the stanley family's story with god's littlest angels in haiti
TRANSCRIPT
The Stanleys
A Story of Growth
A Story of Growth
Hello! My husband, Jason, and I began our adoption journey in the spring of 2007. Our biological children were 5 and 3 years old, and we felt called by our Heavenly Father to complete our family through international adoption. Our children arrived at the gates of God’s Littlest Angels orphanage on January 15, 2008. They had just turned 4 years old and their mother could no longer provide for them. The children were malnourished, but otherwise healthy. Though they were twins, Jon was far shorter than his sister Hope, indicating that he was not getting the nourishment required for growth. GLA was quick to take action. The children immediately received immunizations, vitamins, protein shakes and nutritious food to allow their bodies to begin developing at a healthier rate.
A Story of Growth
By May of 2008, the kids were looking much healthier, both emotionally and physically. It was this month that our family received and accepted the referral of Hope and Jon. We became very eager to bring these sweethearts home!
Our paperwork began making its way through the Haitian social and legal systems and slowly but surely the adoption was finalized in November of 2009. There was still some paperwork required to obtain passports and visas but Jon and Hope were Stanleys! It was such a comfort to know that our children were in great care while we awaited their homecoming. Receiving monthly updates with pictures, growth information and a little update on what they had been up to was so encouraging. Through the adoption we became friends with Molly and Joyce, the GLA staff responsible for the Toddler House, and we will always love and support them. They provided love and structure for our children who were recovering from the trauma of loss. Our children began to learn about God’s love for them, how to receive and offer affection, how to get along with other children, how to get along with adults, and they learned what it felt like to no longer be in physical pain from hunger. We are so thankful for God’s blessings to our kids through GLA.
A Story of Growth
The earthquake and subsequent evacuation was not the way we had envisioned our adoption story concluding, but God knew all along they would be ushered home to us this way.
Our son and daughter have now been home for 2 years and are continuing to make such great strides in life. They are in 1st grade, learning to read, write and solve math problems. They are active at church and can both tell you how much God loves them and that Jesus is our Savior. Their prayers are heartfelt and would certainly warm your heart if you heard them.
The kids enjoy daily life as a family, bonding well with their sisters Ali and Whitney. They enjoy extracurricular activities such as basketball, swimming and dance and physically keep growing by leaps and bounds!
A Story of Growth
A Story of Growth
A Story of Growth
God continues to use GLA to shape our lives. Jason is now a member of the American GLA board, and both of us returned to Haiti in 2011 to serve GLA on missions teams. These visits will likely continue and the gratitude we have towards GLA for loving and serving our family will last a lifetime.
Thank you God’s Littlest Angels for all you have done. May God bless your efforts as you continue to serve Him through caring for His “littlest angels” in Haiti daily!
Jason, Jaime, Ali, Whitney, Hope and John Stanley
A Story of Growth
If you’d like to talk about helping God’s Littlest Angels, please contact Laurie Bickel at 719-638-4348 or [email protected] or Tom Vanderwell at (616) 884-8901 or [email protected]. Thank you!