So.

I have been on a wild and deep learning experience.

It started a few days after the earthquake in Haiti. And, I'd venture as far to say I was hit with an aftershock of the quake. It's just energy in motion...right? And, I have been shaken with emotions, and pulled into a deep, sweet healing. Thanks be to God. Here's the story:


I went to visit my friend Debra and meet her newborn son either the second or third day after Port au Prince, Haiti was shaken to rubble by the earthquake this last January, 2010. I remember being so excited to see her baby, born just weeks before Christmas 2009. I arrived, and my sweet friend was so kind, but to be honest a little shell shocked.

I sat down with my 17 month old (who did not sit down, but started to discover the dog's toy basket) after hugging her and her 12 year old daughter hello. It had been a while since we had visited, although I think of them often. The Parker's are one of the funnest, most loving families I have ever met. Just thinking about them made me smile. So we sat down on the couch and she started to tell me how a TV crew was over at their house interviewing them the night before... what? Wait, what?...I was totally clueless. I should say, not that I have any excuses because I have he internet...but our family has no cable TV...so, we don't get streams of shows, or commercials, or valuable weather information or any news casts. We're sort of off the grid in that way...but like I said, I have the internet, and I did hear on the radio that there was an earthquake, and I had looked it up...but didn't really read too much about it.

It didn't even occur to me to think about their son in Haiti. The one they have been praying for, loving from afar for over a year. I felt like a dope. I listened for a little bit, hearing that they found out that he was fine and safe (enough) somewhere...still, I don't think any of it was sinking into my heart.

We hung out there, I met the baby, she let me feed him, I chased Levi from place to place before we decided to go and have lunch. I LOVE her daughter, she's so hysterical. We talked about how she was a vegan for a week and then changed her mind. All the while Debra seemed to be somewhere else. Haiti to be exact.

I left lunch feeling like I had failed as a friend. I was very discouraged in that I didn't know how to help. I began to pray for his safety. For him to come home.

The more I prayed for him to come home, the more God placed a love for him in my heart like no other. I was quite surprised, although I shouldn't be, that God would bless me in this way, that God would spill me over with love for someone I had never met.

One night, I was helping my 17 month old with something, and the Spirit moved me in such a way, that I can barely describe. I felt a love for this boy, like I had felt holding my newborn children. And, until this moment, this gifted moment, I didn't realize how much Debra and Ernest, and their children LOVED this boy. This precious gift so far from their home.

This is when it hit me that he WAS destined to be their son. He was a part of their family, he was always on their hearts and minds. I felt all at once extremely joyful and terribly shallow to have not ever understood it until now. There are not enough thank you's in the world I could say to Debra, Ernest and the Parker children to express what the blessing of this experience is to me.

Ernest, at this time, was 4 or so days into his 9 day standoff in Haiti waiting for their son's papers to clear. It was a terrible frustration...and many people were praying and working to help get them home. Home for good. I thank God, though, that this sweet little 9 year old had 9 days with his father all to himself. Nine days to cuddle and study his mannerisms, to feel the strength of his heart, and his arms. Nine days to be fought for. To see his father for the hero he is. Oh, God thank you so, so much.

My husband and I took our children to welcome them home, and we cried as they descended on the escalator into his family's arms...as he was reunited with his mother, met his siblings, and his grandparents. As he looked around to a community that has been praying and cheering for him for so long. People who LOVE him deeply, because God lets us. It was incredible to say the least.

That night, it was hard to sleep imagining all his 'firsts', and thinking about how wonderful it is to see your children have their firsts...but seeing him on his first escalator ride, his first plane trip, his first pizza...everything is so WONDERFUL. His life is precious. He is a hero. He is a survivor of things I can't even imagine. I am so thankful for his life, and for my friends the Parkers.

I am deeply changed, and forever in love with our God who loves us so, so much.