Let's See... What do I title this Blog???!!!

LET’S SEE… WHAT DO I TITLE THIS BLOG?
There are so many options….!

An Amazing day – Got To Do It All!

Yesterday, our last full day in Nieva was perfect. We got to do everything I had hoped. Diego our agency contact and his family have been very kind to us throughout our stay in Bogota. Yesterday they went out of their way:

We got mandatory document #1 – no problem. Then we got mandatory document #2 notarized… that was easy. And later in the afternoon we received the children’s visas – perfect!

The most touching part for me was at the US embassy. As we waited for the visas I heard the United States Anthem being sung. I walked and searched for who was singing. As I walked towards the music I noticed the United States flag was at half mast. I realized they must have been practicing for a 9-11 tribute. It was a quiet, touching moment for me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I had this tapestry of thoughts – realizing Heidy and Andres were a day away from becoming US citizens and seeing the flag, and hearing the anthem…. And I thought about the United States embassy offices around the word and realized that very possibly every embassy of the United States, in every country, could be holding a tribute tomorrow. Poignant..


The rest of the day was just pure FUN! We got to go to Fransico’s coffee shop. Fransico is an agency rep who has been very kind and helpful. We had lunch with him and celebrated his new venture of opening the coffee shop.

Later, we walked through a lot of neighborhoods and learned more about Colombian culture.

Then we went to Marcella and Diego’s new apartment and learned out to make juice with that special Colombian touch. We got to play with their baby girl – and we got to see their wedding pictures. SO FUN!

Later in the evening we met up with Elizabeth and her husband. They took us to a very cool – well… kind of like a dinner theatre. There was traditional Colombian food and a show of many, many traditional Colombian dances. The Colombian culture is full of beautiful, vibrant colors and the dresses and costumes reflected this beauty. We had a great time!

Elizabeth and I have SO much fun together. She doesn’t really speak English - and – as we all know… I am not that great at Spanish... But still, we are able to have meaning conversations and laugh … A LOT!

It was a perfect last full day in Colombia… Perfecto!





This Is Not Really About This… This Is About That.

Heidy and Andres got hair cuts yesterday. They seemed to look forward to them… But my sweet girl Hiedy… Well... I thought she was fine… But as the guy was trimming her hair… she started crying – and crying – and crying…. And Crying… I felt so sad for her. She could not tell me what was wrong. (Darn language barrier…) I think she was sad about getting a trim, but I also think her tender tears were about much more. She seemed mad at me… didn’t want a hug and kept her distance for a while. After we ate lunch she was back to her charming, fun self with hugs and smiles (Blood sugar is a good thing….) …but her tears reminded me that both Heidy and Andres are processing a lot…



Hotel Meets Master Card – Not Pretty…

Really? Seriously? Oh come on… you can’t write this stuff. Our early morning was going well. We got up at 5:00am to get read to catch the shuttle to the airport 6:00am today. That would give us a good 3 hours before our depature. The hotel lady scaned my credit card… nothing. I asked her to try again and told her both Pete and I had talked to the credit card people 2 days ago specifically teling them to expectthis charge. They had said “No problem Mrs. McIndoe, you are our valued customer.”

Hmm… if so then WHY was our bank fighting with the hotel at 6am? The Hotel scanned my card 4 times, with 4 different scanners and each one said “Declined.” They said our bank would not approve the charges.

The bank, however, said they had no record of attempted charges and they would pay it if the hotel would just scan the card.

Bank: “Your hotel has not submitted any charges.

Hotel: “Your bank is declining the charges.”

Me: "I am getting on the next shuttle to the airport so you guys need to figure this out. (It had been a hour of trying to get my bank and the hotel to play nice.)

I am still not sure how that turned out I will make sure and check it out on Monday. I will make sure the hotel gets paid... but seriously... that was NOT fun at 6am in the morning...




“Oh – You’re The Famous One!”

After trying to talk to and understand ALL the airport adoption officials – and what documents were needed by whom… This.... after trying to help my bank and the hotel get along an hour earlier… AND after being in the wrong loooong security line for gate #8…. And after trying to find INTERNATIONAL Gate #8, and After trying to convince one of MANY immigration officials to let me keep the originals of our documents and give them the copies… we FINALLY get to our gate.. #8 that is! The airport dude checking people in at the gate takes my passport, looks at me, smiles and says in English: “Oh you’re the famous one!”

“Me? Why?”
“
“They phoned ahead to let us know you don’t speak Spanish….”

Sheesh... thanks!



How Many Immigration Guys Will Ask?

