From Ohio to Colombia... and then back again...
I am humbled and in awe of how God is so patient with me...
We got to take this picture, to send to Heidy and Andres, at our end of year co-op celebration. Rachel and Matthew are pointing to Colombia while the rest of us are pointing to Ohio. This was a fun picture to take with our friends snapping the picture. We don't often have the opportunity to send things to Heidy and Andres, but a family is traveling there this week and offered to take a small package to them.
Any little thing that helps us stay connected to our children in Colombia feels like a huge gift!
We continue to get to talk to Heidy and Andres each week. Before our calls we use the Bing translator and translate things we want to say to them. Then on the phone we read our Spanish version to them. I am so proud of myself... and ask... "Comprende?" To which they often laugh and say "Si Madre!" However, sometimes they really laugh and say .. "No comprende!.." Then they try their English, which has been getting better!
They have been swimming and going to school. They have a few new babies in the home where they are staying so Heidy tells us about them. Andres talks about "Destructo Baby." - a toddler who breaks his toys! They ask about coming home, and we tell them the updates as we know them. We hope to hear the end of next week that the paperwork has been a completely translated. It seems things on the Colombian side are going farily quickly... Well, quickly for the adoption world. We are praying the US side goes more quickly than we have been told to expect. At this time we are thinking we can travel in June, still hoping for May though.
I can't even begin to type this next update without feeling a bit choked up, humbled and in complete awe of God's plan and provision.
A few weeks ago I met a friend of a friend. My friend asked me about Heidy and Andres - to which her friend, Colleen, inquired a bit more. As I shared a bit more, Colleen offered that she may to able to help us with housing in Colombia. She asked for our e-mail, and sent me a note asking for a bit more detail about our housing needs. The next few days found me speechless. Colleen talked to her husband, who talked their friend, Nataylia, who reached out to Missy, in Colombia. As a result, Missy has been in touch with us every other day or so. While we are in Colombia she has invited us to stay at her ministry's guest home that they use for missionaries... for free. ((( pause ))) If we can't stay there, ( We need to get approval from our agency.) she is looking for reduced rates at a hotel in Bogota. Then she said...(((pause))) ...that her husband is opening a clinic in Neiva, where Hiedy and Andres live, and where we have to stay for our first week and a few days at the end. Neiva is a 5 hour drive from Bogota. She offered that their office manager is looking into affordable housing for us there. NEIVA! Of all the places in Colombia, her husband is opening a clinic in the same city where our children live. On her last correspondence with me a few days ago she said if we can stay in the guest for the extended middle part of our trip, she is looking into finding us a car. We could hire a driver for the time we are there, and pay for gas, and that way we would have transportation back and forth to Bogota.
Through this particular part of our journey, God has given me a new vision. Whereas before I have been afraid of this trip and being away from my family for so long, God is showing me that he will care for them here, while I am there. As He meets our needs in Colombia, before we even know them - I feel peaceful that He will take care of my family here. I have been able to embrace 2 things friends have encouraged me to consider. 1) What a gift it will be for me to have this extended time with Heidy and Andres before we come home. and 2) God has me there for such a time as this... I can embrace the opportuinity to share God's love with the people there. As a matter of fact, I asked Missy how we could serve in her ministry while we are there. The guest house she is offering us is on the same campus as a children's home. She said there are lots of ways we can serve... crafts, playing with the children, helping serve meals, helping with health care... ( Oh... speaking of meals, if we stay in the guest house she invited us to eat meals at the children's home... for $2.00 a meal. )
Although we are not sure of our final housing plans yet, we are humbled, in complete awe, and grateful for how God prompts His people...
As friends of friends reached out to eath other on our behalf they copied us on their e-mails. A simple sentence from Natalyia to Missy gave me pause... She typed to Missy, " I am just doing my small part in connecting you to this family."
I have thought about her simple words a lot these past few weeks.
It gave/gives me cause to consider...
I want to be attentive to God's prompting... to do my "Small part...."
You never know how God will use a small, seemingly simple gesture, - to bring someone amazing blessings!
Thank you Colleen, Colleen's husband, Natalyia, Missy, Missy's husband, the office manager in Neiva...
Thank you for being part of God's plan for Heidy, Andres and our family.
"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart. " Jeremiah 29:11-13
