J's Story (taken from the orphanage newsletter)

This is my favorite part of the update. Let me introduce you to J whom we’re calling him J. J was born on July 7, 2007 ( 07-07-07 J). J was born without any legs, not even stumps, and with a deformed left arm and hand. He was born at home. When J’s father saw his deformities he immediately became mad at J’s mother and began blaming her for J’s appearance. J’s mother became scared and afraid for J’s life and afraid for her own life. She packed J up and took him to Milot Hospital where she knew he would be cared for. This is where we come in. Because of his deformities and his father’s anger, J will never be able to go home with his mother. Life in Haiti for J would be miserable and the family would be ostracized because of J’s appearance. The hospital contacted us and asked if we would be willing to take him into our care at COTP. We quickly agreed, knowing that if we didn’t, there would be absolutely no other place for J to go and be safe. We picked J up from the hospital on July 14. As you can see from the pictures, he is an absolutely beautiful little boy. His face is perfect and every part of him is beautiful. He is very lovable, content, and alert. A few days after we brought J home, he began screaming in pain from a large inguinal hernia. After speaking with doctors and hospitals in Cap-Haitien we realized that surgery would have to be done in Port-au-Prince (PAP) because there is no pediatric anesthesiologist at Milot Hospital . Through the pre-operative testing in PAP they found that there were also problems in his urinary tract that needed to be operated on. Daryl and I spent July 22-25 in PAP with J for consults, testing, and then his surgery. He had an excellent pediatric surgeon, urologist, and anesthesiologist working on him but it’s still Haiti and we were a little nervous about everything!! We were pleasantly surprised (and very thankful!) that all went well and J came through surgery with flying colors. He stole the hearts of the doctors and nurses that worked on him and they were very good to us and to J. We feel so privileged to have the opportunity of caring for J. He is a little boy that many Haitians would’ve seen and thrown away in a garbage heap. He may be labeled as “unlovable” and “rejected” by many but to us he is one of the most lovable and precious little miracles God has blessed us with. We have been telling our nannies that he is no different than you or I; he is a human being and deserves all the love, respect, and care that we have to offer. Our nannies have also been amazing with him, loving on him and completely spoiling him at every chance they get. This is so good and encouraging for us to see – our nannies have come a long way in their acceptance and love of all babies, no matter their appearance.

If little J’s story has touched your heart in any way, let us know! His surgery and the 4 day trip to PAP was an unexpected cost and we are trying to raise money to cover all of those expenses. If you’re interested in helping with this cost, send us an email. We will let you know where and how to send your donation. Thank you SO much! If you’re not able to donate any money towards J’s cost, please be praying for him and his health. Be praying for us to find an adoptive home for him quickly. We know that God has the perfect family out there for J, pray for patience for us as we wait for that family.

On a day where I was feeling as if all hope was lost, my ears tuned it to hear this song playing on our CD player:
My hope is built on nothing lessThan Jesus’ blood and righteousness;I dare not trust the sweetest frame,But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
When darkness veils His lovely face,I rest on His unchanging grace;In every high and stormy gale,My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His bloodSupport me in the whelming flood;When all around my soul gives way,He then is all my hope and stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,Oh, may I then in Him be found;Dressed in His righteousness alone,Faultless to stand before the throne.
To trust and put our hope and faith in anything else but Jesus’ blood and righteousness is foolish. It’s hard to trust and find hope when the miracles don’t come, when it seems like our urgent prayers aren’t being answered, and when all we can see is darkness. But the faith that this requires is perhaps the most valuable and firm faith of all because this kind of faith can only be developed in the midst of difficult circumstances when it feels like there is no hope. This faith cannot be shaken because it is the result of having been shaken. And even in the midst of the “why” questions and feelings of no hope, we will confidently say,

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. After my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”Job 19:25-27

We are so honored that God chose us to be that family..In Jesus' name.. Thank you for making him fearfully and wonderfully..

How J won our hearts

One night as I was on a website I have visited often www.rainbowkids.org looking at the hundreds of children in many different orphanages around the world. Then I saw J. His beautiful face just captivated me. Then I showed K. He said, "Call and see what his story is.". Then M saw him and said, "We need to bring my brother home." Then K looked and started to cry and he tells me everyday he can't wait till his littlest brother gets here. K also, wants to be one of 20 siblings. =O.. When a family is in one accord in this way there are no words to describe the incredible feeling of God's hand on us. We have fallen deeply in love with this child and ache to hold him, talk to him, and play with him. No matter what this journey holds, our God reigns!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Process for Adopting from Haiti

1 - Prepared our dossier, It took us 4 months.



2 - File prepared for Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (1-2 weeks)



3 - First legalization issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (1-2 weeks)



4 - File prepared for IBESR - Social history written for child and psychological examination given. (1-4 weeks)



5 - IBESR - While in IBESR, the file goes through 3 stages of approval and then receives a final siginature approval from the director. (2-6 months)



6 - Civil Courts - The adoption is finalized. After this point the Child(ren) is legally yours. (1-3 weeks)



7 - Legalization - This involves several entities signing and authenticating the file. (2-4 weeks)



8 - Minister of Interior Affairs - File is submitted into the passport process. (2-4 weeks)



9 - Haitian Immigration - Child's passports are issued and printed. (1-6 weeks)



10 - DHS appointment scheduled for adoptive family. (2-3 weeks lead time)



11 - DHS processing - File sent to Mexico City for final US CIS approval. (1-3 weeks)



12 - DNA testing - May or may not be required - depending on DHS recommendations. (0-6 weeks)



13 - Consulate/Visa Apointment - Adoptive parents travel to Haiti to receive and escort their child home.



Even though this sounds and looks like a lot of stuff to do and have done, I beleive that it is nothing compared to what and how it changes your life, from the joy and happiness you get from a child someone else thought was an outcast.

Love,
Michael

Welcome to J's blog.

This will help the Happy Home of the Flynn Family keep our loved ones updated about our journey to bring J home. Thank you for your continued

support and prayers.

From left to right: S (4 1/2), Daddy, M (2), Mommy, K (10), M (17 1/2), and S (2 1/2).