After we landed in the states today, the first immigration guy I talked to spoke English. I commented “Oh? Su? English?!”

To which he replys “Yes, you are in the States now!”

Then he proceeded to ask me about my relationship with Hiedy and Andres. I proudly told him they were my children! The conversation that followed was amazing as he told me he and his wife were thinking about adopting etc. He looked through our documents and asked me why we chose the “Hague Agency.” This is a funny question b/c the Hague Convention a few years ago put many safety procedures in to place to assure safe and legal adoptions. Not all countries are Hauge countries… so I got to answer his questions about the process of adoption... and that hague was not an agency ... etc... He was curious about why we adopted, so I tried to summarize for him. This particular immigration guy acutally closed his lane and escorted us to the next office as he continued to ask questions.

This same scenario played out TWO other times as we got processed through immigration and customs.

I had a sense that we may of been on Holy ground…

I prayed and wondered how these seeds being planted about God’s love and provision would play out in the future. I know I will never know… but it is fun to imagine. Three different immigration guys… one family….



Six Guys Going On A Cruise.

We got through customs and took our van to the hotel. I realized as the hotel driver was loading our NINE bags of luggage that I had NO US money. NO money to tip him…. I felt SO bad. I told him I would leave his tip at our hotel’s front desk. He was very kind and gracious.

On the same van with us were 6 dad type guys obviously going on some kind of guy trip. I thought maybe golfing, but later learned they were going on a cruise. We laughed and joked a bit until we got to our first stop, which was our hotel. The van guy got out to unload our NINE bags of luggage and I had a thought. As I got out of the van I turned around and told the 6 cruise dudes that I had realized – too late – that I had no US currency to tip the driver. I quickly told them I had been in Colombia for 5 weeks… adopting… etc… and that I felt bad that I had dropped the ball for tipping this guys.

I asked them if they would chip in a few bucks each and tip him for me! It was a fun interchange as they said the would , congratulated our family and started to get our their wallets. As they drove away they waved and smiled… I hope they have a good time on their cruise, and I really hope they tipped the driver for me!


I’d Give Anything To Find A Waffle House.

We got settled into our hotel here in Florida by late afternoon and went to walk to a restaurant. Heidy and Andres have typically eaten eggs for dinner in Colombia and asked for eggs this evening. I was doing a pretty good job of telling them there were no eggs available for dinner tonight. They were disappointed, but seemed to get it. We walked into Wendy’s (Which, by the way tastes totally gross after eating fresh fruit, juice, rice, beans etc. for 5 weeks…)

As soon as we walked into Wendy’s Heidy and Andres spot the menu board… with pictures of eggs, egg sandwhiches, croissants… etc..

“Madre! Si …. Eggs!!!”

They were VERY excited.

Sadly I had to tell them that the pictures of the eggs meant they were for breakfast, not for dinner. Oh… their forlorn looks of disappointment….

How I wish there was a Waffle House nearby. I really longed to give them something familiar …




This Is How A Fast Food Joint Works.

It soon became obvious that when Hiedy and Andres visited us last fall we must not of gone out for fast food. (I remembered that with 8 children fast food is really not a choice!) It was SO fun at Wendy's though... trying to explain the menu board, showing them how to get a soda – with ice – from the soda machine, and teaching them how to clean up their trays when they were finished. I have this growing awareness that Hiedy and Andres are, in some way, truly handicapped here in the States. Even though they were with us for 7 weeks in the fall, they really do not have a clear understanding of how our culture functions in the day-to-dayness of life.

I realized, again, how truly brave they are. This is the first time I have had this thought in a while. The courage it must take to leave your country, your language, your culture…




“Madre – Me A Baby!”

On our walk to the grocery Hiedy looks at me with that Heidy twinkle in her eye and says: “Madre, me a baby!” She indicated she wanted me to give her a piggy back ride.
My first thought… “ Oh my”
My second thought… “ My feet hurt.”
My third thought: “If Pete were here he would not hesitate….”
My last thought – “Our daughter has a bit of catching up to do and if she needs me to give her a piggy back ride so she can feel like a ‘baby’ then I am all in! Let’s go girl!”




This Is How This Kind Of Candy Works…


So… we popped into the grocery and Heidy and Andres each got a treat. Heidy chose one of those gross lollipop type candies that looks like a baby bottle. As she opened it the cashier tried to explain to her that there was sugar in the bottle part and that Heidy could dip the lollipop part in the sugar… ( By the way – I HATE this kind of candy…. )

Anyway – Heidy was not understanding the candy gig and the lady kept trying to explain. I chimed in and told her that Heidy did not understand very much English… which led to 2 things: 1) A reinforcement of what I had thought about at dinner… that Hiedy and Andres are resilient, very brave children. And 2) That I was realizing we may just be getting lots of questions from people who do not know us… which is a new added dimension for our family that I had not realized.

