road trip | part 3a: Lenhart Family

You may remember the Lenhart family from November.  They’re in the process of raising support to be missionaries in Haiti.  In November, they were also in the process of adopting two boys from Haiti.  With the tragedy of the recent earthquake, the adoption process was expedited, and Jackson and Dieudonne are officially in the Lenhart family!  So, as we were passing through OKC, we rounded up this family of seven just to get a few snapshots of everyone together…

Here’s an excerpt of a note Tiffanie posted to Facebook on Feb. 4, 2010:

“When we landed in Miami and were moments away from being reunited with our precious children, I walked by a TV monitor reporting the biggest aftershock yet. But again as I had done all week, I had to CHOOSE faith. Earlier in the week, I heard and held onto a MLK quote that said “faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the staircase.”

“So pushing the news of the aftershock aside, I was finally able to wrap my arms around my friend Belinda (who had just walked through the valley of the shadow of death literally) and my precious boys!!! Knowing their ages (12,11) and developmentally where my son was at age, I didn’t want to smoother them with hugs and kisses so I had determined not to but…. As soon as they saw me, THEY SMOTHERED me when the hugs and kisses my heart so desperately longed for the last several months since I last saw them. It was one of those moments that can’t be explained with words or pictures but it is completely a heart thing. So after our 5:30am reunion in the Miami international airport hotel, we began the task of making travel arrangements to OklaHOMEa.

“[...] One of the biggest questions we have been asked is “are you still moving to Haiti?” And the answer is a resounding “YES!”. The earthquake has changed many things… and the details of WHEN and in what capacity we will serve is still unknown. When we embarked on this journey to become full time missionaries to Haiti, we were really unsure how God was going to work out the logistics of everything. God knew there would be a devastating earthquake when He called us. It was like a Polaroid picture… I knew God had a plan but the final picture was really unclear and blurry yet. Today that Polaroid picture is starting to become clearer and IT’S BEAUTIFUL! Figuring out how the picture ends up and knowing all the details along the way, isn’t my part. My part is just following Him wherever He leads. One day that will be Haiti, but while we wait I have a little more of Haiti (in Jackson and Dieudonne) here with me to love on.”

series 3

series 1

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series 2

www.starfish4haiti.com

March 3, 2010 - 9:57 pm

Tiffanie - LOVE THESE Jackie!!! Just looking at them makes me feel overwhelmingly blessed and makes my heart smile :) I would not have wanted anyone else to capture our FIRST COMPLETE family picture You are such a blessing

March 5, 2010 - 7:07 am

Debbie - These are great! Love the hands! A 20×20 stand-out of that would be awesome! Nice location, too. The sofa shot – sweet! Way to shoot!

March 8, 2010 - 11:28 am

jenifriend - tears and more tears! what an exceptional story and an amazing moment for this family. it reminds me of sandra bullock’s testimony last night at the oscars when she gave thanks “the momma’s who didn’t have to be momma’s”. here’s to the men and women who choose to multiply their family and make room in their heart and lives for more of God’s children. :)

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