this way. We did some investigating over the internet, made some phone calls, asked some questions from people in the "know" and found that we should be able to meet all of the U.S. and Haitian guidelines. PRAISE THE LORD!!!
While we were in Haiti, we found out that Aaron had a brother and a grandfather living in Jubilee. We wanted to be sure that we had the blessing of the family before we began the adoption process, so Kathy and Beaver Brooks (missionaries living in Gonaives Haiti-Much Ministries) sent a picture of Aaron into the community in an attempt to locate his family. Much to our surprise we found out that Aaron's biological father was alive and came to Jubilee from time to time. So, word was left with the family requesting that he contact the Brooks' when he returned to Jubilee. We need to get his consent to adopt Aaron before we begin to take the next steps in his adoption.
Several weeks have passed and another message was sent last week requesting that he contact us. So far, we have not had any word from him.
So that is where we are. Waiting. From what I hear, that is the common theme for families adopting from Haiti. I have faith that God, who holds the hearts of Kings in his hands and turns them to or fro (Proverbs 21:1) will move on the heart of this father and get him in touch with us soon. We believe that God wrote a book about Aaron's life before he was ever formed in his mother's womb (Ps 139:16) and that he will order his steps in those good plans that he has made for Aaron's life (Jeremiah 29:11).
Would you join with our family in prayer that Aaron's father will contact someone soon? I know that God's timing is perfect. Even so, I am sure that you can imagine how this mama's arms are aching to have her baby snuggled in them. Each day that passes feels like another opportunity missed to watch God's plan unfold for Aaron's life. I know that he is well cared for, and he is loved tremendously by Ms. Dorothy as well as the Nannies that help her care for him. I just feel as if a piece of our family is missing.
Thanks so much for your prayers! As soon as we hear from Aarons' father, I will be sure to update you all.
As you know, our family traveled to Haiti in January of this year. God had several purposes in mind for us on that trip but one of those was to find an orphanage that had a license for adoption. Ms. Dorothy's orphanage (Faith Hope Love Infant Rescue) is primarily a home for children with special medical needs. While she is presently in the process of getting a license from the Haitian govt, her primary calling is to meet the needs of sick babies/kids. Some of the kids in her home come to her in order to get through critical health challenges and then return to their families. Though Aaron has been diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease, he is, for the most part, a very healthy little boy thanks to the love and care that she has given to him. Moving him to a licensed orphanage will not only provide a means for us to begin adopting him, but it will free up a spot for another child who may have a critical medical need to be loved and nurtured in Ms. Dorothy's care just as Aaron was.
God surely directed our path as we sought for the right place for Aaron to live until we can bring him home. Over a course of events, God directed us to Cathy Fitzsimmons. She and her husband, Rodney, have ministered in various ways to the people of Haiti for 30 years. They have raised their family there and have devoted their lives to the work of the Lord there. They presently over see, through the help of Baptist World Mission, an orphanage that is directed by Pastor Anesse Aristild and his wife Madam Aristild. When Cathy introduced us to the Aristild's and showed us around their orphanage, there was such a sense of peace. All I could do was cry as Cathy translated for us to the Aristild's about the need that we had for Aaron. Through tears of joy, I managed to whisper a "Thank you" after they told us that they were willing to take Aaron and love him "as their own son." I can't even tell you what a comfort those words were to this mama's heart. Even though they couldn't speak much english and we couldn't speak ANY creole at all, there was a calm assurance way down in my heart and an unexplainable "connection" to them that let me know that these people would love and nurture our son in the same way that we would if we could be there.
After finding the right orpahange, the next step was to find out if we would be able to qualify to adopt Aaron. We wanted to be sure that we met the guidelines before we put him through the pain of leaving Ms. Dorothy's home to go to a place that he had never been, to live with people that he had never met. It was such a HUGE thing to think that we would be affecting this child's life in this way. We did some investigating over the internet, made some phone calls, asked some questions from people in the "know" and found that we should be able to meet all of the U.S. and Haitian guidelines. PRAISE THE LORD!!!
While we were in Haiti, we found out that Aaron had a brother and a grandfather living in Jubilee. We wanted to be sure that we had the blessing of the family before we began the adoption process, so Kathy and Beaver Brooks (missionaries living in Gonaives Haiti-Much Ministries) sent a picture of Aaron into the community in an attempt to locate his family. Much to our surprise we found out that Aaron's biological father was alive and came to Jubilee from time to time. So, word was left with the family requesting that he contact the Brooks' when he returned to Jubilee. We need to get his consent to adopt Aaron before we begin to take the next steps in his adoption.
Several weeks have passed and another message was sent last week requesting that he contact us. So far, we have not had any word from him.
So that is where we are. Waiting. From what I hear, that is the common theme for families adopting from Haiti. I have faith that God, who holds the hearts of Kings in his hands and turns them to or fro (Proverbs 21:1) will move on the heart of this father and get him in touch with us soon. We believe that God wrote a book about Aaron's life before he was ever formed in his mother's womb (Ps 139:16) and that he will order his steps in those good plans that he has made for Aaron's life (Jeremiah 29:11).
Would you join with our family in prayer that Aaron's father will contact someone soon? I know that God's timing is perfect. Even so, I am sure that you can imagine how this mama's arms are aching to have her baby snuggled in them. Each day that passes feels like another opportunity missed to watch God's plan unfold for Aaron's life. I know that he is well cared for, and he is loved tremendously by Ms. Dorothy as well as the Nannies that help her care for him. I just feel as if a piece of our family is missing.
Thanks so much for your prayers! As soon as we hear from Aarons' father, I will be sure to update you all.
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