I guess when Hiedy and Andres were with us in Ohio back in the fall we were around people who new us most of the time. But when we have been around people who do not know us, they tend to have questions…



Which leads me to:

Insights With Our Newest Children –
After we got back to our hotel today I got to “talk” to Heidy and Andres on the computer. Honestly, I think there was a bit of a spiritual battle going on because most times when I would type what I was tryng to say the computer would shut down, or the translator would not work. I started praying that God would open the doors for me to share what was on my heart with my children. God answered my prayers and I got to share with Hiedy and Andres.

Basically, I told them our family was obviously different and that I had not realized before that people who do not know us may have many questions. I told them that daddy and I are thrilled at how God has knit our family together, but it was going to be important for all of us to be respectful and kind to people who look at us as if asking for an explanation or who actually ask questions.

I know different adoptive families handle questions differently, or are even sometimes offended by questions.

We, on the other hand, love to share God’s story in our family. We are pretty much an open book for people who have questions. For me, it is not offensive, it is fun… an honor acutally… to be able to share how God has been, and is… a Light onto our every single step…


Home Sweet Home!!!

We get to go home tomorrow!!!!!!!!
Tonight as we skyped our family at home there was an excitement in the air!

I cannot wait to HUG my family- to SEE them, to HOLD them, to LAUGH with them, to LOVE them in all the tangible ways that make a family a family…

I know re-entry won’t be all roses…. But I am SO excited to jump in and start this next season of our lives – to see Pete… to see our children… to have all of us together!

As we hung up tonight Emily said:
“I don’t know who I am going to hug first at the airport tomorrow mommy…”

It’s ok sweet girl …. The good news is there are lots of options!!!!


As I close I have to say THANK YOU to ALL of you…
This journey has, without a doubt, been a true spriritual adventure made possible by God’s provision through so, so, SO many of you!

I was talking to a friend tonight and thanking her for her help. She responded that she thought she really had not helped very much…


PLEASE know that each and every act of love and serving, on our behalf has been needed and greatly, greatly appreciated. I am reminded of the Body of Christ…

Each of you has played a very significant part in bringing Heidy and Andres home. Each of you has has been a part of the body….

You know the gig…
The body needs each and every part to function.
The eye sees, the ear hears, the heart beats…
Every part does what it was created to do… and thus the body needs each and every part.

Each and every word of encouragement has helped sustain us… each and every one…

THANK YOU!

I will be sure to blog in the next day or two to share about our reunion.

Oh my…. That is in about 12 hours!!!!!!!!

Counting the seconds until we are together!!!!!

Thank you Lord!

OUR LAST DAY IN COLOMBIA... MUSINGS....

OUR LAST DAY IN COLOMBIA - MUSINGS....

Today is our last day in Colombia…

It is bittersweet…

As I type my children are still in bed, quietly awake in their own thoughts. I wonder what is going through their hearts and minds.

Last night we were invited to visit Mrs. Christy. She and her husband founded CDA many years ago. I wish I could share her whole story – which she would be quick to correct me on – telling me it is God’s story! I know she is right – and I love her Glory to the Lord for what He has and is doing through her and her family!

When she was just 25 years old, with 3 little girls, God called her and her husband to Colombia to share God’s Love. She had never been here before. They came to Colombia and started a Christian newspaper. One thing led to another and now CDA (Corporacion Dios Amor / God is Love!) serves many, many facets of Colombia, including a significant ministry that serves single moms and another helps keep families together giving parents tools and training.

As she spoke SO many things were going through my head… CDA here in Colombia reminds me of Jerry Reiners ministry Project 52. Mrs. Christy said CDA serves “the poorest of the poor.” So does Project 52. CDA also reminds me of The Shepherds Crook, a ministry that is a liason for special needs children and forever families. The Shepherds Crook introduced us to our son Joshua, as well as to Heidy and Andres!

Getting back to last night though…

I was sharing with Mrs. Christy the path/s God has had our family on for the past few years. I shared with her that years ago we had read Experiencing God, a book by Blackaby and King that teaches about “Joining God in His work.” This book has had a profound impact on our family.

I told her about God’s calling/s for our family and wondered out loud if we maybe had Experienced so much of God that we could take a break for awhile….

