Reunion

When Patrick and I first met Solomon's mother, we were a little taken aback at her certainty that we were definately the people that were to take care of her infant son. She didn't put us through a grueling interview session, didn't demand to see our credentials. After brief introductions including how we had come to quickly fall in love with her baby boy, she seemed to know that all was as it should be.

She later told Patrick that God told her a pastor would find Solomon within the month of his residency in the orphanage. Sure enough, Patrick had fallen in love with our little king in January, just a month after his mother decided to place him there in hope.

At the time of meeting Solomon's mother (S), she also let us know that God told her we'd help her find her other son who had been adopted nearly 7 years ago to a family in the States.

I was doubtful at best. The U.S. is a huge place. If communication hadn't been established in all this time, maybe it wasn't meant to be. Maybe the family didn't want to connect to Haiti, maybe something had gone wrong with the adoption. There were so many possibilities.

We told S we'd try. We'd write a letter.

And so we did, feeling a little invasive while scripting it, but knowing that if a reunion was to take place, understanding would be reached.

I mailed the letter and soon forgot about it. Life gets busy like that.

But recently my phone rang... in the middle of a work day. I absent-mindedly answered, curious for the US number on my caller id.

It was Solomon's brother's US mother. She was intially shocked, but later thrilled with the connection, eager to establish communication with her son's Haitian family, happy that the brothers would one day get to know each other.

Connection.

Since then we've shared information and stories. She sent an e-mail to be translated for S, sharing an update on her son's life and gifts.

Today Patrick broke the news to S. "We found him. He knows about you and is anxious to send you a letter. We are talking with his family." S threw her hands in the air and skipped around the room praising God. She's never exhibited such outward exuberation before. A beautiful moment.

I consider myself a person of faith. I nurture a spiritual part of my soul that keeps me going through thick and thin. However, I rarely put God to the test in such specific ways, rarely put much stock in "messages from beyond." I found Solomon's mom's visions a little nieve and too hopefull initially. But she proved me wrong. Life proved me wrong. Or was it God?

I'm happy we were able to play a part in a grand reuion. Solomon's family is coming together over the miles, through diverse history and lifestyles. Patrick and I feel thrilled, honored and just a little haunted to be a part of it.