Berline's March Update 2013

Happy Spring from God’s Littlest Angels, Andrew and Christy!

Another month has raced by us here in Haiti. It is hard to believe that spring (or rainy season in Haiti’s case) is already among us.  We are seeing files move and progress in the adoption process and our Fort Jacques property has seen some significant transformation this month.  We are looking forward to meeting many of you in the coming weeks and we continue to pray that the rest of the files in IBESR come out so very soon!  It has been and continues to be a great encouragement to us all to have families coming to pick up their children and many more families on their way to meet their kiddos for the first time.  I know I am greatly blessed by each adoptive family that visits.  Not only is watching a child unite with his or her family an answer to prayer but your words of encouragement do not go unappreciated, each kind word you offer to us is the “fuel” we use to keep doing what the Lord has called us to here in Haiti.   Thank you for welcoming Berline into your hearts and home.  We cannot wait until she is in your arms!  “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”  Mark 9:37

I am looking forward to the day you get to come and pick up Berline!  I know the day is drawing near and I just pray that the time flies past us faster than any of us expect.  I am glad you met Berline last year and I look forward to the day you get to come and see her growth and development for yourself. 

This month I put together a “collage” of six photos that, I hope, can give you a little insight into the life of Berline here at God’s Littlest Angels.  I know waiting for your adoptive child to make their way home is a difficult task but I pray that you can rest assured that they are getting the best care we are able to provide to them as they wait for you to come pick them up.  I hope you enjoy this month’s candid photos with a brief description of what some of Berline’s day looks like.

As you can see from her candid photos this month, Berline is happy and content to do most things throughout her day.  She enjoys spending time with the other girls her age doing homework, coloring, or just looking at books.  She seems to like going to school and is typically enthusiastic and willing to participate in anything happening in school.  This past weekend the older kids made a trip to Fort Jacques to play in the nearby field and visit the GLA property.  Berline seemed to enjoy herself and was especially excited to race with the girls her age.  Overall Berline has had a great month and I know she is looking forward to your next trip here!

Berline is healthy and growing:
Height: 132 cm
Weight: 60 lb

Berline is Officially a McDonald!!

Here is the email I received today:

"Dear Andrew and Christy,

Great news!  Berline's file is out of Courts.  This is where the civil court document and Act of Adoption have been created.  This means that Berline has legally become your child and taken your family name of McDONALD.  

At this time,  we will ask National Archives for an attestation signature for the Act of Adoption and then we will legalize the Haitian legal documents in both the Department of Justice and Minister of Foreign Affairs (MAE).    Then, we can apply for Berline’s passport in the Minister of Interior’s (MOI) office.  These stages will pass quickly and I may not always have the time to email you as we exit each step.  I will, however, be sure to email you when we apply for Berline’s passport at MOI."

 

 

So we are still thinking we will be able to go pick her up this summer.  We are praying for earlier than later, but you never know with Haiti.  We are so happy that we have finally made it to this stage.  There is something about knowing she is ours!  

Berline Feb Update 2013

Happy Valentines Day from God’s Littlest Angels, Andrew and Christy!

February has flown by here at GLA.  It is already a short month and with so much happening every day we have been amazed to see it come to an end already.  The Toddler House area at Fort Jacques is coming along very well.  All six houses now have walls and are painted!  We have a large group of volunteers right now and teams have been in and out all month.   We have also been facing a case of the chicken pox amongst our kids.  Our first case appeared at the Toddler House in the beginning of January.  For many weeks only a couple of kids had symptoms but it did eventually make its way through each child at the Toddler House who had not had it in the past.  Here is a blog post from Molly with a few pictures of some kids covered in calamine lotion to help with itchiness…. http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org/kidzkorner/2013/01/everyone-has-spots/.  By the middle of February it seemed as though everybody who was going to get the Chicken Pox had gotten them and the Toddler House was in the clear.  About the time we saw an end to it at the Toddler House we suspected a case at the Main House but only one child has presented with any type of symptoms in the last 3 weeks and so we are not sure if that was even a case of chicken pox, as more children would have gotten it by now. As of right now we are saying that we have not yet seen chicken pox at the Main House and we ask that you continue to pray that it stays away, as it could be a very bad thing for our most fragile babies in the NICU to be exposed to. Thanks to the support of many adoptive parents and other donors we were able to raise enough funds to give each child at the main house (older than 1 year) a chicken pox vaccine (Varicix).  The rest of the children will receive the vaccine when they turn 1 year.  Berline is one of the few children who did not come down with a noticeable case of the chicken pox.  Because she did not get it while all of the other children did, we assume that she was exposed to it before she came to us.