Isn’t that stupid? Last night as I said it, and in these past many weeks as I have thought about it - it made perfect sense to me…

But NOW – as I type it … I feel ashamed and stupid. Yes, I am tired… and I want to be home… and we are in the middle of a few different callings from the Lord …

But – WHY would I ever want to miss a step of Experiencing God? Silly girl… get a grip Debbie!
(I am so sorry Lord, please forgive my feeble attempt to control my life. I do SO want to follow your light unto my every step.)
Well – as I commented to Mrs. Christy that I was tired… blah-blah-blah…. She smiled gently in that grandmother kind of sincere “knowing” and said to me…”Oh Dear, I don’t think we ever want to stop Experiencing God….”

Note to self…. Always remember Mrs. Christy’s gentle, yet powerful encouragement/ challenge!

So… last night… we were visiting and sharing, and looking at pictures and hearing her story and I asked her how long it would take the driver to come back to get us because I thought maybe we should be calling him. And she said….

He was waiting in the car for us….

((( imagine a sheer look of shock across my face….)))

OH MY! The second time in an hour and a half I felt stupid! How did I miss that? We quickly gathered our things, hugged Mrs. Christy and went to the car.

I think it is fair to say though, that there are many, many things I have experienced here in Colombia that are and will be life changing for me… and that hour and a half with Mrs. Christy is one of them… for sure!

Then – of all things… about half way home there must have been a car accident because traffic was STOPPED. It took us 2 hours to get back to our hotel. I felt so bad for the kind man from CDA who was patiently driving us. First – he came to get us to take us all the way across town, then he waited for us an hour and a half, then he took over 2 hours to get us home… Lord, please bless this kind gentleman…

Yesterday we applied for our visas. There was another family there who was adopting. I gotta admit, it never gets old… this miracle of adoption!

There was also a family there applying for an amnesty visa. Apparently they live in a very unsafe part of Colombia and had to prove their life was as risk to get the visa. I continue to be humbled…

***** Today we get 2 mandatory documents, and the children’s completed visas. Tomorrow we fly to Florida, and Sunday to Ohio!!!!!!!! ********

The rest of the day today we will visit a coffee shop that one of the adoption people opened and we will go to another’s home to learn how to make juice! This evening we are invited to go to a Colombian musical with the social worker who stayed with us a few days in Ohio when we hosted Heidy and Andres. She and her husband, her friend and her husband, and the three of us! (I wish my husband was here!)

Since our conversation a few weeks ago when Andres asked me if he had to move out of our home when he was 18 years old, he has been talking a lot about what he wants to do – what kind of job he wants to have.

Back in that initial conversation he told me he was going to join the army so he could move out – thinking he could not stay home after he was 18 years old.

These past many weeks though, he has been talking more and more about his future. It is AMAZING to literally watch him realize he has a future….

Yesterday he told me he wanted to be a veterinarian, a doctor, a spanish teacher and a police man. When he realized policemen in the states wear blue and not green he changed his mind on the policeman gig though!)

After Andres started this conversation a few weeks ago, God put it on my heart to take it a step further. I initiated one day and told him that he would ALWAYS have a family and a home…. Grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles… forever… always…

He has the most sincere smile that shines through his eyes… I wish you could have been a fly on the wall for that converstation!

Hiedy is quite the fun, endearing, young lady. She has a very fun, quick sense of humor and she is very engaging. She is initially shy – but when you get to know her – be ready to experience life through the eyes of a child who can make anything fun!

I have also felt very loved and respected by both Hiedy and Andres. They are listening quite well, asking good questions and initiating good conversations. (Which is also interesting given I don’t speak Spanish!) They will often see a need and step in to meet it. For instance, ever since we have been together they have not let me carry a heavy bag. When I see they are struggling and go to take a heavy bag from them they will say “No Madre!” and usually Hiedy will start to tickle me until I let go of the bag. Often they will carry a bag together if it is too heavy, but they have made it clear that THEY will carry it… not me!

Oh – another quick, but very meaningful experience that happened last night. I was hugging Hiedy and I said to her…. “My Hiedy!” And she said back to be “My Madre!” Then Andres came to me and smiled and hugged me, and said… “My Madre!” To which, of course I squeezed him tight and told him …. “My Andres!”
( One of those quick, but deep moments that I think/hope will always be emblazoned in my memory…)

Well – I am off to start my day. I talked to Kimberly today and she encouraged me to help Heidy and Andres enjoy this last full day in their country. I haven’t stopped crying since then. Thanks Kimberly! There are so many mixed feelings for me and Heidy and Andres…

Andres seems to be coping fairly well though… he tells me he is coming back for a visit to Colombia when he is 15 years old… with Peter!!!!

GOD'S PROMISES....

