"I AM GOING THERE TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU!" John 14:2b

Hola!   We are having a wonderful time in Nieva, truly experiencing God's grace, and are enjoying being with Heidy and Andres very, very much!  The culture and the people here are beautiful.  They have servant hearts and a sparkle in their eyes.  I remember a song I  heard years ago by Sandy Patti...."Love in every language....Straight from the heart....pulls us all together...."   Oh if only I could sing it to you!

So... aside from losing my my phone yesterday... all is well.  Heidy and Andres were taking pictures in a park... like the picture above.  Heidy handed me back the phone, we got into a  taxi, we went to the office to make reservations for Pete to come home...Heidy asked for the phone while we were there...  uh-oh...no phone.

I am reading a book...  Life Interrupted by Pricillla Shirer.  It gives me perspective on losing my phone... an interruption we would of liked to avoid.   I think the way Pete and I handled this stress was/is a testament to Heidy and Andres.  It is ok...  not preferred, but nothing to get mad about, or blame...  or shame.  Somehow they thought it was their fault the phone was gone.  We got to assure them they were not responsible...  I was, and even if they were...  no big deal in the grand scheme of things.  Pete's take...  grace, grace, grace to me...  My take...  I didn't lose our passports so all is well!

Yesterday we got to see downtown Neiva.  Our interpreter spent the day with us.  She is a gift.  We went to the adoption office to make plans for Pete to come home, to the airline office to make reservations, lost my phone, got in yet another taxi and retraced our steps, went shopping for Heidy and Andres... clothes, shoes.... etc...  fun!  And then...  a delightful evening... That was all the stuff one could see...

But this morning I am reminded...
Life is much more about the unseen!

In the unseen God was/is preparing a place for us...
(And you too in your journey...literally and figuratively!)

We made a call yesterday morning to a Dr.  ( Connie) here in Neiva..
Our interpreter talked to Connie on the phone and told her that our friend, of a freind, of a friend... of Missys "introduced" us to Missy back in May.  Missy encouraged us to call her..

Back in May -
My friend Diane
Introduced me to Connie
Who "introduced" us to her friend
Who "introduced" us to Missy
Who introduced us to Connie!!!

God's people are everywhere!   And here is where the miracle continues....
Our interpreter made a call to Connie and said something in spanish like....
I am an interpretor for Debbie and Peter...  they are friends, of friends etc... of Missy's.  Missy encouraged us to call you!"

( Have I mentioned that we have never met Missy? !)

Connie was laughing so much last night.  She said on her end she received a call from a number she did not know... and the person on the other end was talking about friends of freinds etc...  and she was not sure where this was going until she heard Missy's name! Then it all clicked for her....!

As only the Lord can orchestrate...  Connie travels all over Colombia for the God is Love ministry clinics.  She has been in Neiva only a few days on this visit, and last night was her last night here...

Connie and her friend came to pick us up last night.  They treated us and our interpreter to a wonderful dinner and wonderful sharing.  It was amazing because I got to tell her that months and months ago... I was crying with Diane... ( My 1st friend of friends noted above...)   I was telling Diane God was calling us to adopt Heidy and Andres, but we had NO idea how we could possibly afford this call.

 I remember a very poignant moment when it seemed as if God was speaking through Diane...  she said that He would provide and we were called to move forward!   And here we were... with Connie... a friend, of a friend of a friend of Diane's...!!!   I hope that makes sense...  for us... it is amazing testament of the unseen plans that God is making on our ( and yours too...) behalf...

Today is our last full day in Neiva.  Heidy and Andres are excited to go go Bogta, but a bit sad too.  I am sure I will never totally grasp the emotions they must be feeling as they transition out of the only life they have ever known...  into a hope and a future prepared for them by the Lord.

Where will we stay in Bogota?
Missy invited us back in May to stay in a missionaly  house in Tenjo, about an hour or so out of Bogota.
I had e-mailed Missy 2 weeks ago when we found out we were coming to Colombia, but she had never received our e-mails.  Missy actually lives in Texas , but her father is the founder of the ministrty CDA...
in Spanish that stands for ...  God is Love!  She has been in contact with the staff at Tenjo and is telling us there a driver will meet us at the airport tomorrow.  

A few days ago I was feeling...  gosh ....  I think almost ashamed because I thought I was "presuming" that God would meet our needs.  I sure don't want to take His provisions for granted.

Today...  I am feeling...  gosh... I think ashamed again...because I was thought I was presuming and not trusting.  I am learning these are 2 very different things.  I don't quite have words for it  yet...  but I am thinking there is deep heart lesson in this for me and our family.

We have long wondered and hoped that this journey of faith would be a blessing to others.