Because February is often considered the month of “Love” I decided to theme photo day and this months updates that way.  In thinking about what “love” is, I find it so very important to turn to God’s Word and see what He has to say about it.  We find ourselves here at GLA needing to tap into our “love bank” every single day in our interactions with the kids, the staff, and our visitors.   As full time staff we quickly learn that we cannot have a full “love bank” to draw from unless we understand and draw from the love that our Heavenly Father gives us. 

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” - 1 John 4:7-12

To follow along with the love theme I am going to highlight for you some of the things Berline loves.

I sat down with Berline and asked her to tell me about some of the things she loves.  I asked her specific questions and got some fun answers from her.   She told me that he favorite thing to do when she goes to school is write and that when she is in the yard during play time she enjoys playing basketball the most and spending time with her friends, Julena and Frantzdie.  She told me that she loves the color blue and that her favorite thing to eat is macaroni.  When I asked her if she could have any animal she said she would choose a dog and it would be yellow, but she was not sure what she would call it.  Her favorite movie (like everyone else at the toddler house right now) is High School Musical.

Berline is healthy and growing:
Height: 131 cm
Weight: 58 lb

Berline January Update 2013

Hello from God’s Littlest Angels, Andrew and Christy!

December and January have been very busy and exciting months here at God’s Littlest Angels.  We have had more children transition into their new lives with their forever families and have welcomed numerous visitors and volunteers who help us love the children and get projects accomplished. 

Even with 76 kids currently living at the Toddler House, Molly and Joyce made Christmas Day extra special for each child there.  I was honored to be here at GLA throughout Christmas for all the celebrations.  This is the first year in my three years at GLA that I am able to give you a first hand account of the holiday festivities and I am looking forward to it!   I was even able to attach additional photos of Berline with her toys or stocking on Christmas morning.

Christmas Day (or “jingle bells” according to the kids) at the Toddler House began with the children waking up to a large decorated Christmas tree in their play yard.  The tree was on a blue carpet and it was brimming with gifts for each child underneath.  It had been set out and decorated after they went to bed on Christmas Eve so they could wake up to the surprise.  The oldest group of kids made their way out into the yard as soon as they were allowed to check out the tree and gifts close up.  The other children checked out the tree in wonder and excitement for what the day was about to hold as they made their way to eat breakfast.  Breakfast consisted of special cereal that they do not have on a regular basis.  After breakfast everyone was given a brand new outfit, picked out especially for them to wear that Christmas day.  After everyone was dressed in their new outfit, the older kids prepped to act out the Christmas story.  Once dressed in their costumes they made their way outside and while one of the nannies read the Christmas story, they acted out the story of Jesus birth as all of the other kids watched.  Next it was time to open the gifts under the tree!!  A large circle of benches and chairs were set up around the tree and after each child had found a place to sit, Molly and Joyce passed out a gift to each kid.  After a everyone had their gift and a short countdown, everyone tore into the wrapping paper to see what the treasure in their lap was.  The next couple of hours before lunch was filled with checking out their new toy, trading toys for a while to see what other treasures were in the yard, and enjoying some play time underneath the big tree.  Lunch was very special as well.  It consisted of the most favorite Haitian celebratory meal staples such fried chicken, rice & beans, and fried plantain.  In addition to their large meal that had some sweet treats of cupcakes and coke or sprite to drink.   The little ones then went down for a nap or rest while the older group of kids watched a movie – theater style – in the dining room.  After nap/rest time it was time to receive their stockings.  A stocking for each child was set up on a table in the middle of the yard as the kids gathered around and were handed a stocking as they waited patiently for everyone to receive theirs. After a short countdown everyone checked out the small toys and candy that was stuffed inside their red stocking.  The rest of the afternoon was filled with more playtime with all their new toys.  By 6pm, it was evident that everyone was exhausted and ready for a little supper and bedtime.

Berline seemed to be in great spirits all throughout Christmas day.  She truly seemed to be smiling each time I saw her. She was so excited to see the tree in the yard when she woke up and could not stop talking with her friends about what might be in the wrapped packages.  She had a giant smile in her face when she saw her new outfit and made sure that everyone around her took notice of how nice her new shirt was.   While waiting for the older kids to act out the Christmas story, Berline sang a song with her friends in front of all the little ones.  When it was time to open the gifts she found a spot to sit with her friends and waited with anticipation and excitement.  There is a sweet photo I snapped of her friends looking on as Berline opens her dollhouse and small pony.  The rest of the afternoon she was be seen helping the younger kids learn how to use their new toys, trading toys with her friends to see what new toys were around, and sitting next to the Christmas tree.  Berline was again all smiles after her rest and very ready to check out what was in her stocking.  She was so excited about the candy she found within.  She was amazed that she found 3 whole lollipops just for her and she found a glowstick that she enjoyed a lot once the sun set.

