It's Finally Real!

We've been home two full days now...it's hard to believe just a few weeks ago we were making plans to travel and not sure if it would happen. So much has happened in the last 12 days but I will try to share some of the highlights. (you might want to skip most of this as I'm doing it mostly so I can remember everything! :)

We flew out of Iowa on Jan 24th to spend a few days in Brussels before heading to Liberia. We are so glad we did!

In Chicago we were eating lunch when we got a phone call from Rachel at AOH. I had just been thinking about another adoptive mom who had been traveling alone and was in Chicago when she got a phone call not to come...and I was thinking how horrible that must have been. Then our cell phone rang. Our hearts stopped and lunch went cold and we heard that our adoption needed to be redone through the courts again with the birth father's signature. I couldn't bear thinking we might have to go home. Rachel said to still come and that it should be through the courts early the next week. And praise God it did get done! (this is just the beginning of us seeing God at work to bring our kids home)

Our trip to Brussels was fun-kind of cold weather but no rain. We spent one day just walking around, window shopping and of course having an incredible Belgian waffle with all the toppings...oh and the chocolate filled croissants-yummm! Those were to must-haves. The highlight of the trip was meeting two couples from the Midwest. One couple was from Minneapolis. They saw us struggling with our luggage at the train station. We had 4 huge suitcases, carry-ons and two flimsy metal carts. Not good. We looked ridiculous trying to find the right train and then literally throwing our bags up the stairs (they wouldn't fit inside) One almost fell onto the tracks! At this point I either had to laugh or cry. This kind couple got us on the right train and then helped us up the HUGE flight of stairs to get to our hotel. She grew up in Brussels so knew the area well. Our walk to the hotel was just as bad...dragging luggage over bumpy streets...having them tip over...our arms aching like anything. We finally found the place and another nice lady directed us to the door. We find out they are staying there and are from Kansas City. We had dinner with them that night at the hotel and spent 3 hrs talking. They had a car and invited us to visit Brugge with them the next day. I was dying to go there so we said "sure!". Not sure who was crazier...but we had a great time! It's a lovely place...ever better than Brussels.
We took the train back to Brussesl that night and a cab to the airport the next morning (that was my b-day gift!)

Now onto Liberia. We met some wonderful people from Liberia on the plane. One had lived in Monrovia years ago and was going back to work there. Another guy was a pastor in the States. His parents had been exiled from Liberia around 18 yrs ago and they want to go back there and live. Quite a trip for them as well.

I was expecting extreme heat when we walked off the plane and was suprised it wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined. The airport is a little odd. A long wait in line and then luggage is in an outside tent. Everything arrived and we found Rich without a problem...kind of accidently though. Our luggage was taken to the car and I would have paid double for that!

On the way back it was dark so there wasn't much to see. Rich's son was visiting and in the car too. We didn't know that he had brought a bush cat with him. It jumped in the backset on Dave and I thought he was going to scream. I thought something flew into the window...they are pretty neat creatures. They had 3 at the Guest House.

I was shocked at all the people walking on the road...going nowhere it seemed. It seemed amazing we didn't hit someone. They don't really move off the road at all so we just whiz right by them and honk. There's alot of honking going on over there! Driving was crazy! Cars passing any side...no lights or stopsigns. Looked rather fun to drive :)

We got to the guest house and had supper and settled in. We really had a great time there. A missionary family with 7 kids was also there and we had fun getting to know them. The food was good...especially the potato greens. It was fun to be able to play with the caustic kids and few others who were staying at the compound as well. If Yeleseh or Dixon's family read this...they are abslutely adorable!!!

Meeting the kids was incredible! I started cring just walking into the room hearing all the children singing. It was like a dream. I caught each of their eyes and just enjoyed watching them dance and sing...for at least 20 min! We said hello to them...took pictures...hugged and got a tour of the rest of the orphange. The toddler orphanage is the sweetest! They were saying verse after verse for us (although I couldn't understand much!) They are amazing, happy kids. I can't say enough about the sweet nannies.

We went to the beach with Linda and the missionary family one afternoon which the kids loved. We were able to go shopping several times and brought home several navity scenes, clothes, jewelry, a coal iron, drum and other wood carvings. I could have stayed in the market all day! I really needed to shop with a lady...I think I drove Dave and Rich nuts! My husband doesn't really like to look at everything like I do.

