"Shhh... Trust Me. Love, God"

As I write we feel peaceful, vulnerable, and curious. And yes, I confess... A bit of anxiety mixed in.

We learned this weekend that we most likely will not be traveling to Colombia until the end of August / beginning of September, bringing us home possibly even as late as October.

To their credit, Colombia is actually moving fairly quickly given our last extra requested documents arrived to them at the end of March.   We thought we had it all in, and that they were proceeding...  but they asked for a few more documents...  and that took time...  blah, blah, blah...

So, there are 4 - 5 more steps, each taking between 2 - 4 weeks.

I can't imagine why God would have us traveling right as school starts...

But then, I remember He is truly the One who called us to bring Heidy and Andres home, so there must be a bigger picture than I can know at this time.

I know God is present and close...
He only asks us to take the next step..
He does truly meets us in the journey.

What follows is a note Pete read to me while I was in Florida a few weeks ago. I was there with my brother, following the recent death of our dad, to help take care of details. Actually, I think my brother, David, took care of me... I am not sure how much help I was, but it was good to be with him!

David and I were sitting on dad's front porch; one of our favorite places at dads, and Pete called. He read us the following letter that he found in his mail folder at church.


" McIndoe Family,
I have had the enclosed money saved up for about a year and a half from birthday monies and Christmas monies that I got. I kept thinking I would save it to get that "special something". The thing is, I never really found anything that I wanted to spend the money on. I decided that it wasn't doing me any good to just keep it in my drawer and that you would be able to put it to better use for your adoptions. It isn't much, but it is given in love. "

"Bring them home!!!!"


How amazing is that?  Our family is speechless...
Of course we have no idea who gave us this gift, but we imagine a teenager, following the prompting of the Lord.  We pray for you, sweet one, and for others who are joining us on this journey too...  that God will abundantly bless you for your generosity.  May you know everytime you see Heidy and Andres that you played a significant part in God's redeeming plan for their lives, as well as encouraged us tremendously in our faith.    Thank you...

God does continue to reveal himself...
Even, and especially when we doubt...

When we look back on this journey thus far...
We know, that we know, that we know...  that God is leading, providing and bringing peace.

Now...
If I could just figure out what  to do about the 3 classes I am suppose to teach at co-ops begining in August and September, and how home school is going to work out for basically most of the first quarter, and how I can help Miami University with the commitment I made to teach...  and now can't...    And how will I be able to teach Heidy and Andres english, when I was going to do that this summer... before we started home school... And what will we do with our children while they are here, as home school starts, and my freinds are home shooling their own families, and surely don't need extra students around... And...

"Shhhh...  It's not about you Debbie.  I've got it covered.  Trust me.  Love, God"

Humbled and in Awe... Jeremiah 29:11-13

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

Wondering and Trusting

Wondering...
How is it that God planned our family in ways we could of never imagined?
What are Heidy and Andres doing right this very second?
When will be recieve our I800A approval?
Will the Lord find a way to unite us together before Andres birthday on June 17th?
How in the world can I be gone for 5 weeks?
How is it that this well of love for our children...here and not here quite yet...  continues to swell?
Why do I find myself wanting to cry when I least expect tears to flow?
How did God plan it so that he would speak to me so profoundly through my children?
How do I have peace... yet a gnawing emptiness,  - waiting and waiting...
Longing for Heidy and Andres to be home...?
Wondering...  And Trusting...