Only one week after their big Christmas celebration it was time to celebrate the New Year as well as Haiti’s independence day, which is on January 1^st.  The highlight of the day for most Haitians as well as the kids at the Toddler House is a celebratory soup that is traditionally served at lunchtime.   The soup is called “soup joumou”.  It is a pumpkin soup that has meat, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage.  Everyone looks forward to this soup that is typically only served in Haitian Independence Day.

You will notice this update is coming a week earlier then usual this month.  I am taking a trip home to Wisconsin for 2 weeks starting on January 25^th.  I will return to the office on February 11^th and do my best to get your February update to you by the end of the month.  Hope you enjoyed hearing a little more about Berline’s holiday celebrations this month.

Berline is healthy and growing:
Height: 130 cm
Weight: 57.5 lb

Hope 2013 is off to a great start for you,

Berline November Update 2012

Happy Thanksgiving from GLA Andrew and Christy,

The holidays are now among us and it seems like they have snuck up on us quickly this year.  We are just beginning to gear up for the holiday season here at GLA.  It is obvious that the anticipation is getting stronger as decorations go up and Christmas music starts to be heard throughout the houses.  We continue to have volunteers and teams here to assist us on a daily basis.  Our work on the Toddler Houses at Fort Jacques continues to progress, especially this month thanks to a construction team that was here in November.  We have also said goodbye to a couple more children as they have found their way into the arms of their forever families!  It is a joy to see this lengthy process come to an end for some families and we continue to pray that the rest of your adoptions move quickly!

As soon as the kids at the Toddler House begin to sense the holidays approaching they are asking at every chance they get if it is Christmas yet. Actually a lot of them will say “is it Jingle Bells yet?”  As annoying as this constant question can get for us adults, it also helps remind us of what it is like to have an excitement and wonder for the holidays like we did when we were children.   It really is a true joy to experience the American Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays through the eyes of the kids.   Molly and Joyce work very hard to ensure that these are special holidays for the kids at the Toddler House.  For American Thanksgiving the kids were treated to a special meal and craft making.  In their English class with Joyce they made paper turkeys and colored pictures that were hung up in their lunchroom.  This year, the oldest group of kids also constructed a tree from paper then they wrote things they are thankful for on paper leaves that they hung on the tree.  Their meal this year consisted of, not necessarily the traditional Thanksgiving fare, but some of their favorite dishes.  They had fried chicken, rice and beans, fried plantain, jello, and cupcakes for their Thanksgiving feast.  Fried Chicken is by far the most favorite main dish among all the kids at the Toddler House.

The kids looked on with wide-eyed excitement and anticipation, as they could smell the frying chicken and baking cupcakes and the older kids began to decorate the dining room.   There was much chatter in the yard about what was to come and what they were going to get to eat.  Berline was especially inquisitive about what was going on.  It seemed that every time I passed through the yard she had a new question about what was happening or what was about to come.  It was obvious that she enjoyed her meal very much although she was not to impressed with the jello.

The older group of kids enjoyed a day at the soccer field in Kenscoff on November 1^st.  That is a holiday in Haiti and also the birthday of one of our older Toddler House kids so the kids excitedly got into the cars for a morning of running, playing, and enjoying the fresh mountain air.  Berline was all smiles as she climbed into the car for the 20 minute ride to the soccer field.  All the way she discussed with her friends what they were going to do when they arrived at the field.  Berline enjoyed kicking around a ball, blowing bubbles with a big bubble blower, and running in the wide open space.  The whole group also enjoyed a game of red rover before heading back down the mountain for lunch.

I thought you might enjoy having Christmas photos of Berline before the end of December so I themed November’s photo day for Christmas this month in order for you to enjoy these photos for an entire month.  The kids loved getting completely dressed up in three-piece suits and dresses.  It was evident that they felt very special in their beautiful clothes.  Everyone put on their best smiles that made for some adorable and memorable Christmas pictures.  Enjoy!

Berline is healthy and growing:

Height: 128.5 cm
Weight: 56 lb

Berline October Update

Happy Fall from GLA Andrew and Christy,

Things here at GLA have not yet slowed down and there is not much sign of it slowing.  That is to be expected with around close to 150 kids in residence though.  We are still working to get the funds to the children in the school sponsorship program and welcome new volunteers, teams, and visitors weekly.  We have been blessed to see a number of families come to meet their children for the first time this month and a few of them who got to go home with their forever family!  It is a true honor to witness these milestones in the lives of each child we call ours and in the families that are welcoming them into their hearts and homes.  This month, I have been reminded why I do what I do in a big way as I watch families open their arms to their children week after week.  I would like to thank each of you for opening your lives to these precious angels.  I hope these monthly updates bless you and give you just a little relief as you wait for Berline to come home.

