"Please give me a call when you have some time to talk", the voice mail said. So, yesterday, I found a little time, an activity for our boys, and shut myself in our bedroom to return the phone call to the Haiti specialist at our adoption agency. "I have some bad news; Bergeline is no longer living at the orphanage; her father returned to take her home" she said. Her words were gentle and knowing. I took a minute to let them sink in, aware that this phone call would be life changing.
She explained that she was as shocked as we were, and that she had only seen this circumstance one other time. I began to speak, explaining how we had always prayed God's best for Bergeline. That she, and her biological family would know Jesus' great love for them. We have asked God to nourish her, providing for every one of her needs, surrounding her with His favor. We have prayed, these last seven months that she would know that God is for her, and not against her, that He has great plans for her! And now, in this moment, I was able to see that God's best for Bergeline was to prepare her daddy (a widower) to return to bring his beloved daughter home! How could I not be happy for her? How could I not rejoice at the thought of her daddy traveling to the orphanage, knowing soon he would be reunited with his baby girl? What a year this must have been for him, losing his wife, the mother of his children. How could I not weep with joy at the thought of her siblings excitedly welcoming home their baby sister? It is as it should be. God sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6) and He had done just that. God be praised.
And yet here we are. We are disappointed, but so grateful that God in His faithfulness knows exactly who needs us the most! As Brady and I were explaining the news to Langston and Banning, many questions needed answers. The boys understood what a blessing it is for Bergeline to be home with her daddy, but definitely don't like that it means she won't be coming to be their sister! We were able to explain that God knows the little girl who really needs them to be her brothers, and really needs us to be her daddy and mommy. Our goal is for God to bring us the lonely one that He has in mind! God is sovereign, and His plan is best. We jokingly said it's as if God protected Bergeline from accidentally becoming their sister, because their real sister, who needs them the most was on her way to our family! It is the kindness of God that leads our hearts in peace. His goodness is never-failing. His love is never-ending. He's got this.
So now what? We offer a sacrifice of praise that God's best for Bergeline is being done, but where do we go from here? We are still waiting for our Truly. We are still preparing our hearts to show the little girl coming our way that she is Truly loved! We find ourselves in a bit of a valley, lifting our eyes to the hills where our help comes from. Our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth! Psalm 121:1
( We do not find it coincidental that our Sunday sermon series has been dedicated to this very idea! Thank you Northside! ) Every great adventure has moments of peril, the appearance of defeat, the opportunity to lose heart or give up faith. But every great adventure strengthens those willing to take it, and to everyone joining us on this adventure- thank you!
So you may be asking yourself, "What in the world do they do now?" Well, we are beginning the process of pre-matching again. While on the phone with our agency yesterday, our specialist reported having met a precious little girl in a pink dress while she was there. She took her picture, and is requesting her file be translated so we can look into a match. She also reported other possible match opportunities. This will be the focus of the next couple of weeks. After that, we have been told, the timeline should not change because all of our paperwork is already in, and we already have a spot in Haiti's pre-matching phase which simply means we don't have to start all over! As we have more information, we will update all of you who so patiently join us in prayer.
We know many of you have faithfully prayed for Bergeline, and like us are feeling the pain of goodbye. We thought so many things pointed to her being the one, even down the the special birthday she shared. Thank you for crying with us and purposely involving yourselves in this adventure's valley time. May your hearts be refreshed, and your faith strengthened! What a joy it will be to celebrate together when all of this is said and done!
So as we approach this weekend, I am amazed at God's timing. That He would choose to break this news to us during the most hopeful time of the year! Not so many years ago, people who loved Jesus were churning over plans they thought they understood. (Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 ESV) Things were not going the way they thought they should. Jesus was not living up to their expectations. How could it be God's best plan for Jesus to quietly endure the beatings, refusing to defend himself against the lies? How could this be a good thing? But, oh the plans God had for them, for after a time of silence, a time of confusion, God's beautiful plan was clearly known as He brought Jesus up from the grave and rescued the world! Jesus, you are the great author of adventure and you are worth every minute in the valley! You are the lily of the valley!
*You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
Psalm 139: 5-6