SHEESH….. BECAUSE THAT IS ABOUT THE MOST APPROPRIATE THING I CAN SAY ON A BLOG!

WHAT A DAY….

SO… YESTERDAY WAS GREAT – MOSTLY…

WE GOT HEIDY AND ANDRES’ NEW PASSPPORTS…

ANDRES CAMILO MCINDOE CRAWFORD
AND
HEIDY JOHANNA MCINDOE CRAWFORD

WE GOT THEIR NEW IDENTITY CARDS TOO, AND WE COMPLETED THE DOCTOR’S VISITS. ALL THAT TOOK ALL DAY!

BUT IT WAS A GOOD DAY….

WE WERE WELL ON OUR WAY TO COMING HOME ON SATURDAY… THEN… WELL… THINGS KIND OF GOT A LITTLE SHAKEY!

TODAY WE NEEDED ONE MORE DOCUMENT. IT CAME IN, ALBEIT LATE…
BUT THEN THE LADY WAS NOT THERE TO SIGN IT.

WE NEED THIS "LAST" DOCUMENT TO GET THE CHILDREN’S VISAS…


WHY DO I FEEL LIKE I AM ALWAYS SAYING WE NEED “JUST ONE MORE DOCUMENT?!”

AND… MY CREDIT CARDS WOULD NOT WORK…

SO… I NEED CASH TO PAY FOR ALL THE MEALS FOR THE 2 WEEKS WE WERE IN TENJO, WHICH I HAD…

GOOD THING B/C I NEEDED CASH TO PAY FOR THE ID CARDS, PASSPORTS AND DR. VISITS…

EXCEPT NOW I HAVE NO $ TO PAY CDA IN TENJO.

MY CREDIT CARDS WOULD NOT WORK… SO NO CASH….

THE LADY WAS NOT IN TO SIGN THE DOCUMENT TODAY…

THE AIRLINES WAS SUPPOSE TO BE OPEN FROM 2:30-5:30. WE GOT THERE AT 4:00…. THEY WERE CLOSED BUT SOME KIND GENTLEMAN SAID HE COULD HELP US ANYWAY….

THEN HE SAID THERE WERE NO SEATS TO COME HOME ON UNITL NEXT WEEK…

THANKS FOR THE "HELP" MR. AIRPLANE MAN....

MY STOMACH IS STILL QUITE WEAK…

THINGS ARE A BIT UP IN THE AIR AT HOME… LOTS OF TEARS…

BUT…. IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS…. HIEDY AND ANDRES CONTINUE TO BE PEACEFUL, TRUSTING, FUN, EASY AND KIND…

THEY ARE TRULY REMARKABLE CHILDREN!


SO I WAS TRYING TO HOLD IT TOGETHER AND NOT CRY… BUT I DIDN’T QUITE MAKE IT….


ALL THAT TO SAY THAT NOW IT IS 1:15AM…
I AM SO, SO TIRED…. BUT THINGS HAVE TURNED AROUND….

PETE HELPED ME WITH THE CREDIT CARDS… NOW THEY WORK. AND HE HELPED ME FIND SEATS ON AN AIRLINE SO WE CAN COME HOME…!



WE ARE BOOKED ON A FLIGHT THAT WILL GET INTO DAYTON AROUND 2:15PM ON SUNDAY THE 11TH!!!!!!
IF YOU WANT TO COME TO THE AIRPORT TO CELEBRATE WITH US YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME!!!


I AM OFF TO BED… WE HAVE A BIG DAY TOMORROW… HOPING TO GET THAT “LAST” DOCUMENT…. WHICH, WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, IS ACUTUALLY 3 DOCUMENTS TOTAL… PLUS VISAS FOR HEIDY AND ANDRES….


I JUST KEEP CLINGING TO GOD’S PROMISES….
...WHEN I AM NOT IRRATIONAL AND CRYING THAT IS!

I HIGHY RECOMMEND THE “CLINGING TO GOD’S PROMISES” GIG….
LIFE IS MUCH BETTER THAT WAY!!!

GOOD NIGHT!!

LORD WILLING WE WILL BE HOME SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

MANNA FOR THE MOMENT!!

MANNA FOR THE MOMENT!!

Well… to be honest – today has been a hard day. Although I am starting to feel better, I woke up again quite sick. I am grateful for Heidy and Andres who have not complained one time about being stuck in a hotel room with a mom who has been sleeping most of the day. They are amazing children. Not one complaint…

Looking back to Friday – our day in Neiva…

We were praying that the mandatory document, that had originally been filled out wrong, would be able to be fixed on Friday. We had been told it was a long shot and went to bed with heavy hearts on Thursday evening.

