We are excited to introduce Miss Valancia Merlan.
She was born in City Solei to a very poor family, brought to Solomon's orphanage in August at 9 months of age and skeletal with severe malnutrition. The nannies at the orphanage gave love and special attention to her as she held her own despite the odds.
We met Miss Valancia earlier this fall and immediately felt pulled to her, partly out of the shock of her condition, but mostly thorugh her dark eyes, strong spirit, and the way she clung to the security she needed.
Valancia is actually two days older than Solomon, but severely malnourished and currently weighing in at 12 lbs. Kim and I decided to bring her to the States with us as our latest addition to our family. I am happy to report that after two days of love and care Valancia is smiling, laughing, and eating like a horse. She is well on her way to wreaking havoc alongside her brother. We are thrilled to have her in our family.
Welcome home - Prayers have been answered. I know your family is thrilled that you are home. Bless you and Welcome to Valancia to the family.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to your family, and thank you for sharing your story. We are praying for you at First Parish UCC in Yarmouth, Maine.
ReplyDeleteShe is beautiful! Congratulations and blessings to you and Valancia. I'm so glad you are home safe. You and your family remain in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteLinda Hanson
So glad to hear you are safe and have your children in your arms. Blessings on each of you.
ReplyDeletePeace, Suzy Richards Daly (a seminary friend of Eric's)
Congratulations! What a beautiful family...
ReplyDeleteI've used your blog to help my daughter learn about Haiti, what a wonderful resource it has been. My daughter is adopted (transracial adoption) and has multiple "challenges"... but her heart is enormous and after reading your blog she (we) feel like we know you. R even asks about Solomon each day. Now she'll be asking about Valancia too. We live just outside Denver, and blog here: http://woodstone.homeschooljournal.net/
Welcome home, and best wishes to you all!
Maura
Welcoming Valancia with open arms to our family -it is sure is growing!
ReplyDeleteKrystal and family!
Felicidades! What wonderful news.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Kim and Patrick! I hope I get to meet your babies some day. They are both so beautiful. What an amazing story you guys continue to write with your lives.
ReplyDelete-Staci McKernan
She is lovely and so blessed to have such a wonderful family. May she grow strong and healthy. Love Pauline
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your growing family! Blessings to you all!
ReplyDeleteI have been feeling so burdened about the orphans in Haiti and wonder how possible it is to adopt at this point. Seeing you with your babies is so exciting to me. What a joy to welcome these orphans into your family with the love of Christ! What a perfect picture of the Gospel. Beautiful... I have been reading your blog to keep my heart engaged with the people of Haiti. Thanks for the gift of your words... blessings to you and your precious BABIES!!!
ReplyDelete-pkh
Congratulations and many, many blessings to your whole family!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! She is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through the Kansas City Star and have been following your events since the earthquake. I prayed that the lack of posts was because you were traveling. What a blessing to come to my computer tonight and find that you are safe in Denver and have a new sister for Solomon! Will continue to pray for you and for the people of Haiti.
ReplyDeleteA follower in Olathe, KS
Welcome home Patrick, Kim, Solomon and Valancia!!
ReplyDeleteSo happy you are home.
Please let us all know when you are up for visits.
Nancy Rosas
I've been reading your blog since the earthquake struck. I found you through an Iliff friend. My husband graduated from Iliff a few years ago. Anyway, I celebrate your safe arrival in the U.S. with your children! From reading your blog, I have seen that you have been blessed by Haiti and have been a blessing to the people of Haiti. Take care. Alison Kattelmann
ReplyDeleteOH CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a blessing!
ReplyDeleteJust as you have brought a blessing into the lifes of Solomon and Valancia, so have they brought blessings to you as well. I am in awe of your spirit and your courage. You are truly a family serving God.
ReplyDeleteI have been using your blog to put a face with those in Haiti that need help so that they can connect and be inspired to do all they can. You may not have realized it when you started, but it alone has been a great source of inspiration for many.
It is time for you to rest, relax and enjoy each other's companionship now. God has blessed all of you with each other.
We love you all,
Steve & Deb LaForge (TN)
Wow! How blessed we are that our Haiti group in Canada was directed to your blog by the folks (near us) at FIDA, founded by the Wall family who owned the Guest House in PAP! We admire you abundantly and pray great blessings upon your growing family ! May your lives overflow with ideas and action for our Haitian brothers and sisters! Blessings indeed from Western Ontario, Canada! Russell Gammon Partners With Purpose
ReplyDeletecongratulations, she is so sweet looking, like a little angel.. i'm so glad you now have the two. Time to sit back a bit and relax.Not sure if you'll be able to though. Your lives have been full of work.
