So five days after returning home (to West Chicago) Luciana, Isabel, and Cecilia got on a plane and flew to Philadelphia International Airport. I hopped in the car and drove the 13 hours home (to Media, PA.) (Now you are wondering why I drove. At 69 years old, my mother has taken up bike riding, so I bought a Calypso Cruiser for her present. It wouldn't fit in the overhead compartment.)
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Home for Mom's Birthday!
So five days after returning home (to West Chicago) Luciana, Isabel, and Cecilia got on a plane and flew to Philadelphia International Airport. I hopped in the car and drove the 13 hours home (to Media, PA.) (Now you are wondering why I drove. At 69 years old, my mother has taken up bike riding, so I bought a Calypso Cruiser for her present. It wouldn't fit in the overhead compartment.)
Monday, March 21, 2011
A New Face in the Old Place
Isabel made friends with these two young women at the market. She will miss them greatly. They even "babysat" while I walked the market finding goodies and buying things for Lia's benefit sale (Yeah, you heard right. Stay tuned for details...)
We spent more time with our lawyer, Juan Carlos than any other person in Peru. He helped us with anything and everything and never complained or even acted as if something was to much of a hassle. He has become a good friend, and has been invited to our home in Chicago. We hope he will take us up on this offer. (Of course, he will have to brave the U.S. embassy on his own behalf for his visa. Good luck, my friend.)
Friday, March 18, 2011
So Close, Yet Soooo Far
Thanks for your prayers as we travel tomorrow. We just realize we have NOTHING to entertain Cecilia with. Nothing keeps her attention that long. Pray she sleeps... a lot.
The good news is that we arrive at six thirty. The bad new is that we leave our apartment at four o´clock in the morning.
Many of you we will see soon. For those whom we won´t, we will still be blogging (just not as frequently.)
What a journey, and we thank God that you have walked it with us.
God bless.
Mark
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Lia's First Video Post!
Why this picture? Well, our lawyer snapped it while we were being told we could not take any pictures in front of the embassy. Obviously the picture caught us all off guard!
All is well. Our Visa has been approved. Our lawyer told us that people walk out of the U.S. embassy and their relatives greet them with shouts of joy, hugs and tears. It's not easy to get a visa to the United States.
Here are Isa and our lawyer, (and good friend) Juan Carlos celebrating Lia's new visa.
I am reminded once again how good God has been to us. The woman who interviewed us even said they would expedite the visa when we told them we wished to leave on Saturday. I will return tomorrow, one last time, to the embassy to pick up Cecilia's passport and visa.
Tomorrow we move to the apartment with no internet, so we will do our best to post once or twice before we return home.
We will be returning to Chicago on Saturday night. Thanks to everyone who has made this trip possible, and to everyone who has made this trip with us. Words cannot express...
God bless.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Life is Funny...
Isa and I went to the market to pick up a few last things. Did I say last? I might have to stop by again later this week...
I've been wanting to rent a bike since we got here. biketoursoflima.com was the place where my dream was realized. After three trips to their shop I finally was given a beat up old cruiser. No complaints; riding along the cliffs and looking down at the ocean makes it all worth it!
Have you ever asked for a ride from the airport? Nobody likes asking, and even fewer people ever volunteer. We set up a ride from the airport before we left. Now we have people, not just offering, but requesting to pick us up from the airport. We know we are not that popular. Cecilia is the star of the show this week! We are truly thankful for every last offer.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Looking Back
Homeless...
I worked on the door for an hour or more with some "tools" to no avail.
We decided to relax while watching a movie; no Redbox here. I took a taxi to a street market where I could buy movies for less than a rental in The States. I trusted what I read on the back (Languages: English, Spanish, French). Las Adventuras de Sammy was just that... In Spanish. Well, at least I know that ABBA doesn't sing in Spanish. I brought the CD home for Luciana (She's a closet fan... or at least she was until this post.) I have no idea who sings on this CD, but Dancing Queen is actually La Reina del Baile! We had a good laugh, anyway.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Quick Update
The other news is that even though the Tsunami wave is predicted to affect Peru, and yes, we are 2 blocks from the beach, we have about 100 meters of cliff between us and the ocean. Our first blog since we arrived has a good picture of the cliff. They are also predicting the effect to be pretty small here. So pray for no damage to the country of Peru and our safety, but know that we are in a safe area. We can also head, if need be, to down-town Lima away from the coast.
Today we were invited by the head lawyer of this adoption to go to his country club, have lunch (awesome!!!) and take the kids swimming. It was an amazing treat we don't know when we will have again! Hope you can see the pelicans in the picture of the stone jetty; they were huge! Unfortunately they kicked everybody out at 3 and closed due to tsunami warnings. Lia slept through most of it on the couch of a very fancy restaurant in there - bet it was a first for them.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Helm's Deep
Today we went to the American embassy.
By the way... Cecilia has her Peruvian passport, which means our dealings with the Peruvian government are over! I must say, overall things went very smoothly. Let's hope and pray we can say the same of our own government throughout the next week!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Grandma's Eyes
What a wonderful day we had. We went to the market place and the children were so good. I cannot imagine a little child that lived in a orphanage all her life coming into a family and adjusting as well as she has. I wonder what goes on in her mind. She is really a precious little girl. Lia loves everyone. Mark and Luciana say I have grandmother eyes and ears, but that is not true. I have worked with a lot of children and this child is doing so well its amazing. Everyday brings new challenges with this tiny girl. She is learning so many new things. She goes to the park everyday and has no fear of anything. Today Luciana and Bruce took her to the park and she caught a baby bird. Luciana grabbed her just in time. The mother bird flew right down to Lia.