The most amazing part of the trip was going to the Monrovia prison. I never believed this could happen but had thought of it often before traveling. God worked out this reunion. It was one I will never forget. We were able to meet the children's auntie (who brought them to Patty) She said we're sisters :) Their grandma (who could only speak Pelle but was the sweetest little lady!) and great uncle all from Bong County. I know Buster had to go up and bring the great uncle to the prison to meet with the father before he would sign papers. I believe they all stayed in Monrovia until we got there and could meet with them which we did on a Friday. I'm not sure how AOH worked it all out but it is something I'm SO thankful for! I now it was hard on the kids...but someday I believe it will be so important and special to them that they saw their father one last time...and had a blessing from their family to go to America.
The incredible thing is absolutely no children are allowed in...and no cameras. We were able to have the children come AND take pictures and have a private room to talk. The prison warden and deputy warden with both there as well as a guard. The kids' father spoke with them...especially to Garlayma and he is the only son. He did apologize to the kids and they each in turn said "I forgive you" to him...even little Gbanko. It about broke my heart but was so sweet and such a picture of the forgiveness and redemption we have in Christ. I'm sure it was healing to the father as well. Before we left he wanted to give the kids $ he had earned in prison...he was trying to do all he could. We were able to take many pictures. At the end (I wish we could have recorded this but I had dropped our new video camera in the ocean!) The deputy warden asked if he could say a prayer on behalf of the Liberian government. It was the most incredible prayer I have ever heard!!! Everyone was crying...and just before the prayer the aunt starting singing a song and the others followed. I felt like Paul in prison and wondered if others could hear all the praising of God that was going on in that little room. It felt like we were in a movie scene. During the prayer this man quote a verse in Isaiah 61...the exact same verse that God had given me when we started our adoption about "turning ashes to beauty". (this is when I alsmot lost it and did the ugly cry!) I wish I could have shared how special that was to me for him to say that---a God thing for sure.
Walking into the prison was the strangest feeling and I know God gave me peace during the whole thing. It's not exactly the nicest place to be. But God gave me peace and love for the kids' father that I never could have had on my own.
We will never forget that time....ever.

Our Embassy appointment went well. Pretty quick and just a few questions. We needed one more passport picture which Chris got done...and they had to rush another passport for Gbanko and the Embassy lost the first one. So a few stressful moments but I really knew it would come together. I prayed there like I never have before...almost constantly to reassure myself who God is and He is in control...He can move mountains and my faith is in Him not man. At times I had to literally talk myself through any doubts...and claimed His promise that He would do it. (I wasn't sure how sometimes!)

Getting the Visas was a big surprise as we heard it would be a miracle if they were issued with all the questioning and news articles coming out. We were in the market when Chris came to tell us. I yelled and caused a little scene I think!!!

We were up in the air about purchasing the kids' tickets which we hadn't done yet. We still needed a signature from the Minister of Justice (?) And there happened to be a huge cocaine bust there that week and he had been busy with that. We weren't sure we could leave w/o that so we prayed about what to do. Dave decided to stick with our Sunday departure date and bought the tickets. Little did we know all that was about to happen with talks of shutting down adoptions, the newspaper articles, etc. all happening. We were told we needed to leave Sun. night or they wouldn't let anyone leave with kids the next day. We were going to escort several ready children back but it was decided that would cause more problems with 2 parents and 7 Liberian kids leaaving. I don't know all the details but I believe some did get escorted out late that night. We were praying those kids would get out and also for the families flying in that night right before we left. There was so much uncertainty in the air. Buster went before us at the airport with paperwork and if it weren't for him I'm not sure it would have been as smooth (I know it wouldn't!) getting through the airport. So a BIG thanks to him.
I think the scariest moment was standing in line to board the plane and a lady working in the airport came over to me/the kids sereral times asking their ages...then looking at their passports several times...writing down info. I was so afraid we would get pulled out of line and not allowed to leave. I almost ran to the plane with the kids..it was everything I could do to walk across the tarmac. What a relief once we were in the air!

I must say I didn't know what to expect on this trip...if I would "suffer" through the week or what. But I lOVED every minute. Loved the people. Loved the church service. Saddened by the incredibly poor conditions they live in...but they are full of joy. It was so life changing. Someday I hope to go back.

The trip back was long but the kids did so well. Even our extra night because of cancelled flights in Chicago. I knew they were pretty much at the end of their rope though. They fell asleep on the floor about 9pm. We finally got a hotel room but couldn't get them to wake up or stand up. We had to call for two wheel chairs to push them out!

Funny thing was Dave's sister was also at the airport stuck. She's from Minneapolis but was visiting their Uncle near Chicago. So she got to meet the kids and we all shared a hotel room. God has a sense of humor for sure!

We also ran into our Brussel/train friends at the airport in Chicago. How crazy is that! They were so excited that we were adopting and then they got to see us coming home with the kids. I know God was doing something with that divine appointment as well.

The last few weeks I have seen God work and felt Him like I never, ever have. It's been one amazing ride...and the real trip has just started.

If you actually read to the bottom of this post you must be bored! Sorry it was soooo long. I'm just writing as things come to mind...and more to myself than anyone else.

The kids are beautiful, fun, and challenging too. We need wisdom and guidance and His strength for each day. And I know He is more than enough.