Jenny (our sponsor child)

              Oh my goodness this little face that is so cute!  She has these big beautiful eyes that look straight at you and this skin that looks so soft you just want to run your fingers right down her cheek.  We were blessed with pictures that show her hair in bows and those piercing eyes in every single one.  Yet one thing remained.  Not a single picture with even a hint of a smile.  There was something almost hard about her.  A true beauty without a smile.  It brought me to tears many times just praying for her.

                Todd felt called to go on a mission trip in 2009 to the orphanage and was excited (and a bit nervous) to meet Jenny.  I sent him with instructions to find out about the smile.  I had to know.  He came home from his first mission trip a new man.  It was his first trip and I think he went down to love on some kids but never expected to be loved so much in return. 

                Jenny was very hesitant with Todd upon their first meeting.  It was evident that she was expected to be with Todd.  She was told to be with him and it felt awkward and uncomfortable.  It was clear that she is the leader of the children in her family.  When a newcomer enters she stands in front all strong and they all cower behind her.  When she gives the ‘all clear’ then they all open up.  It is amazing how at such a young age she is already a caretaker.  Back to Todd….She is clearly not used to being around an adult male and has no idea what to do. Add to that that Todd has no idea what to do, they cannot communicate, it is hot hot hot and it is just plain awkward.  But one day later and they are playing, laughing and she is smiling!  The next day she falls asleep in his arms!  And two days later she cries when he leaves!  That is the love of God people!  He can build and grow hearts together!  He can teach a little girl how to love and how to accept the love of a heavenly Father by accepting the love from an earthly example.  Planting seeds is the key.  Someone snapped this picture right before he left and it is a treasure. 

                 When I met Jenny in May of 2010 I was nervous and excited at the same time also.  She warmed up to me pretty quickly but I found her to be very possessive.  She would tell the other children to leave us alone but I would tell them to ‘come’.  It would hurt her feelings when I would spend time with all the children.  She wanted me all to herself.  It was hard on both of us. I hated to see her upset but I wanted to see all of the children.  On my second trip (in 2011) we were able to do more things together.  She came to my hotel room for a sleepover, ate at the hotel with me and took a shower at the hotel.  It was a highlight of my life I think.  She had a little friend with her.  My girlfriend Jennifer and I had our sponsor daughters over and I don’t think we will ever forget the sound of the giggles that came from that shower.  They squealed and squealed!  They loved it! I wish I could have brought them all back!  I would do just about anything to hear that laugh again!  We dressed them in their new jammies, gave them new toothbrushes and new dresses.  It was amazing.  A time I will never forget. 

                Through all of this there was a bond somehow growing between Ashley and Jenny especially.  They would write letters and draw pictures for each other.  On my last trip they were able to Skype together.  With their limited language they basically just waved and waved but yelled I love you back and forth 100 times that night.  Jenny would carry a picture of Ashley and Travis calling them sister and brother. 

                We were unable to return in 2012 but sent gifts and notes to Jenny through others that went down and received pictures and updates back when they returned.  She was growing and doing well in school just like we expected.  It was a normal day in November that it all changed.  I received a call from Rachel and she wasn’t her normal happy self.  She proceeded to tell me that Jenny’s biological father had shown up at the orphanage very unexpectedly.  He was absent for most of her life just showing up a few times a year yet came that day demanding her and two of her sisters.  The orphanage director has guardianship but never over the rights of the parents so he was able to remove the girls that very moment.  We were never expecting to hear from her again.  As we got the call my heart sank to a level I never had experienced before.  We have been in Haiti enough and seen enough to know what a life on the street for a child looks like. We knew that child slavery still existed in Haiti (these children are called restavaks) and of course every other thing comes to mind as well.  As we hit our knees in prayer the tears ran down our faces.  It was especially hard to explain to Ashley and Travis how we may never hear from or see Jenny again.  I hit the computer contacting every person I knew trying to see if they had seen her at school or what we could do to locate her but with her being in her father’s care we were at a dead end.  Hours turned to days and days turned to weeks with no news at all. 

                During this time (unbeknownst to me) there was a man at our church that had received a picture of some of the sponsor children at our last speaking evening and had praying for one little girl in particular.  God placed it on his heart to draw this little girls picture.  He didn’t know why but in obedience he began to draw her picture.  As he drew her picture he prayed for her…..daily.  Hour by hour he learned her features and prayed for her over and over again.  Knowing nothing about her or her situation he prayed for her.

                The day after Christmas we received a call from Rachel again and this time she said she had someone special on the line.  It was our Jenny!  She had been given the day off from her work and she walked to the orphanage director’s home (over a mile walk).  She wanted to call.  Her first question was if we still loved her.  To this day we don’t know why she would ever question our love but we confirmed it over and over.  We told her (through the translator) again that there is nothing she could do to lose our love or the love of Jesus.  Then Ashley got on the phone.  They told each other of their love over and over again until we had to hang up. 

                That Sunday we arrived at church and a special man came up and asked to speak with Ashley.  He had something rolled up and tied with a string.  He told her that God told him to make it and to give it to her and to open it when she got home.  You know what it was.  It was the picture he drew of Jenny!  He said we sat in front of him the Sunday before and God told him to give it to Ashley.  Little did he know the bond that Ashley has with Jenny.  When he told me the story of his prayers for Jenny I felt like God was showing me how He has Jenny in his palm.  He loves Jenny even more than I do!  He is working all things for the good.  Even when we do not see it! 

                That phone call was the last time we have heard Jenny’s voice.  We had a friend see her last May and sent up pictures and she was looking very good.  She is back in school and seems to be doing well.  We pray that she is holding strong and maybe that she can lead her family to Jesus!  One thing we do know is that we had to let go and let God be God!  She is His child!  He loves her.  We pray for her.  We love her.  We always will.  But she is His first.  

One of our first pictures of Jenn

One of our first pictures of Jenny

Todd's last time with Jenny in '09

My last trip with Jenny in '11

The most recent picture we have that was sent by a friend in 2012. The oldest girl is Manouchka.  
The other four are siblings.  Left to right is Gertrude, Ruth, Jenny and Nato.