Glory!

I got a call this morning that the adoption meeting in Liberia was not only rescheduled, but IT HAPPENED! Yes, the meeting happened. The outcome of the meeting was VERY positive. I am hesitatingly optimistic. We will pray that the goals of this meeting become reality.

Clarify

I have heard from a few people that they thought that the little boy, Varney, that died was our Varney, he is not. Our Varney is doing fine. I am very sorry for the misunderstanding. The little boy that died lived with his mother and had been suffering from a disease that caused his head to swell. He was waiting for a medical visa to receive treatment, but the visa didn't get approved in time.

To learn more about Varney and others like him, go to:
http://globalorphanoutreach.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html
This is a recent picture of Varney (on left) and Michael (on right). We continue to sponsor them and look forward to sending them to school in the fall. We are told they are very good rice eaters and healthy. Varney is sweet and sensitive. Michael is creative with strong leadership skills. They are loved and cared for with their foster family and for that we are very thankful. Micheal calls us "his white people". I am really looking forward to going to see them in Oct. Yes, I am planning to fly to Liberia Oct.23 for one week. It won't be long enough, and I'm told that I'm not allowed to pack a suitcase of Kleenex. (I plan to bring cloth hankies and just dry them out instead!) We are planning a day to visit Kpeletayama village, where Habukkuk's well is. I am beginning to raise money for a school in the village. I will need around $5500 to $6000 for that project. I will have more info coming soon.

A little numb

Here is the email I just received. I feel a little numb.

Hello
Today was a day of major disappointment and tragic news.

Peter waited 4 hours for a meeting that did not take place nor did anyone seem to know anything about. He was shown Christina Tah (MOJ) schedule for the day and it showed no meeting for adoption even though earlier in the week he was assured there was a meeting scheduled for that day.

Peter said he will wait no more for this meeting but take things on himself. He along with a congressman and another guy (cant remember his involvement) are taking their case of adoptions to Christina Tah themselves. He has put in for a meeting personally with her himself and will be granted such he said. They feel that this issue must be resolved now more than ever. Why?

Because sadly today- after advocating for him for two years- Special needs Varney passed away. He cried out in the middle of the night and vomited. His mother called Peter to help take him to the hospital in the morning- morning came and he had passed away by then. We had just made arrangements for his care in Uganda and Peter was going to be working on passports for him this coming week. Varney's family couldnt believe that someone in America would care enough to help him. They were ecstatic. Now this has happened and of course they are devastated. Please keep his family in your prayers today.

Peter showed Varney's picture to those in the MOJ today and they couldnt believe that such a child existed in their country. They of course praised Peter for helping him. Peter said it is NOT about me-these children need help. They need the resource of adoption. He is going to share Varney's story with everyone he meets along with Matthew's story ( a little boy we lost last year who was 2 weeks away from traveling to the U.S. for medical help) and kids who are special needs in FMN. He feels they will open the door for others to go who wait in foster care.

As hard as it is to be a waiting family on this end, try being in his shoes where he sees his own people deny children help that they need and children he has to help bury because of it. Please keep this all in prayer as we continue to advocate for all children in Liberia. The need is great and the workers few.

With Open Hands

Since our home study update meeting in June, I have been waiting with open hands to see what God would give or take away. The song, "Blessed Be Your Name' has been my prayer all summer. I have been waiting for direction on what to do next: Should we continue to wait for Liberia to open or pursue foster care adoption instead. I wanted to be open, but it has been so hard. I love our boys in Liberia. I know I always will and, regardless of where they live, we will always be involved in taking care of them.

Last Sunday, Mark and I went on an early morning walk. As we talked and prayed, Mark shared how much he hoped that the door would open to adopt Michael and Varney. It was really meaningful to me because he doesn't usually express deep emotion about it. I felt like it was a leading from God. When we got back home, I checked my email and received good news, for the first time in months, regarding adoption from Liberia.

Here's the email:

I want to let you know that the meeting on Wednesday with the Minister of
Justice Christiana Tah went very well!  Maria and I are very encouraged.  She
listened to myself and the other two American families very intently in our
private meeting with her.  We were able to share the facts about children in
America and Canada that have been adopted from Liberia.

I am very impressed with Minister Tah.   She made it very clear that she is
going to take care of the problems that we have incurred in bringing our
children home with decrees.  She sympathizes with the families that have been
waiting  and is asking them to wait until the next meeting (public hearing) on
Friday, August 6th; to know her exact plans for the future of adoption.  She
stated that no one will walk away from the meeting on the 6th and not understand
the future of adoption in Liberia.  I am certain, however, after our
conversation with her that she will do everything in her power to expedite these
waiting adoptions with decrees.

Minister Tah made it very clear in our meeting that she understands the problems
on the Liberian side that need to be fixed and she will fix them.  She also
realizes that the vast majority of adopted Liberian children are thriving in
Canada and America!  I was able to present her with the book of letters and
photos.  Thank you all for helping me with that.  She will have the 2nd copy
delivered to the President’s office.

 She herself went to school in America and knows the truth about adoption!  I
will give more details after the meeting on the 6th.  This is certainly a
praise.  As Maria and I discussed the meeting with Minsiter Tah we are truly
encouraged and grateful to the Lord that He has brought a woman into power such
as this, who will truly be a voice for the Liberian child.

I fly out of Liberia today.  Thank you so much for your prayers.  I apologize
for not emailing more, it was much more difficult than I thought to do so.

Again, it seemed like a light to our path. After the email, our family got ready to go to an adoption fund raising event in Colfax for "Saving Lera". Peder Eide lead worship. It was great to see him again. While the kids and I played on the teeter totter, we pretended that Michael and Varney were with us teeter tottering too. The kids continued the imagining, by taking turns holding the boys as we walked around.

So, here I sit. It's Friday morning. I should find out in about an hour if the meeting really happened. It has been canceled twice already. And if this door will open.

FFH: Lord, Move or Move Me

"Lord move in the way, that I've never seen before
Cause there's a mountain in the way and a lock on the door
I'm drifting away, waves are crashing on the shore
So Lord move (move), or move me."