a little update… and some pictures

to all our readers, and esp you of our friends who are praying for us in a special way this week… i am finally sitting down to update you on our time so far.

 

We went through airport security at an exceptionally good time frame. None of our carry on’s were opened, none of us “beeped’ and so that made it really really nice for all of us. Esp with traveling with two little ones, and lots of bags.  no matter how many times we thing that “this time” we are not going to max ourselves out.. we’ll just travel light! we end up bringing more than we are allotted. in light of how many things  so many of the missions need, or have to spend away more for here than the states, its a small sacrifice.

 

we arrived in port a prince around 12;00, and were warmly (literally too!!:)) welcomed. don and karlee were at the end of the walkway; such a welcome sight that little girl!

i held her most of the way back to Leagone, and she and abby chattered like two long lost sisters should. it was so cute to hear them converse back and forth. i soon realized that i can no longer say i have a baby in haiti…. she has become quite the talkative, grown up toddler.

tuesday we did some things we never really take time or have time to-do here… (but our whole trip is different than almost any others we have taken herein that we have basically no adjenda.

its basically our week to spend time with karlee, and dons. I'm enjoying it!)

Like i said…. just spending time together:)

 

we went to the ‘outlook’ .. high in the mountain where you could look down over port. the airport was in plain sight, the ocean, ships, and thousands upon thousands of houses.

we spent the night at cam where we made some new friends… enjoyed a good meal, showers, and bed. they have lovely accommodations, and the hosts were so friendly and hospitable.

Wednesday morning jess and i had an important meeting with heather, the director of the agency we transferred our paper work to. upon finally receiving our paperwork, she has had to hire someone to fix up the fraud papers, incomplete and missing papers. yucky stuff…. she is working very hard to get us in before the deadline that the Ibesr office has before they close for a season, then reopen when haiti goes HAAg. if our papers don’t get in, we can go in under haag, but it  means more lost time. pray for this important step!!!!!

another word we received from heather that touches jess and i’s hearts deeply is that she has several children who are “dossier ready”… they are just waiting for a family to choose them. isn’t that sad???? it isn’t that her creche is a terrible place to live, but a child that is there just waiting for someone to care enough to give them a loving, Christian home with a daddy and mommy. someone who is willing to sacrifice just a little to touch a life forever.oh, we know. if you decide to adopt people might talk. they might say you are crazy. that adopted children often don’t ‘turn out”. it might ruin your bio children. its going to cost a lot of money. adopted children might bring a different set of struggles than what you are familiar with. people might look at your family different than before and you might face alot of negative response.

we know  and have heard this all. but we also know that god has commanded. not suggested, that we as his children care for the widows and the orphans.  we know from experience that the many “reasons” are only polished excuses. jess and i’s hearts long for more Christians to hear the call. to step out. we also know that there is great blessing in doing what god calls you todo no matter how different it makes you, or how craze people chalk you up to be.

you are already called.  maybe its not to take a child into your home; there are lots of other ways to support families that are, but then again, maybe you are. maybe you are.

 

Heather, the director of VOTO after our meeting.

we came away from heather very excited… encouraged, and once again, challenged to look at what god has for us as a family. she is an “esther” in the haitian government. we are so blessed to be part of voice of the orphans.

the girls were asking over and over when we are headed to the beach, and after the meeting, we headed down the road several miles to a beautful sandy beach. sitting there with our three little girls, and our friends,  less than 6 weeks away from our new baby… it almost felt surreal. it was so beautiful.

 

       

but even having fun ends when you just get to tired!!

 

      

from there we headed to port and a short visit with melanie and simeon shenkester..they were the couple that cared for karlee the week after we left her the first time.

today i took karlee’s hair out and washed it… she so hates that… i felt bad but  it can’t be left go or neglected either. karole did a great job of combing it.. something i need to learn to do!

i did alot of laundry… for us and some for karole.  it dried quite fast!!

thats all for now….. thank you all for your interest and prayers!!!

oh, this is just in case you wonder if Abby is happy;) she says “thank you daddy, for my ticket!!”