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!!!