We had to get up at 3:30am to catch the first flight to Neiva. We arrived in Neiva at 6:30am and were met at the airport by Humberto, our attorney, and his wife Alysia. Alysia had to go to work, so we only got to spend a few minutes with her. Then we went to Humberto’s office where Hiedy and Andres stayed while Humberto and I walked to the court house.

It was already SO hot… not a little bit hot… not even medium hot… but VERY HOT… it was only 8:00am…

We walked up the stairs and into this little office. Humberto showed me this huge, thick file that was all in Spanish. He made sure to point out the last page, which I “read,” and signed. That was quick and easy. I just kept thinking I was glad I trusted Humberto b/c, although I knew I was signing something adoption related, I was not sure what it was!

After I signed, we left to go back to Humberto’s office. Walking down the stairs he says to me… in English… “Congratulations!” I soon understood that those quick few minutes signing the last page of the thick file meant that our adoption was final!

We were now the parents of Heidy Johanna McIndoe and Andres Camilo McIndoe!!! I was stunned, excited and sad. I thought that it would be a bit more exciting…. For instance…. Maybe knowing what I was doing…. But that’s ok –I transitioned quickly, tears fell and I wished Pete were there, yet I was peaceful and grateful.

As we got off the elevator going back to Humbero’s office I could hear Hiedy squeeling and laughing and running down the hall. Silly girl… she can make anything fun! I asked Humberto to explain to the children that they were officially McIndoes! I wish you could of seen their smiles! BIG, BIG smiles!!

We had to wait ½ hour for Sorany, our interpreter to come so Humberto asked us if we wanted to walk to the church on the corner. We walked to this huge, beautiful Catholic Church. It was filled with people worshipping and praying and standing in line for the confessionals. There were children kneeling up front. Humberto said they were taking their first communion. We sat in the front row. Humberto talked to Hiedy and Andres. I am not sure what he was talking about but it seemed important and then I think he prayed with them. I kept thinking that if Pete were there he would of prayed too. I felt shy… not sure why… not like me! But, I pushed past the shyness and held their hands and prayed together with them thanking the Lord that we were now their parents and they were now our children. When I opened my eyes I saw that Humberto had also added his hand to ours and was praying with us. It was a poignant moment for me… an Experiencing God moment!

The rest of this VERY HOT day we spent with our interpreter Soronay. She is a gem. We walked back and forth from her house to the notary 4 times… and still did not get the document we needed. (This is a different documents that allows me to travel to the states with Hiedy and Andres… important!)

Although we did not get the travel documents, Humberto assured me we could get it this week so not to worry. As Soronay and I were walking back – again – to the notary the air was thick, it was HOT and we were still waiting to hear from Humberto about the document that needed to be redone and signed. It was HOT and we were tired.

Just as I was starting to believe we were not going to get the corrected document Humberto called and told us to come quickly to the Court House. We hopped a taxi and bounded the steps up to the courthouse. Humberto met us on the steps. He looked at me, put his hands together as if praying and motioned for me to following him into the office. He spoke in Spanish to the same gentleman who was there in the morning when I signed the adoption papers. The man smiled… Humberto smiled… Soronay smiled… so I smiled too!

Thank you Lord… thank you….!!!! The corrected document was completed and signed!!!!

The judge had the mandatory document retyped and it was signed by the Family Defender and the Judge. Humberto had to sign it, and I had to sign it.

After that, Humberto asked Soronay and I if we wanted to go get a drink. I wondered what he was going to order. It was obvious that what had just happened was a VERY big deal! We enjoyed lemonade and celebrated!

A few other really special parts of Friday:

It wasn’t long into the morning before I realized Humberto knew EVERYBODY! We walked everywhere... and literally… seriously… at least every 10-20 people he would stop and talk and shake hands and smile and laugh a bit. I told him later I believed God used him and his good relationships with people to help get the necessary documents we needed quickly. I also kidded him; I told him everywhere we went it was like a parade and he was like the King smiling and waving to people!

During the day, when we weren’t walking or visiting the notary we stayed at Sorany’s. She and her sister have an English school in their home. It was very impressive and fun to watch her teach a few students. We got to visit with her sister and with her mom. It was a special day there… even though it was HOT!

At the end of the evening we still had a few hours until we could catch out plane. We took a taxi back to Casa Blanca, the hotel we stayed at in Neiva when Pete was with me. It was SO fun to surprise Jolanda, the manager and the people who work there. Jolanda immediately hugged us and instantly asked for Pete by name. She sat with me and we held hands - Love in Every Language…. Quite an experience… She remembered my favorite cold drink - fresh tangerine juice and brought it to me with out me even asking.

