boarded a plane in New York and flew to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 21, 2011. A desire to care for children, lay deep within our hearts ever since our teenage years.
As teenagers, desiring to serve God, along with our love for children, Don and I were lead to volunteer at a children's home in Virginia. It was there that we were attracted to each other. I was "swept off my feet" by Don's kind and gentle ways. He was a handsome young man who showed that he loved and cared for me by many small deeds of kindness.
We chose February 18, 1993, to join our hands and hearts together in the bonds of holy matrimony. We promised to love and care for each other as long as we both should live. The life that lay before us was a total mystery.
As time moved on, as time does, our desire to care for children only strengthened. Much to our disappointment, God chose not to bless us with biological children. At times the pain and sorrow that goes along with childlessness was almost unbearable. It was hard for me to understand why God would allow us, a couple who loved children, to remain childless. At one point I even began to doubt and my faith in God was standing in question. Of course, the Lord, who we trust, rescued us. He brought us up out of that horrible pit... He set our feet upon a rock!
Instead of pining away, we decided to open the doors of our home to foster children. It was not long until we had a nest full! In four months time we had four children to care for.. I shall not go into detail about the next several years. Rest assured that we were very blessed by sharing our home!
With time we were able to adopt the four children that we now have. We thank God for blessing us with them. I am convinced that God has a special purpose for each of them.
As the children became older, we felt like the Lord was not finished with us yet. Our family spent a little time in Mexico helping out at a children's home in February of 2008. Once again, we felt a strong desire to minister to children and thought perhaps we were called to Mexico. For a time we tried to prepare to leave for Mexico. The doors were open in Mexico and the mission there wanted us to come but the doors just did not open at home.
In March of 2010, we were privileged to go to Haiti with some of our best friends, Jesse and Carol Myer. Jesse and Carol had been to Haiti a number of times to visit some friends who had a children's home there. Before we left, I wondered if the Lord had something in mind!! He did!! We arrived at the children's home and it was not long until we totally fell in love with the children there. God strengthened our desire for more children to care for when He brought a day old infant to the doorstep of the home. The wee, tiny little girl just stole our hearts!
In June we were asked to go to Haiti, along with Jesse and Carol, to babysit the children at the home while their caregivers left for a two week trip to the states. Don was convinced that the trip would show us clearly whether or not the Lord wanted us in Haiti. He felt like he needed to talk to the Pastor of the church in the area. A few days before we left for home, Don called Pastor Levy and asked him if we could have a talk with him. He told him very briefly what we had in mind. Pastor Levy assured us that we should come. We had about an hour and a half drive to his house. I remember the day as being pleasant and warm. We were warmly welcomed by Pastor Levy. Don proceeded to share what was on his heart: the desire to start a children's home in Haiti. Pastor Levy assured us that our vision had purpose and that Haiti had a great need for another children's home. He also told us that not long after he had received the call from Don that morning, another pastor had called him and told him that there was a baby that needed a home because his mother too had died and his relatives did not feel able to properly care for him. Pastor Levy said that we should begin our children's home right away! We took that as a sign from God to pursue our vision.
Pastor Levy made arrangements for us to see the little baby, who ended being four months old instead of four days old as I had understood. As I gazed into the sweet little face of Claudsie, my mother heart "melted". I knew that I could love him and would be happy to care for him. However, we were going back to the states and there was no way he could go along! A young missionary couple agreed to keep Claudsie for a time.
It came as no surprise when we heard that the young couple that was caring for Claudsie was becoming very attached to him. And because of some of our past experiences of loving and losing , we decided to give them first chance at giving Claudsie a permanent home. We feel sure that the Lord will bring another baby into our lives and we are very excited about that fact...
I am leaving out a lot of details for "lack of time"!
In January of 2011, we were asked by a BRIC ( Blue Ridge International for Christ) board member if we would be willing to help out at the Leogane Girl's Home. Looking back at how God has worked things out for us and for our move to Haiti is certainly amazing. Many little details seemed to fall into place.. I can't help but feel overwhelmed. We give God glory!
Our home church, JCC (Juniata Christian Church) has partnered with us in our vision, for which we are truly VERY grateful. We cannot begin to thank you enough for the tremendous encourgement we have received from you... Your commitment to prayer for us, the love and acceptance that you have showed us....etc. God Bless You All! We love you.
-Karole for the Don Weaver family
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