Nataliya

A happy ending for baby Raymond!

On our recent trip to Haiti I was thrilled to see a familiar and friendly face at the Port-au-Prince airport. A long time friend and supporter of Orphan’s Promise, Christian B. and his family. They were in Haiti to visit their soon-to-be, new daughter, Raymonde.

Christian met Raymonde 8 months ago while in Haiti on a mission trip.

He first saw Raymonde when her aunt brought her to the Lifeline compound in La Digue, Haiti to leave her with the staff. Raymonde’s aunt told the staff that the girls parents had died, and she had no money and could not care for the two-year-old. She also said that little Raymonde had a voodoo curse on her and she would probably die anyway. Unfortunately, that kind of thinking is not uncommon in rural Haiti.

Christian’s first look at Raymonde broke his heart. She was emaciated, malnourished, had a chronic cough and as well as parasites. But he said, “she touched my heart.” Even though he had no idea if she would even survive, he called his family in the states and after a short time and some prayer, it was unanimous, they would adopt Raymonde!

I had seen the first pictures they had taken of Raymonde and thought to myself, “she isn’t going to make it.” Imagine my complete surprise when we met Raymonde in person, some months later. She was laughing, running and playing, babbling and singing and best of all giving hugs and kisses to her new brothers and sisters. What a joyous sight in this land of deprevation!

Of course, there have been many, many prayers sent up for this beautiful girl and for her new family, and God has answered! They are almost finished with their paperwork, and soon they will be able to bring Raymonde home.

Looking at this new family I am reminded of the phrase Terry uses frequently. “we don’t do it because it’s easy, we do it because it’s right..” This new home and family will be all she needs to heal, and know the love of Jesus in her life. And it is people like you who make it all possible. When you help OP, you are helping children like Raymonde, who are not just surviving, but thriving in the facilities we help to support throughout the world.

God bless Raymonde and her new family, and God bless you for loving and caring for the poor of this world through Orphan’s Promise.

Nataliya Khomyak
Director of Operations