ReplyDeletetake this time to reflect.
Thank you so very, very much for this blog. It has connected our family and our UCC congregation to your ministry and to the people of Haiti. You have been quoted at prayer group and in a sermon, you and your partners in Haiti have been the recipients of many prayers and you have helped us to inspire giving to Global Ministries. And, we pray many blessings for your family as you and Solomon bond with your daughter and shape your family together. My own experience of adopting has blessed me more than I can begin to explain, and I have known deep hope and resurrection in the ways in which we were brought together out of tragedy and loss. May God's healing love bring you rest and renewal in the days to come, and we look forward to continuing to pray for the next steps of your ministry and your partners in Haiti.
ReplyDeleteAMAZING! I'm so happy you all are home and safe...and so thrilled to read about Solomon's new sister. Keep the updates and photos coming!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! She's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYour Blog has been a blessing to so many - Thank you! And now you are blessed with your new addition to your family - such a darling she is! God be with you all!
ReplyDeleteSo thankful you are back in the U.S. and so happy to hear of your new blessing. Valancia looks so beautiful,sweet and cuddly. We can't wait to see you and give all of you big hugs and to meet the family's newest addition.
ReplyDeleteWe love you!
Julie, Wade & Forbes Spencer
OMG!! How cool. I am Julie and Wade's friend following along! Thank goodness you are HOME and you have the little girl too! It will be good for Solomon to have a sister! Amazing how life works out! I am sure a piece of your hearts are left in Haiti. Many blessings to you all.
ReplyDeleteChristy, Tyler, Parker and Quinn
Patrick and Kim, she is beautiful! I am so glad she will be given the opportunity to grow up to be a happy, healthy girl, in a God-loving home. She is a lucky girl indeed. I hope to see you all if you come back to Maquoketa. I was just in to talk to your mom to find out how you all were doing. I was with Mission to Haiti with the Bybee's in June, and got to meet Solomon. The little man has grown so much! My church, Faith Community, has been praying constantly for Haiti. I would love to hear more about all of your experiences there. I pray that you all are trying to get back to normality and rested from the trauma of this tragedy. I am glad you were there to be able to help those when they were in need. God bless you for your work in His name. Hope to see you soon! Chris Hayward
ReplyDeletePatrick and Kim...you have been in our thoughts and prayers and we are so happy to see your latest pictures, read your inspiring and important words and share in your lamentation and joy...Can't wait to see you ALL~
ReplyDeletePeace, grace and love, Tisa R.
Patrick and Kim,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. So grateful you are home, and hearing that you've brought Solomon and Valencia home just brings tears of joy. Blessings on you all. Thank you for sharing your journey. I hope so many good things for you, and hold you and all those in Haiti in my heart and prayers.
Pax, Teri Harroun
Patrick and Kim, I am so glad that you brought Valancia home with you! As soon as Mrs. Dunback posted her picture, I responded and asked if I could go get her! She is beautiful! Thank GOD for you! Those babies in Haiti weigh very heavily on my heart every day! I pray that they can be brought here soon to be adopted or fostered! ~ Traci Bradley Snyder
ReplyDeleteShe is so beautiful, congrats! We are so glad you are all home safe and sound. You have been, and will continue to be, in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteKeri (Adams) Hissong
Shawnee, KS
Patrick and Kim,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy you are home and with two new babies!! Congrats and blesings, we will continue to keep your family and all of Haiti in our paryers.
Robin Cutright
Parker UCC
How thrilling! It is amazing how much has changed for you since we were e-mailing just a few weeks ago about my coming to Haiti. I thank God you and your family are safe, and I look forward to the day when we see each other again. Don Messer 303 877 1955
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know that your blog has really helped me feel in touch (even if just a tiny bit) with the people of Haiti and what is going on there. The world is so lucky to have people like you and you are an inspiration to me. Thank you for caring so much about the Haitian people.
