Friends and Family –
This is the message we’ve been waiting to send!
We received a call on Monday afternoon with a referral from Haiti. Djouvens, born two months early on July 24, 2006, was brought to the orphanage we are working with two months later, on September 25, 2006 (our wedding anniversary). At that time he weighed just 5 lbs 6 oz. He was immediately placed on IV, as he was both malnourished and sick. He responded well, and as you will see from the attached photos, has had little trouble catching up – he has all the baby chub he needs, and more! At ten months, he is now around 17 pounds. He’s a bit small for his age, they say, but that’s to be expected. His progress has been very good – he’s nearly caught up – and we’re told by the orphanage director that he’s a happy baby who smiles a lot.
After receiving photos of him (throughout his time at the orphanage so that we could see his progress) on Monday afternoon, we received his medical translations on Wednesday morning. As we looked through his documents, we discovered that he was born at the Hospital Jude Anne in Port-au-Prince. Months ago we had chosen the name Jude as one of two boy names. After much prayer, and reviewing his medical translations with a doctor, we called our caseworker this morning. In reverence for a sovereign God, we gave her the official acceptance of this child as our son, to be called Jude Manson Garrett. Jude – for the New Testament leader: a clear, strong, and unashamed voice to God’s people. And we are proud to make his middle name Manson, for Matthew’s paternal grandfather.
It has been a strange week for me. Matthew has been clear and steady, as always, with “big shoulders” as they say. I, however, found it so strange and almost disconcerting that we actually had a choice in the future of this child…that we could choose whether he became ours or not seemed so odd to me even though we knew that decision was coming and is just a part of the process. Having worked through that and other turmoil, however, I am now caught up to my husband and my God, and with worship in my heart, am very excited to have a son.
The question of the hour: how soon can we bring him home? Well, it’ll be at least six months (although some of you are sure it will be shorter – pray!). We are hoping he’ll be home by Christmas. We are thankful that the orphanage will begin sending us monthly updates with new photos, his new weight and length, and development and eating news so that we can see him grow from afar. We’ll be sure to send those along to all of you, along with any news about our standing in the process.
There are some delays in the process within the Haitian government. I have attached a document from the orphanage director that details these delays, so that those of you who wish to partner in prayer with us will know what to pray for. In the meantime:
We praise God for:
- His unchanging character
- His faithfulness to us
- Jude!
- The GLA orphanage and its director and staff, for whom their work is a calling (not just a job)
- Our caseworker, Belinda, who is truly a gift. She sat with me for an hour and a half on Tuesday, just letting me “process” out loud.
- My sister-in-law, Laurie, who sent a very encouraging message to us this week. There was much content, but the end was just what I needed to hear: “…here for you both…no matter what you decide.” Thanks Loulabelle.
- Our mothers, who also helped me through the week
We pray for:
- Obstacles within the Haitian government. Please see attached.
- The James Fund – a grant our caseworker is recommending us for. Now that we have a referral, she is proceeding with the paperwork for the grant. It would be very helpful financially. It also would require us to share our adoption experience at Family Christian Store before groups of people, which we would be delighted to do.
- Jude’s continued development and health.
- Wisdom on the part of our orphanage director, as she considers petitioning the Haitian President over what’s happening with adoptions.
Thanks to you all for sharing this journey with us. It’s not over yet, and there is much to be done! Enjoy the photos. Be warned – you might want to pinch the cheeks. We wouldn’t want anyone breaking a finger as they hastily move their hands toward the computer screen!
Matthew and Valerie
Check out www.glahaiti.org
