One Year with Janelle

Today we are celebrating the one year anniversary of meeting Janelle. Last October 8th, 2007, we met a scared, confused little girl, who wanted nothing more than to go back to what was familar and known, and escape from us. In fact, she did try to escape from our hotel more than once.

Fast forward a year, and see what difference God, love, parents, brothers and sisters, and time makes. It has not always been an easy or fun year, but I can say that we have all learned and grown as the year has progressed. Janelle had to learn pretty much from scratch. All of her years of growing up in an orphanage did not teach her how to live in a family. Her academic education was pretty limited. She had not learned much in the way of common sense. Though she can speak and write one of the most difficult languages in the world (Mandarin) she was like a baby having to learn English from the beginning. Throw in the fact that we live in Mexico, and she hears Spanish everywhere other than at home, and that makes it more difficult. I know that I am often frustrated with her lack of English---so I know that many, many times she must be frustrated, as well. Because of the lack of a common language, she is often misunderstood, and misunderstands us. Just another complication in her life

Being 13 can be a difficult age for any child, but more so when you are thrust into a whole different life--one that you didn't ask for--because someone else made the decision for you.

But, this adoption was in God's plan. He has equipped both Janelle and our family for all of the difficulties of this year. The positives far outweigh the hard times. Janelle has blossomed, and learned so much.

Janelle has learned what it means to be part of a family...to care for each other, look out for each other, and work together. She is learning to choose to do what is right, and not always choose the easy way to do something. She is learning to say, "I'm sorry"--a big step for her, as it has been very difficult for her to ever admit that she is wrong. She has learned what it means to have a dad who has endless patience and love towards her.

We started school at the kindergarten level, learning the A B C's, learning to read, write, add and subtract. Now, just one year later, she is working at 4th grade level in most subjects, and about to start 6th grade math. We are hoping that after this school year she will be ready to try 7th grade work, and be at the level of other kids her age.

Most importantly, she is learning that there is a God who loves her. This is something that she did not learn in her orphanage, and probably never would have heard if she had stayed there. She enjoys going to church, even though it is all in Spanish, and she can't understand a lot. She has memorized many verses, along with her siblings, in morning devotions. She knows who Jesus is, and we trust that not too long in the future she will be able to understand what He has done for her.

It has been a good year....and we look forward to another year of seeing God's work in Janelle's life.