A Rescue Plan

The children, waiting & ready to fly home
(Vania is in the middle with blue stripped dress)

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti. Many times over Haiti has suffered natural disasters this time bringing the country to her knees. I remember seeing the breaking news on the TV that evening not fully aware of the intensity of the journey that lay ahead. Our daughter along with many other children & people we had met in Haiti were there somewhere in the aftermath and no one had answers for what seemed like an eternity. We clung to every news story we could get our hands on. Prayed and prayed some more. Listening for the phone to ring or an e-mail to pop into our in box. The days were LONG waiting & waiting with a sense of helplessness & desperation being so far away.

For us it was a happy ending . Thanks to Team Hope we were able to eventually fly down to Miami and pick Vania up under Humanitarian parole. A few days later we boarded a plane and flew, home sweet home. And in August we were able to finalize her adoption.

Like everyone else my day was pretty normal yesterday. I went through my busy day with Haiti on my mind but not really pausing to reflect on the day of the earthquake too long. Why? Well, honestly it hurts. Adam & I like so many other families wallowed in days of sorrow & anxiety. Adam actually made a journal entry for Vania every day until we picked her up. He has tried to share it with me since then, but I can't get through the first few entries with out bawling. Those emotions are still lingering even after a year.

Last night my family & I gathered around & watched the documentary "Adopting Haiti " which premiered on Hulu yesterday. It featured a couple orphanages & their plight to get the children evacuated after the quake. I remember seeing a lot of that footage as it unfolded on CNN. But this time it was nice to actually see what was going on behind the brief broadcasts that would appear live on TV. And, we didn't have to wait through a whole flurry of stories to see what was going on with the children.

I went to bed with the documentary fresh in my mind. It was apparent that the ticket out for these children , who were obviously suffering, was that they were in process of being adopted.
That really hit home with me because throughout this whole adoption journey I have really connected more closely with what it means to be an adopted child of God.

This was God's physical RESCUE PLAN. Now , let me make it clear that I am NOT implying that he caused the earthquake as part of his plan. What I am implying is that God being omniscient already knew that an earthquake was going to hit Haiti & guess what ... he had a rescue plan for our children. ADOPTION.

This is a great picture of God's spiritual rescue for us in this broken , suffering world. A year later Haiti is still suffering after world wide monetary pledges and TV coverage. I'm not sure what God's plans are for Haiti & I may never understand their continued suffering this side of Heaven. But I know God has a plan & sees their pain . I do know that God has an eternal rescue plan for each & every one of us if we just ask .

In John 1:12-13 it says this...."Yet to all who receive him, to those who believed in his name , he gave the right to become children of God.-Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husbands will, but born of God.

I find that to be very comforting. Especially in the midst of suffering & unanswered questions in this life. Thank you God that you are all knowing. Thank you that you love us and made a rescue plan for us.Thank you that in the midst of suffering you are faithful to stand by our side and grieve with us. Thank you for keeping Haiti in our thoughts & prayers.Thank you for rescuing our children.