How could someone ever give up their child?

Yes, I've been asked this question numerous times. It seemed unfathomable to me.... until I learned about death and malnourishment in third world countries. A mother who hears her child cry day in and day out and has no way to fill his tummy, may consider it. Many people in Haiti and other countries around the world have no hope. Did you know 30,000 people die every day of starvation and other preventable diseases?  Twenty thousand of those people are children.

Photo Courtesy of Real Hope for Haiti

Like this mother who had one plate of food for herself and her infant in a week's time.

Some of our children are true orphans and have lost both parents. After Jessica, Josiah, and Isaiah's mom died giving birth to her second set of twins, Grandma had no way to provide for them. Isaiah's twin sister died during the birth, also. All  she had to feed Isaiah, was flour water, until Barb found them a month later. The children's bellies were distended; their hair was yellow from lack of protein, they had scabies and giardia. Grandma decided she could possibly provide for their three-year-old brother, and gave up the younger three- twins, 14 mths old and a month old baby boy. Their father had died in some political upheaval, seven months previously.  

Jennika and Easton's mom was single - no husband to help provide for her seven children. She worked every day, leaving the little ones with five year old, Jennika. Thirteen- year-old Cindy went to school, and the older teenage boys were on their own. Jennika was fully capable of taking care of infants, much to Lacey's surprise. They lived in Cite Soleil. Cite Soleil was once determined the most dangerous slum in the world.

 Cite Soleil

Jennika told us about how her older 13-year-old sister, Cindy, was abducted during the night by three armed men. Her mom called the police, but she said, "Mom, police are not always nice like they are here." Then, the men returned Cindy three days later. After that time, Cindy was no longer able to hold her bowels. Of course, Jennika didn't know what happened to her. She did remember the voodoo ceremonies performed in hopes of curing her and described them in full detail. 

Easton-4, Jennika-5 and Cindy

Here is Cindy visiting a few weeks after Mom gave up her siblings. Jennika told me about how her mom found a way to buy a lock and put it on the door after the abduction. She described how small the room was and said her mom allowed several relatives to sleep over, covering the whole floor in a house smaller than 12 x 12 (smaller than my bedroom she said).

Look how thin her little arms are.

 Jennika- age 5

It was apparent to Lacey something terrible had happened to Jennika's family. When she first started caring for Jennika and the other three children- the oldest and most responsible five year old you have ever met, would shut all windows in their home at the village and lock the door before bedtime.  It was a hard habit for her to break. Lacey explained to her they had bars on the windows and no one could enter; they also needed air in order to keep cool and breathe. Jennika told me later, her house in Cite Soleil was so hot at night they would drip sweat, "Mom, you wouldn't believe how hot it was!"

I asked Jennika what she did when the three men came in and took her sister. 

She said, "I pretend I'm sleeping, so they don't take me, too."

Jennika- 8 and Mallori- 21

Recently, we celebrated Jennika's ninth birthday. I cannot tell you how this
girl loves Jesus. She is eager to tell me when people have wrong attitudes and
how they need to love Jesus more.  (so cute!) She is as smart as a whip and
doing well in the third grade. She works hard. I encourage her to be a kid and
play. I want her to experience childhood because her childhood in Haiti was
cut short. She loves horses and other animals and is a very  talented artist when
it comes to drawing and painting. She talks about becoming  a nurse someday.
She is the sweetest and most beautiful daughter one could ever hope for.

I am a blessed mom.  I am so thankful to the Lord for never leaving my children, nor
forsaking them. He kept them alive. Jennika is able to experience life and grow just
like any child should have the right to do. She is able to dream, and anticipate her
dreams coming true. 

This is redemption.