As it turns out, our interpreter ( Sarani) was sharing a medical need with Connie last night.  Connie is stepping in to help Sarani.  Sarani needs a last exam and then surgery as soon as possible.  It is not life threatening...  I don't think...  but very painful and very expensive.  We are THRILLED that God led us to Connie and Connie to Sarani...   God's people are everywhere!!

After dinner last night we got to Skype!!  We got to Skype the boys and Olivia, Pete's parents and his sister and her family!!!!   The children were SO excited to see each other.  Olivia was crying...  I though she was crying because she missed Pete and me...  But noooo....  she was crying because she was so happy to see Andres and Heidy!!

We are longing to Skype Rachel and Emily...
We are in contact with them briefly on text and e-mail....   and we maybe able to Skype Rachel this evening!

Lastly, as we shared our journey with Connie last night, she said God's story for our family is giving her hope for His provision for a clinic CDA ( The God is Love ministry)  is being called to start in Neiva.
The current clinic is very, very small.  There are many people in Neiva who need medical care.  The new clinic will serve 25,000 people.  The need is great.  She was tender as she shared her heart for the people in Neiva, and her hope and trust for God's provision.


Today...
Hmmmm.... I don't know...
Maybe find my phone?  We are praying!
Some legal stuff....

Then...
Back to the store for a bathing suit for Heidy, and a sweatshirt for Andres.

Maybe some last day things  Heidy and Andres want to do...
( They say there isn't really anything special they want to do...   I think they are beginning to transition and are ready to move forward...)

Definitely ice cream!!!

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE!!!!

What an amazing day!  Gosh...  highlights.... 

We went downstairs early to help blow up balloons and visit with the people.  The people here are very kind and they were excited for us.  As the 11am hour approached the minutes could not tick by fast enough!  The hotel has a resturant on the first floor that opens to the street.  We waited outside...  and waited... and watched every car that came by... and waited...    and THEN Pete said ...."There they are!"

Apparently they had parked about the corner and were walking towards us down the side walk with an entourage of people around them...  the psycologist, the doctor, the nutritionist, and 2 social workers.  Oh my...  their smiles were so big.  Pete and I took off running towards them...  hugs...hugs...hugs....  a few tears...  more hugs....lots of smiles!   It seemed like all the activity on the streets and even the people who accompanied Heidy and Andres faded away.  It was a wonderful reunion!

Heidy and Andres had made us gifts...  a bracelet, and a phone holder, and Heidy had painted a ceramic deer.  Elana, their foster mom, sent a photo album of Heidy and Andres since they were about 3 years old. She also sent a few Colombian crafts.  It was all so special.  We spent time looking at the photo albums...  then we slowly realized the Social workers etc... were there!  We were very grateful they seemed to allow us to have that time to ourselves.

Then we met with the whole group.  It was clear that the Dr. was in charge!  She quickly told us what to expect..  including that the bonding period would last  one week...  until Tuesday.   After they told us lots of details our interpreter asked us if we wanted to ask the Dr. if the bonding period could be shortened so Pete could get home for Rachel and Matthew'a birthday on Monday and Tuesday.  She seemed to connect with us...  but said they would let us know on Friday.  Our interpreter reminded her we needed to make plane reservations....  she smile.... and said ok, Pete could come home at the end of  the week!   Thank you Lord....  thank you!

So...  everyone left... and it was just us! We had lunch here at the  hotel, and Pete played chess with Andres.  Heidy and I did a craft, and then  it was time for a siesta ( Except for Andres who put together a loge set)  After that... legal stuff.... attorney... notary...  all very kind and helpful.

Heidy and Andres are joyful and happy.  There is a lot of laughter and hugs.  They do say they are a bit sad as well...  We expect that and want to make it ok to talk about. 

Thank you for praying, helping and celebrating with us!

This IS the day the Lord has made!

Today... watching and enjoying our children, and missing and longing for our children at home...  I realized...again... that God chose us to be their parents...each and every one... their family...  forever...   

And I realized again, that this is God's story...   and that He invited us to join him on the journey...  I am  left with a deep awe and wonder...     Thank you Lord...  and thank you to all who are helping us to say yes to God's call...

WE ARE IN NEIVA!!!!

We made it!  It has been a great day. We have met quite a few very kind people.  On the plane to Bogota we had huge comfortable seats.  Pete worked, and I tried to figure out how to use the mac I got back in March!  About 1/2 way through our 3.5 hour flight, the guy behind me stood up to take a break and commented on that he saw I was using a mac.  Yes, I said, but not really, because I didn't know how to use it... to which he replied he worked at the Apple Store in Florida and he could help me!  That was fun because I really, really wanted to learn how to organize my pictures and he helped me!  As we landed he commented that he hoped my spanish was better than my computer skills.... sheesh!