Mark, Isa and went to the market. Isa is really a precious little girl. People just love her. She bought gifts for all the children in her class. She talks to the shop owners and they love her. (Click here to watch Isa in the market.)Today we were buying a few gifts. The lady was wrapping up the items and Mark and I wanted to go to the next stand over. Isa asked if she could stay and talk to the women.She ask the store owner if she could stay. The womansaid she could and when we got back she was with her new friend. She bargained and got a little nativity for 2 soles (about 50 cents.) She was so thrilled. When she got home I saw her sitting with her Bible."I am reading with my mind. I love the Bible and sometimes I don't know the words so I hold the Bible and read it with my mind." Mark said I'm bragging. I don't want to do that but she really loves Jesus and talks about Him all the time. We are trying to get our tickets changed to come back on Friday. It doesn't look like we will be able to, but we will try again tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Two Hours in our Lima Life!
Chronic Pain
Monday, March 7, 2011
Prayer request
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Bargaining
The best story was the taxi ride home after church today. The taxi driver started at 6 soles (aproximately $2). By the time Isa was done she had a ride for 4 soles. She was with her grandparents. She had given the taxi driver the address and had discussed the weather, where she was from, and everything else under the sun.
If you know my daughter, you know that she would not be happy if she couldn't be social. She will not allow the language barrier to slow her down.
Tonight our lawyer travels back to Lia's birth city to pick up her new birth certificate. When he returns we will begin the process of getting her new Peruvian passport and U.S. visa. Sounds pretty simple, right?
Wrong.
Before the U.S. Embassy will grant her the visa, she has to have one more physical with a U.S. approved doctor. There are only three such doctors in Lima, a city of over 8 million people. We might have to wait awhile for that appointment.
Please pray that we will be able to return home by the 17th. Otherwise we will have to move for the fourth time since coming to Peru. Not a big deal, but a hassle none-the-less. We have enjoyed Peru, and are not ready to trade the weather for the rumors of more snow in Chicago, but we will be ready to return home in two more weeks.
Thank you.
mbp
Friday, March 4, 2011
Redemption
Ah, but there is more to the story. The mother was a Jewish woman being taken by the Nazis to a concentration camp, and to her death. She knew the same fate awaited her child. There was a small window at the top of the cattle car, and she tossed her beloved child onto a grassy plot. What appeared to be a death sentence for this baby was actually new life for her.
We are the next link in the chain. Honestly, this is a priveledge and a responsability that goes beyond my wildest dreams.
When I said, we are the next link in the chain, I was not referring to the Poulterer family alone. You don't get off that easy. If you are reading this, it means you too. It sounds so cliche, but we really couldn't do this without you. Those of you who have helped us financially. Those who have prayed. Those who have already been called on to provide childcare, and those who will be once we get back. A shoulder to cry on, or someone to laugh with. And the prayers...
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Ups and Downs of Daily Life
- We are SO grateful to live in Chicago where we have access to so many resources for her cleft palate. We already have a number of appoitments lined up.
- Cecilia talks more than we thought. We were told she said a couple words only. Listening to her repeat the same sounds and point, we found out she is talking plenty- they just couldn't understand her. We can't either, but it's a good sign.
She eats everything. I don't know how this little girl with a hole in her palate downs rice, chicken, bread, crackers, apples and popcorn.
She can work on a puzzle, learn sign language and throw a fit. All good signs. We were not sure it would be the case after the first day we met her.
- Yesterday we took her in for a vaccine and she was weighed again. She came to us weighing 7.8kg (naked) and yesterday she was at 9.2 kg(with clothes). I'm going to believe she gained some, because 9 mths size clothing doesn't weigh much!
And here is where "Lord have mercy" comes in:
- 3 full blown fits and a melt down before 8 am. Cecilia's little emotions are running a muck since her life is in upheaval. I know moms do this everyday with a hand tied behind their backs. I just have boot-camp blues...
- Isabel, my sweet girl, is trying hard to draw close to her sister but can't read her correctly all the time. Sometimes her feelings get hurt. And she is back to sucking her fingers...
- While I'm thankful for our medical resources, we have a long road ahead with evaluations, surgeries and therapies.
- She eats everything - all the time. It's left-over orphanage syndrome. When food is the only thing you can control it's hard to stop. She wants to eat constantly and panics when its not coming fast enough. I need wisdom.
On Monday she gets her new birth certificate. I wish it was that easy - a new document, a (couple) new name(s) and voila ! You're born again! Scrap the abandonment and institution life thing, now you should know excatly how to do family life!
If our Lord learned obedience and humility, my road can be no different. And I bet he had to choose it everyday. 3 times before 8 AM, maybe.
Thanks for joining in our praise and persevering in our prayer needs. May praise win today in all our hearts. Bless the Lord.
P.S. The little cake you see is for Lia's finalized adoption party! Unfortunately the guest of honor was "indisposed" after the picture and had to be put to bed during her own party...