This month’s theme for our Toddler House updates is School.  I took class photos of the kids and am going to highlight their class schedule for you this month.  I am also including a little biography about their current teachers along with a little bit about what their teachers had to say about how they have done in school so far this year.  From an outsiders perspective, it is evident that the majority of the kids at the Toddler House look forward to school each day and that they look up to their teachers and treat them with respect.

I hope you enjoy seeing and learning a little bit about Berline’s teachers and friends in their school day.

Berline has a full day of school here at GLA.  From 9am-12pm she attends French/Creole class with Elange and Michaelle. Elange has been teaching at GLA’s Toddler House for 5 years.  She is from Petion-Ville and has one baby, who was born this year.  She has two classes that she teaches each day. One is held in the morning and the other in the afternoon. They cover all subjects and are taught in both Creole and French.  Elange says that she likes teaching the children at the Toddler House because she gets to teach them many things and they are intelligent.  She is an excellent teacher and all the students in her class look up to her as a role model.  Michaelle just began working GLA this year as Elange’s teaching assistant.  She is from Kenscoff and has one son.

After lunch Berline has computer class from 1pm-2pm.  There are currently two computer classes at the Toddler House, each of them is an hour long.  It is has been exciting to be able to expose the older kids to computers and how they operate.  Dave is from Austrailia and has been a part of GLA’s international staff for just under 2 years.  Dave is the primary computer teacher at the Toddler House and ensures that all the computers and games are up-to-date and fun.  John teaches the majority of the computer classes.  He is the foster son of the missionary couple who runs GLA’s guesthouse.  He recently graduated from high school and is a great help with our computer classes! Next Berline has English class with Joyce from 2:00-3:30pm.  Joyce has been a part of GLA’s international staff for close to 9 years.  She is in charge of the school program here at GLA and is passionate about helping the kids excel in their education.  In addition to teaching 4 English classes, Joyce assists Molly with the daily operations of the Toddler House.  The kids all love Joyce because she knows how to make learning fun and exciting.  

On Sunday mornings Berline attends Sunday school and you will see a few photos from that attached as well.

Berline seems to enjoy school a lot.  She likes to call her teachers “Petit Bondye” which means “child of God” but she translates it as “You Baby Jesus” and then laughs at herself. She really does have a great sense of humor.  Elange says that Berline needs to work on her reading and math but that she is one of the best behaved students she has in class.  She is never naughty.

It was great to see you both again on your visit here this month! I am sure Berline was pleased with your visit and that she was so happy to see you again and to meet her sister.  I am praying the rest of your process goes quickly and that you are here again soon to bring Berline home!

Berline is healthy and growing:
Height: 128 cm
Weight: 56 lb

Visiting Berline

We had a great trip visiting Berline again.  We are ready to bring her home, but it will be this summer at the earliest.  The trip was productive however, because we were able to file our i600 at the US Embassy and go before two Haitian judges.  This was the only step that required us being present in Haiti.  Now the orphanage can do every other step for us.

While we traipsed around Port-au-Prince (not the safest place in the world), Kimberlyn stayed at the Baby House and loved on all the babies.  She was a natural and spent two full days there.  She played with several babies that had not been on the balcony in several weeks.  The balcony is the special place that has all the toys.  She even named a new baby--Coady (and yes that is the spelling she chose).  I was very impressed with her love and hard work.  This was a shock to me because on the way to Haiti she begged us not to make her work in Haiti.  I guess she has heard one too many stories of all the digging, painting, and projects from Jachin.  But she was the perfect volunteer.  I guess if you don't make her do manual labor she is OK.

After we were done with all of our required errands we spent as much time with Berline as possible.  She definitely remembered us and could name every family member.  She was sad that Jachin did not come this time, but she loved meeting her sister.  They painted their nails, sang, colored, and played Littlest Petshop.  She was still very shy but she understood more English.  She started talking more to us near the end of our stay.  She calls us Mama and Daddy, and loves to snuggle.  She is definitely the little mother of the orphanage.  She is the one that the younger ones go to if they need something.  She even brought a little friend upstairs on the balcony with her.  The balcony is for the volunteers and staff, so it is a privilege to be allowed up there.  They always allow the adoptive families to spend time with their child on the balcony to give them space.  We had to leave everyday to allow Berline to attend her school classes.  She is improving in every area.  I know by this summer she will have an even better grasp of English.  We have been trying to learn a little Creole, but it is definitely harder for old people to learn something new.  I think she will have better luck.

It was really hard leaving her again.  The only thing I could focus on was the next time we see her, we will be bringing her home.  Please pray for a speedy process.