We landed in Bogota without any problems and Costanza's brother, Diego, and an interpreter met us at the airport.  It was very fun.  He took us to the mall where we met up with another family who got in a few days ago.  They hosted their children, 2 boys, 13yrs. and 2 yrs old, back when we hosted Heidy and Andres.  We had lunch with them.  They told us about the area they were staying in.  ( At a friends house)  We got a phone and added minutes, but can only use it in Colombia.  Then we went back to the airport and flew to Neiva. 

Here in Neiva Constanza's other brother, Humberto, who is our attorney, met us with his wife and 2 interpreters!  They brought us to our hotel and spent about an hour with us answering questions and telling us what the process is. Pete commmented that we had the right guy as our attorney.  Humberto is kind, but very confident in the adoption process.  He told us not to worry about a thing...  that he was in charge!

Tomorrow we get to see Heidy and Andres at 11:00am!  At Diego's suggestion we asked the hotel for a party... we didn't understand what they said they would do...  but I think they said cake and balloons!

More tomorrow!
Buenos Noches!

WE'RE ON OUR WAY!

We are SO excited...  and exhausted!  As I type we are at the airport in Ft. Lauderdale getting ready to board to plane to welcome Heidy and Andres into our family!  

I wish I could describe the vast amount of effort, time, love, gifts and prayers you, our community, has offered us along this journey.  A few weeks ago, at our church, the service was about celebrating adoption.  They asked each family who has adopted to come to the front. After they prayed, people started standing...  and clapping.  As they stood, I started crying. I wasn't crying for us...  I was crying because I was really wanting people to know how important community has been in helping us bring our children home.  I wanted to clap for those who were clapping!   I was praying:  "Lord, please let each and every one know that without a supportive, helpful, prayerful community we could of never adopted."  In my heart I was deeply celebrating the community that surrounds adoptive families...  Thank you for walking this journey with us!  Thank you....

Soon we board to go to Bogota, then to Neiva.  We get to see Heidy and Andres tomorrow morning at 11:00am local time.  They will then be with us for the remainder of the time we are in Colombia before we come home! 

These pictures are of Heidy dancing in an annual festival in Nieva, and of Andres...  in a bumper car?!  Peter laughs at this picture of Andres.  He says that is Andres' look for "What am I doing here?!"

It has been an amazing ride trusting God to meet all the various needs of this journey.  It will be fun to see how he meets this next need...  housing in Colombia.  A few of the options we thought would work have fallen through.  We know where we are staying in Neiva for the first week, but after that, in Bogota, we are not sure!  I look forward to the post celebrating God's provision! 

WE GET TO GO TO COLOMBIA AUGUST 7th!!!!

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS ANDRES!!!

This past week, when we got to talk to Heidy and Andres ( pictured above in light blue), we got to tell them: "SEE YOU IN A FEW WEEKS!" 

We are finally on our way to receive our children!  The reservations are made! 

Heidy and Andres have been so patient and brave... 

Each week, as they laugh at my Spanish, and try out their english,  I "see" the resilience in their hearts...

Now, we get to see them... in less than 2 weeks!!!

Truth be told...  I have been far from peaceful...

Trying to put together all the details to be gone for 6 weeks... 

(Actually the agency told us this week it could be 4-7 weeks...)

Then...  and we really should know this by now...

God brought us peace and clarity...

It seems.... even, and especially, in our doubts...

He had / has a plan to love us, and provide for us to bring

Heidy and Andres home.

A friend has reached out to us and offered to ... well... basically run our home while I am gone...

Our small group is organizing meals...

Our co-ops have stepped up to help shepherd our children with school...

"How can I help?"  "What do you need?"

These are the words of love and care for our family...

Thank you!

A friend said today....

"I know not everyone is called to adopt...  but God is calling people to be part of the journey..."

We continue to be humbled...

Some have asked if we still have financial needs...

Turth be told... we do...

We are deeply grateful for the gifts we have received that have allowed us to pay for all of the adoption expenses to date...

We have not had to go into debt at all... 

As we move forward - we were just able to pay for our plane fares to get to Colombia and to get Pete home after the first week he is with us in Colombia.

Now, we are looking at continued in country adoption expenses, airfare for travel back and forth twice beween Neiva ( the children's home town) and Bogota, lodging and meals for 4-7 weeks, and travel back home.  We believe we are looking at a need of about $10,000.00. 

If you would like to join us in helping bring Heidy and Andres home you can send a tax deductible gift to:

The Shepherds Crook Ministry

PO Box 773

West Chester,  Ohio 45071

( Please put Heidy and Andres name on the subject line!)

We sincerely and humbly appreciate your words of encourgement, prayers and support. 

 

"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