It was an amazing day. Throughout the day I kept thinking of “Manna for the Moment.” God met out needs… not necessarily our wants… like and air conditioner for instance…. – but our needs for sure!

So – that was Friday. Amazing.

Saturday we went to look at a new hotel but it was more expensive so we decided to stay put.

Yesterday, Sunday, we went sight seeing with Diego and his family. We took a trolly to the top of a HUGE mountain where there is a church. They were singing “Glory, Glory Halleluia!” in spanish – it was beautiful. Then we went to an outside plaza and I realized I had not one souvenir to bring home – so we did a little shopping. We also visited a friend, Francisco and his wife and family. It was a very fun day.

That leads us to today…. I am feeling much better now – not sick anymore. Thank you Lord!

We just received a call from the agency that the children’s birth certificates are ready. Tomorrow we will go get their new passports with their new names, their new identity cards and go to their Dr. appts.

Wednesday we will apply for their visas.

It looks like we could be home on Saturday!! WhoooHooo!!!

EXPERIENCING GOD

EXPERIENCING GOD
(Special thanks to my new friend Rachel who taught me how to copy and paste!)



Friends and Family,

The children and I were having "bible time" last evening, where everyone has their own time with the Lord, and then shares what they learned and/or any impressions they received from God or the bible, etc. It has been quite awhile since we've done this and this reinforced to me that we need to do it a lot more! The sharing was precious. I read the following and thought of the call on us to adopt Heidy and Andres and have Deb away for 5 weeks...and how that is certainly a "God-sized" call! And that led me to think of all of you. From Blackaby and King's, "Experiencing God"...

"When God purposes to do something through you, the assignment will have God-sized dimensions. This is because God wants to reveal Himself to you and those around you. If you can do the work in your own strength, people will not come to know God. However, if God works through you to do what only He can do, you and those around you will come to know Him."

Isn't that cool?! Our prayer is that for all of us, and all of you that have allowed God to work through you in our lives, that we will all experience and come to know God at a deeper level.

Thanking God for his grace through you to us.

Pete

P.S. Deb- feel free to post this on our blog, and/or forward along to other friends that have helped...I could not everyone's email.....pls also forward to Adopolis and CDA friends...

Sent from my iPad

UNCERTAINTY, EXHAUSTION, DISCOURAGEMENT.... AND HOPE -

UNCERTAINTY,EXHAUSTION, DISCOURAGEMENT .... AND HOPE -

It has been a whirlwind of the last 48 hours…

On Wednesday night, after the ninas from the foster home had all gone to bed, we received a phone call that our judge had signed the adoption decree! We were asked to be in Neiva, Colombia on Friday morning by 8:00am to sign adoption documents.

We quickly made reservations…

To be honest, we had lots of mixed feelings…

Although we very, very much want to be home, we were not prepared to leave Tenjo so quickly….

We were sad...excited... and everything in between…

Then I woke up at 3:06 am… but that is old news by now…. (See prior post…)

On Thursday morning I woke Heidy and Andres up very early… 5:30 am so we could tell the ninas in the foster home good bye. I gotta admit… that was very, very hard. They had gone to bed not knowing we would be gone the next day before they got home from school. There were many, many tears… from all of us…

I guess it is good that we had a quick goodbye… that was hard enough…

Then we went to eat… well… not me because I still was not sure of my tummy... I did ask for warm water and lime juice though… not straight lime juice… lol!

After Heidy and Andres ate we packed…

The kind people from CDA, who I had called the night before, kindly changed their plans and picked us up to bring us to Bogota.

That was on Thursday morning. It was am emotional morning. So many mixed emotions… sad to be saying goodbye, mad at myself for missing even one second of enjoying this special place, so excited to be moving on to the next phase of coming home.

I am not sure what was harder… saying goodbye to the girls, or saying goodbye to the staff. They did not know until that morning that we were leaving either. Still – although my Spanish was nowhere close to being understandable, and their English being sparse… we somehow forged a very deep bond… an unspoken experience of mutual respect, and fun, and a deep love…

Jimmy, from CDA, brought us to Bogota. Our friend, from CDA, who I have never met… Willie… who speaks English… called me to tell me he had gotten us a great rate at a hotel right near the airport in Bogota. We were due to fly out to Neiva at 5:50am on Friday morning and fly back, landing at 9:30 Friday night. The hotel had/has a shuttle. It was perfect!

