Life should never be discarded in a dumpster. Poverty is often blamed for many horrendous acts. But, nothing excuses the decision to place a child in plastic bag and bury it amidst plastic wrappers, bottles, and food. This type of desperation is something few of us in the United States can relate to. Girls in Haiti are often exploited, abandoned, and before they know it become mothers themselves. Without any evidence that the life of their child will be any better than the horror they’ve experienced, the trashcan may actually seem like an act of mercy.
Still, life should never be discarded in a dumpster. On July 13th, of 2012 we (Three Angels) received a call from the government of Haiti asking if we would take in a girl who had been found in a trashcan. A police officer had found her as he walked down an alleyway and heard the rustling in a plastic bag. He pulled the child out and took her to the hospital. Her sickly body required immediate medical attention, and while in the hospital, she underwent test that proved positive for HIV. This overwhelmed the officer and the thoughts of possibly caring for her dissipated. She was left to the fate of the state.
She arrived at the Three Angels Angel House emotionless and without expression. The first few months required high interaction, close monitoring, and consistent nurturing. The nannies at the orphanage cared for her as if she was their own daughter. She fought illness and infections and struggled to develop. She was assessed to be at 0-3 month development level even though she was nearly 10 months old. Our team focused on restoring her ability to attach with ongoing play therapy, massage, and other exercises. After about a full year of intense love, she began cracking a smile. The smile turned to frequent laughter and joy. She is now described as being very affectionate with those close to her and enjoys playing with the other children in the orphanage.
During this time of restoration, God was moving on hearts of a special couple in the U.S. For years they prayed about adoption. The dad works diligently as an ER doctor and they drawn to Haiti after the earthquakes of 2010. In 2012 finally made the step to move forward, and were quickly matched with this beautiful little girl.
God’s heart shines through stories of adoption. This picture of a child being rescued from a dumpster and embraced by new parents is possibly the clearest picture of what God does for each of us who accept His offer of adoption. In Romans we are told, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The story of this little girl is forever changed. She did nothing to earn her new place as a child of these parents. They chose her. But, she now has a future because of their love.
Stories like this should encourage us to experience God as our adopted Father. We too were in the dumpster of our sin when He came to save us. William Barkley says, “Once, we were in the absolute control of our own sinful human nature; but God, in his mercy, has brought us into his absolute possession. The old life has no more rights over us; God has an absolute right. The past is cancelled and its debts are wiped out; we begin a new life with God and become heirs of all his riches. If that is so, we become joint heirs with Jesus Christ, God’s own Son. Whatever Christ inherits, we also inherit. If Christ had to suffer, we also inherit that suffering; but, if Christ was raised to life and glory, we also inherit that life and glory.”
I recently preached a sermon that explores this more at Cornerstone of Santa Clarita Valley . You can listen here.
To find out more about adopting through Three Angels or how you can sponsor and orphan while he or she waits to go home, visit www.threeangelshaiti.org.