After 2 Weeks

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write. 9 out of 11 of us are sick. It was worse last week. We have Strep throat, colds, ear infections and 2 serious skin infections. I, who am usually anti drug and giving 3 of my children antibiotics 3 times a day. I try to keep hope alive in my mind but at the same time I feel that I am always on the verge of a desperate crying moment. Once I put my face in my hands and gave into a good cry. I said to Leon, "I need someone to come help me, and there is no one!". God clearly spoke to my mind. I lifted my head with a new hope and said, "God said, He is my help". This impression has stayed with me and proved to be so true. God is my help.

Besides the amiable qualities previously mentioned, the new children have given me plenty of opportunities to communicate, "I love you right now, when you are wretched. You are my child now and forever".

It was suggested to me that if you have something you want to do and you have to travel to Liberia to do it, then don't. I'm so glad that God did not follow this principle. He traveled farther, stayed longer and suffered more than Leon and I did. All in order to adopt wretches and make them his children.
Do we Christians sometimes forget that we are not biological children of God? We don't deserve to be co-heirs with Jesus. And yet, we have been made so.

Firsts

We just finished our third day. Things are going so well. There have been many firsts: Noodles, swings and slides at the park, sweatshirt zippers, socks (Leon was on the floor with Patrick showing him how to put these on), baths, riding a bike, writing the alphabet letters (I taught Sim how to write the letters, A and B today), math, reading, indoor water, toilets, electricity, seeing a cat (they won't touch it yet) and so many more.

They are polite, have excellent table manners, are caring, kind, patient (usually), obedient (usually), quiet, happy, playful, healthy, hard workers etc. They had to join right in with chores the morning after they got here.

Because I am working to create attachment to Patrick and Simeon, I am doing the same things with my other children. I find myself bonding more with all of the children. I am appreciating the children that have been here all along more than I did before.

Leon and I knew going into this that the children we adopted may never bond to us or may never love us. We could not go into this to meet any of our needs. Happily though, it seems very likely that they will be able to form attachments to us and even love us as their family.

First Day

Today was our first day together with Patrick and Simeon. They are precious children. We had a wonderful day! We walked, ate, sang, played running games, napped, explored the woods, prayed, and we did it all together. They are sleeping sweetly now, tucked in, kissed, hugged, prayed over and smiling.

News Flash!

They stamped the exit passes and Leon was able to get a flight out of Monrovia today! He got the flight and was out the door of the hotel heading toward the airline when he called to tell me. They will all be home around 11pm Tuesday night. I am thrilled.
I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Thank you, thank you, thank you, God

Saturday in Liberia

Leon got stopped by the police again. This time he was taking video of the beach. They questioned him, viewed all his footage and let him go. He's decided not to take any more pictures outside. It's a good thing he went instead of me. He is a wise and discerning man. I would have been in jail by now.
The ministry gave him the exit passes but, the embassy wouldn't stamp them. He was told to come back Monday. If they are stamped Monday, the next plane out of Liberia will be Wednesday, getting him to Spokane late Thursday night as originally planned.
Face book has a photo of Leon with the children. In the meantime, they plan to go to town with Pastor Moses today, Saturday. Sunday they are going to church and then to see relatives. Patrick and Simeon have an Aunt and a brother (Miracle who is 2). They also have grandparents.
We will be having a baby shower/ dedication / welcome celebration in mid July. You are all invited. There will be healthy snacks, visiting, hearing Leon's story and an open mic.

Leon in Africa

Leon called me at 6am (my time). He was in his hotel room with Pastor Moses and Patrick and Simeon. I got to hear their voices in the background. Leon sounded like a proud new father holding his twins for the first time.
The meeting went smooth at the embassy, smoother than any of our agencies previous dealings with them. He should be back there now picking up the promised exit passes etc. They also had another meeting somewhere else to get something else. He may be able to finish today and return early.
He couldn't tell me what it's like there except to say in a quick email that it was INSANE!!!!
He almost got arrested for using his camera while driving by the embassy. Apparently that's a crime. He was questioned for a while and allowed to leave with his camera after deleting the files.

Leon's flight and beach retreat

Leon flew away from Spokane at 6am Tuesday morning. He flew to Denver, then Chicago, then to Germany, then Belgium, then to Monrovia, Liberia, Africa. His plane should be landing there within a half hour. Pastor Moses should be there to meet him and drive him 1 1/2 hours away to his hotel. If there are no delays, this will put him at the hotel at 9pm their time (1pm ours). He plans to then buy a phone, call home and go to bed. In the morning the children will be brought to him.
It's hard to get much done around home. We are thinking and praying much about him and our African children.
We had a wonderful time together in Cannon Beach before his flight. My brother and sister in law, Chris and Erin had some hard times during the conference. Chris ended up spending the conference in a wheel chair because as Erin puts it, "he just had to be a basketball star". Then a dear family member of Erin's had to be admitted into the hospital. Her heart ached as she longed to be with him but, couldn't go because of Chris's injury. She accepted God's sovereignty and their whole family was a blessing to us all the whole weekend.
We all agreed with Havilah who talked of how rich one feels to be waited on and have beautiful food served to us throughout the day. We ate and were thankful and walked away while others did the cleanup work for us. We enjoyed being with each other very much.