Thursday evening Diego, from our agency, his wife and their 18m old sweet, sweet baby girl, came to visit us. They are very gentle, kind and peaceful. They had some concerning news for us… I tried not to cry… but still the tears fell…

They told me that one of the documents in our file was not filled out properly.

For the children’s new birth certificates the documents needed to state their new last names of McIndoe Crawford… (Both mom and dad’s last name in Colombia) but the document only said McIndoe. This was a problem b/c all the documents have to be precise.

This same problem happened a few adoptions ago and it took over a week to get the document fixed b/c it has to be signed again by the Family Defender, the Judge, the Attorney and by the family. Our agency cautioned us that it was possible, but very unlikely that would all happen in one day – Friday – for us. I would very likely have to make a second trip to Neiva and this would likely add on another few days to another week before we could come home.

My phone call home on Thursday evening was hard. Lots of tears and uncertainty, discouragement and exhaustion…

Our family prayed for favor - we hung up, and went to bed with heavy hearts…

Heidy, Andres and I woke up at 3:30am on Friday morning to get to the airport by 4:30 am for our flight at 5:50am to Neiva – hoping and praying for a miracle. We landed in Neiva at 6:50am. And thus began another amazing day….!

AN HOUR AND A HALF OF THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR...

AN HOUR AND A HALF OF THINGS I AM GRATEFUL FOR…

3:06am Waking up on our last morning in Tenjo, happy that I didn’t miss the sunrise!

3:07am Glad that I am conscious – realize that I am really sick…

3:07½am Greatful for fast reflexes… run…

3:08 So glad there is an outside potty b/c we had no running water all day yesterday and I am guessing we still may not…

3:08½am Thankful that Pete taught me how to think like McGiver… b/c as the door slams shut I remember there is no inside door handle.

3:10am Grateful for a sense of wonder…. Wonder where my sense of humor went as the only other living creature in Tenjo awake is a fly… buzzing around my head…. as I try to figure out how to open the door. Try not to cry…

3:15am Realize I hear Claudia the kitchen – note to self…. I guess she really does get up at 3:00am - wonder if her music is too loud to hear me - in case I need to scream for help to get out of the bathroom…

3:30am – I am free!! Go to the kitchen to say good morning to Claudia. More than grateful for the meals she serves us as I see her sitting on a small stool, in front of a HUGE pile of potatoes…. Peeling each and everyone… with a smile on her face…. AT 3:30 IN THE MORNING…. Feel very humbled…

3:35 am – There is no place else in the world I would rather be at this moment than sitting on another small stool, peeling LOTS potatoes with Claudia… and bonding… even though she doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish…

3:35 ½ am Remember again, the song….. “Love in every language, Straight from the heart… Pulls us all together… Never apart…"

3:45am Grateful I am fast… even in the wee hours of he morning… quickly run to the potty…

3:45 1/2am – So glad I didn’t break anything in the pitch dark…. as I realize there are actually 3 steps coming out of the kitchen instead of 2…. Try not to cry….

4:00 am – There is still no place I would rather be at this moment than sitting on a small stool, peeling potatoes…. Then mangos…. Then pineapples with Claudia… and bonding…

4:15am – Grateful I wake up peacefully most mornings as I hear the house moms… speaking VERY loudly in Spanish… telling the girls to get up for showers and school…

4:20am – Glad I know my manners as I politely say “No gracious” to the stern house mom as she offers me something to drink…

4:20 ½am Glad I am not stupid… realize I don’t have a choice… as the stern house mom gets MORE stern, crosses her arms in front of her… and makes sure I know I do not have a choice but to drink whatever it is she is giving me in that huge mug to drink…

4:21am – Glad I had some practice drinking shots back in the day… downed a half mug of straight lime juice… as I see Claudia walk by me, smiling as she throws away an armful of juiced lime peels…. Thanks Claudia… I thought we were friends….!

4:22am – Realize it is always a good thing to be in good graces with the house moms – and with the chef!!!

4:30am – Grateful my tummy is feeling better… Wonder if it really was the ½ mug of fresh, straight lime juice that I downed in less than 3 seconds…

4:35 am…. There really is no place I would rather be at this moment than peeling potatoes, and mangos and pineapples with Claudia!!!

4:36 am Hear the rooster crowing… and see the beautiful sun rising… with Claudia…

On this – our last morning in Tenjo, happy to have woken up early….


THANK YOU LORD for TENJO, COLOMBIA –
Seriously… the absolute most beautiful, peaceful place in creation...
With the most beautiful, amazing people…


TRULY… HEAVEN ON EARTH -
Humbled and deeply grateful that we were blessed with 2 weeks here….