Rescue

Tough, funny, determined and a bit mischievous... That is what you'll infer about the temperament of Judelove after about two minutes of interacting with her.  She is one of the children who call Matthew 28 Ministries their home.  Left at the gate as an infant, Judelove's family history is a bit of a mystery.  Along with the rest of the children and teens at Matthew 28, Judelove is growing up being well cared for by nannies and staff.  Like all the other children, she calls the missionary Hein "Papa" and knows sweet fatherly care from him.  At Matthew 28 Judelove has meals and medical care provided for her.  She is being taught the truths of the Bible and joins in the nightly devotionals - singing and praying each night with the rest of her Matthew 28 family.  Surely, in this special place, Judelove is learning about God's great "rescue plan", as Sally Lloyd Jones puts it in The Jesus Storybook Bible.  

Judelove has lived out her own story of rescue that mirrors so beautifully God's mission to save those who are lost...

In the not too distant past, Judelove was kidnapped.  She was walking with some of the other children on the quiet country roads of Bohoc between school and home when a moto pulled up and the people grabbed her and sped away.  As is true with much of rural Haiti, there is no real police presence in Bohoc.  The Haitian staff called Hein, who was in the states at the time, to let him know what had happened.  Very quickly Hein made his way to Haiti and the search for Judelove began in earnest.  

The different pieces that fell into place in this rescue mission are pretty remarkable - Hein's determination and connections proved invaluable.  There were friends in the police force who were willing to work in an "unofficial capacity" and rumors that were passed along to just the right people at the right time.  In the end, after what seemed like a completely impossible mission, Judelove was found in the overcrowded city of Port au Prince safe and sound.  It seems that members of her biological family who had abandoned her at Matthew 28 as a baby had determined to sell her as a restavek, a child slave, now that she was old enough to bring a good price.  There was no official justice sought against those who attempted this unspeakable evil, but the police friends made it clear, on threat of death, that no threats would be made against Judelove's safety or freedom again.

Hein was with Judelove on the ride home from Port au Prince back to Bohoc.  He said he spoke to her quietly, her papa trying to reassure her that she was safe - she was rescued.  

After I learned more about Judelove's story, I was struck by such powerful feelings...
  

Outrage that the family who was meant to care for and protect this remarkable little life would view it only as something to feed their own greed.  

Thankfulness that Hein and the rest of the Matthew 28 Ministry folks have made sure to create a place where orphans know the love of family as God designed it.  

Gratitude for the reminder of God, our heavenly Father, who rescues His own children with the same determination that Hein demonstrated in the rescue of Judelove.

~

As I continue to process through this summer in Haiti, I'm so thankful for my own friends and family who have loved me so well and pointed me back to the rescuing hope we have in Christ!  Thank you for following along with this summer's journey in Haiti!  Love in Christ, Jessie