Adoption

Hello,

I feel like a lot has happened since I last wrote. I was able to spend a week with my family in Costa Rica. Love going there! Beautiful weather, nice place, good food, home...

From there I went to NC, which was actually the reason for the trip in the first place. Had a "planning meeting" concerning Haiti. While there, I spent a day shopping. That was fun!

I was ready to come back to Caleb though. Missed him! I kept thinking what it would be like traveling with him.

He is such an active child. My focus with him now is some serious training. Typical toddler stuff but he sure has a stubborn will. Little by little.

Since I'm back, I've been focusing on getting the papers ready for the adoption. It's more difficult because Sister Gladys isn't here to sign him over to me. But there's ways. I can go ahead and start the paper work before she gets back. Just can't do the homestudy, since I need my "home" to do it. My plans are still to move out, as soon as Sister Gladys can sign the paper.

So Wednesday I went to pick up his birth mom to sign a paper to get it started. She and her aunt came and I took them to Heather's, through whose Creshe I'm doing it. As I was waiting for them, it seemed the whole neighborhood came to peer at him. They all seemed to know him orof him, which kind of surprised me, though I don't know why. They talked of him as the little baby. A year changes a baby. They were all so happy to see him. I found out he has a 14 yr old aunt too.

It seems every time I see her, I find out new stuff. This time they said they had been afraid the dad and his uncle would try to find him to kill him. Hard to imagine...

It was interesting to see how pleased they were that he knows me so well and loves me so much. The mom said they liked that I was the one adopting him, because he'd have a "doctor" as his mother. I guess that is only if I'm in Haiti. :) And she added that she's a teacher, so he should become very smart. :)

So I'm very positive right now about the adoption. The attorney has done 20 adoptions since the earthquake, and she says she can do them in 4-6 months. Because I'm living here, and I don't need a presidential waver (since I have no other kids), she says it should be on the shorter side of it. I'm so excited. That is of course the Haitian adoption, not the immigration. I've heard so many horror stories, that I can't believe it'll be that smooth, but who knows... Maybe mine will. She wants to start in July, but we need all my paperwork before. She takes care of all of Caleb's stuff, like tests, and exams, etc.

So if you remember, please pray that all goes well with the adoption in the next months!!!

On another note, our staff is turning around. 4 of the girls that have been here for months left this week - 2 for the summer, 2 for good. One is going into nursing school (inspired by all the needs here??) and one is coming back to Port later in the summer under a different mission. So of the two left besides me, one's leaving next week for the summer and one just came to fill in with Mamba for the summer.

So we got to take Cassie in yesterday, and we enjoyed Dominoes. We don't go there very often. Pizza's such a treat here. Then we went up to a lookout of the city. I can't believe I've been here over 3 yrs and just now found this place. It has such a perfect view of all of Port au Prince.

Pastor Henri had his pacemaker replaced today and Praise God, everything came out ok.

God bless you today, as you continue living for him, whereever you are.

Elsie