Earlier this week I shared a Tweet from a friend in Austin:
PRAYER: RT @eloranicole @tiffsoutherland: friend who was adopting from Haiti-met child-going this week 2 get her-found out child was killed
It was a hard Tweet to read (and share).
Essentially, this friend of a friend of a friend were in the process of adopting a little girl from Haiti. They were set to go to Haiti this week and pick her up – but discovered the girl had died in the earthquake.
Kevin has a great post on his reflections after hearing this news — which are even more poignant knowing he’s an adoptive father himself.
You have to wonder — with so many children in Haiti waiting to be adopted — how many more families are facing this same situation?
There were 1.2 million orphans in Haiti before this tragedy struck.
With an estimated 50,000 people killed, I would guess there could easily be 1.5 or 1.7 million now.
Luckily there’s still hope in the midst of this tragedy.
This morning, Aaron Ivey (@aaronivey) and his wife were interviewed on CNN, sharing their story about adoption and the son they’re in the process of adopting from Haiti right now. They’ve received word that while their son Amos is shaken, he’s OK.
(Watch video about the Ivey’s on Austin’s KVUE TV)
Along with the Ivey’s, I’ve also received word via Facebook that a friend from Temple, who’s also in the process of adopting two children from Haiti, found out their children are safe as well.
David Peyton: Our adoption agent has confirmed that all of the kids in the orphanage are okay – including ours! Praise the Lord for His protection!on Wednesday (source)
And yet, we mourn…
So while we rejoice with the Peyton’s and Ivey’s, we also mourn and suffer with those who mourn today.
There’s countless theological discussions that could be held here but I go back to a snippet from St. Peter’s Brewery…
Matt began strumming his guitar and recalling a story from earlier in the week.
“You know, I realize this week has been rough for various folks in our group,” Matt began. “But as I was reading this weekend and then talking with Julie about random malarkey, I began to think about just how different the Kingdom of God is — compared to the kingdom of man. It’s this upside down, twisted kingdom that I don’t know if we’ll ever really wrap our minds around.”
Jimmy looked up from his plate and listened as Matt continued.
“I hope that no matter what happens politically, no matter what happens in the world around us, it can be said that I serve the king of an upside down kingdom. A kingdom where the meek shall inherit the earth, where those who morn are comforted, where the last are first, where the oppressed shall be freed. Where rather than appearing in a palace to lead his kingdom with a sword, my king came and appeared in a lowly manager — surrounded by farm animals.”
Matt continued strumming his guitar as Julie opened a Bible and began reading aloud.
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are — no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat…”
As Julie finished her reading, Matt continued telling his story.
“So as I’m thinking about this upside down kingdom and reading the passage that Julie just read and it brought me hope to know that when we’re at the end of our rope, that’s when God can really go to work. And when we lose what’s really dear to us, that’s when we’ll be embraced by God. God loves us all — but I think he has a special place for those who suffer and mourn — in fact he says he will comfort them.”
Matt continued strumming his guitar as he sat looking at the various faces in the room. Jimmy tried to focus on his food again, hoping not to make eye contact with anyone else in the room.
“And so for those of you who have had your kingdom and your world collapse recently, I want to remind you that God offers a different kind of kingdom for us all,” Matt said. “And I want you each to know that not only does God suffer with you, but each of us suffer with you as well.”
I recorded an audio version of this, earlier this week, as part of an upcoming episode of The Homebrewed Christianity. You can listen to it here:
[audio:http://www.casadeblundell.com/jonathan/wp-content/uploads/jdb-stpetersbrewery-reading.mp3|titles=jdb-stpetersbrewery-reading]
(download mp3)
A few ways you can help…
- Pray. Pray for those who are suffering. Pray for those who are on the ground working. Pray for those who are still left with questions about the well being of their loved ones. Pray that the God of comfort will use each of us to be his hands and feet and comfort those in need.
- It’s hard to make out during most of the CNN interview, but Aaron is wearing a Help Hait shirt. His brother (and fellow UMHB alum) Tim Ivey designed the shirt.
They’re only $25 and 100% of the proceeds go to relief work in Haiti right now. You can purchase the shirts here.
- Find another group doing relief work in Haiti and make a donation.
- Consider adoption. Adoption may not be for everyone — but children deserve loving parents and a loving home. Perhaps your family could provide that for a child who’s hurting right now. If you’re unsure who to contact or what the process is, take some time and visit www.togetherforadoption.org or Irving Bible’s Tapestry Ministry for some great resources and information.
- Invite your friends to give as well – either through purchasing a T-Shirt, or giving financially to the organization you’re supporting — and invite them to consider adoption alongside you.
(For more on suffering you may enjoy Homebrewed Christianity’s podcast on suffering and meaning.)