ReplyDelete~Amy (just a stranger following your amazing blog)
Patrick and Kim, We are thankful that you are home safe. We are blessed to have Solomon and Valencia in our family. We hope to meet them soon. Have a good rest and enjoy your busy family :) Love, Kim and Roger
ReplyDeleteKim and Patrick,
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are DOC pastors near New Orleans, La. We have boy/girl twins who are almost 14 months old... you are certainly in for quite a treat and blessing with Solomon and Valancia... they are beautiful children and certainly blessed to have found parents in you. My congregation has been following your story and holding you, the people of Haiti, and all those you work with... very close in prayer. I hope this time back in the States with friends and family offers you a time for rest and healing! Our thoughts are with you all!
blessings,
Laura
Praise the LORD!!! I have been following your posts since two days after the quake. Glad to hear you all made it back to the states safely.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you, your work and your beautiful family, Shani
Thank you so much for sharing all of your experiences. i do not know you and I have no connections to Haiti other than with my extreme concern and prayers. I am so happy to see another beautiful child adopted and hope to see stories like Valencias in the coming years, maybe even into home. Continue to share your heart warming experiences, it give us all hope for Haiti. Welcome home and God bless you!
ReplyDeletePatrick and Kim,
ReplyDeleteWe are so excited to meet our new members of the family, enjoy them! So glad you are safe. We have learned so much from you about Haiti. The girls have really learned from you and talked about you in their lessons at school. You have touched many lives with your events and have shown us another side of Haiti other than what you see on the news. Welcome Home and God Bless. your cousin, Shannon
I celebrate the gift of life with all four of you! Congratulations on your growing family and your safe arrival.
ReplyDeleteKim and Patrick,
ReplyDeleteWelcome home! I read your blog...it gives us a great perspective. Our church is sponsoring a child in Haiti through Global Ministries. What would be the best way to find out if she is okay? Thank you...kathy@sylvaniaucc.org
So good to hear you all got home safely. You all have been on our minds constantly.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new addition to your family! I remember Valancia very well from when we visited the orphanage. I know you are both probably very overwhelmed, but if we can help you at all please don't hesitate to email us.
s.wright86@gmail.com
weedenj@gmail.com
- Stephanie and Jeremiah
Kim & Patrick, Valencia is precious and a blessing, as is Solomon. We are thrilled you made it home safely with both babies. Can't wait to meet them with hugs and welcome them to the family. Love to you all; you are very special, especially to us. N.C., Rudy and family.
ReplyDeletePatrick and Kim,We are so happy that you are home safe. We can't wait to meet the two new members of our family. Hope to see all of you soon.Love, Jim and Dixie
ReplyDeleteNow that all four of you are very safe, in the arms of your USAn family, i took the time to go back and read the beginning of your journey to Haïti. You wrote: "in the last few years I've actually evolved into a secular public being.... But my faith in the power of a religious community was resurrected...." Now i am very grateful that the two of you went to Haïti, and i look forward to reading more of your blog when you've recovered, rested, and recuperated. AMDG
ReplyDeleteWelcome home to tiny Valancia! And to her wonderful family, whose spirit has taught us so much about love, service, and survival.
ReplyDeleteThank you *so much* for sharing your stories. I've been following your blog for about a year. My older daughter is considering a career providing psychological services to refugees and your stories have helped both of us consider what this might entail.
My little girl was adopted from China and was only 19 pounds at age 3.5 when we brought her home from China. What a blessing Valancia will be to your family. She is small but I'm sure she is full of spirit!
Congratulations, Kim and Patrick ... and Solomon and Valancia ... and WELCOME HOME!!!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and son-in-law adopted a U.S. child last May and we found out last week they go to court March 5 to make it official! They live in LA, and we will be there to help celebrate.
Regina
St. Louis
Dear Patrick, Kim, Solomon and Valancia,
ReplyDeleteWe have been reading about your journey in Haiti since you began your blog and we have been touched in many ways by your stories. We are sending many thoughts and prayers as you rest, recover and begin a new journey as a family of four. Thank you for sharing so many personal feelings and thoughts. You are all truly inspirational.
Your friends, Tara, Erik and Max Notz
Words cannot express how AWESOME you two are! My heart goes out to you!
ReplyDeleteNonnie (Nuhn) Morris
MHS 1997
That amazing little girl is so fortunate to be part of your family. I am relieved that your family is safe and hopeful for your journey ahead.
ReplyDelete-Kristen
Your little daughter is beautiful. What a precious gift!!!
ReplyDelete