Deported

I left Ecuador at the beginning of July because I had been gifted a round trip ticket with the main purpose of seeing my brother and other family members. My plan was to return today to Quito and stay 3 weeks. Among my very lengthy to-do list was to sell all my stuff (including a vehicle), turn in my apartment, visit all the Miracles, get some medical stuff taken care of, and get some legal stuff taken care of for the official turning over of Precious Miracles, and pack up some stuff to come back to the states with.

After a long day of traveling I got up to the little window with the customs agent and hand him my passport. He runs it through and gets a strange look on his face. He says, did you leave here with an expired missionary visa?
Ok so let me back up a little. I've been a resident in Ecuador for the past 9 years as a missionary. Every 2 years I needed to reapply and renew said visa for about $250. This last year I saw that it ran out in May and I left in July. I did a whole bunch of paperwork and paid a $200 fine and I thought that was that.
BUT.... just to make sure I asked (before I left) if the stamp in my passport saying I had let a visa expire and a fine was paid would affect my reentry to the country. I was assured that it would NOT. The officer said that I could return as a tourist and not as a missionary. No problem right?

So back to tonight.... the officer looked up at me and said I have to deport you. You are not allowed reentry into this country. I looked at him and said, "You are NOT serious?!?" But he was. I was escorted by an armed police officer to a corner of the airport (still in plain sight of all the other passengers). As the different officers tried to figure out what to do with me, I called several people apologizing for waking them up at midnight. No one could help me. Even a police officer friend of mine said there was nothing he could do. So after bawling my eyes out and begging them to understand my situation, it became very clear to me that I was not going to win this one. I asked what will you do with me. They said they'd lock me up for the night. Yes you read that right. They'd lock me up for the night and then put me on the first flight out in the morning.
I even offered to have someone escort me to my apartment just so I could leave all the gifts I had brought people and at least fill my suitcase up with some clothes. They said they couldn't. I asked if I could give my suitcases to a friend because it was filled 100% with stuff to stay here for people. They said they couldn't do that either.
So here I sit in my little cell that consists of a toilet and two grungy bunk beds. But notice that I'm writing this online. So... there are no sheets for the bed or soap to wash my hands but they have WIFI. I'll probably laugh about that some day... not now though.

I told my Dad earlier that I thought it was going to be very difficult to leave this country. You know what? Now? not so much. I'm pretty sure I'll leave shaking the dirt off my feet. I'm a little bitter.

As for all the stuff I was going to get done? Well, I have to figure out some stuff like someone else is going to have to try to sell my stuff and empty my apartment. Obviously I can't do medical or legal stuff. Obviously I can't go see the kids and say goodbye. I'm not sure why this is happening but once again I will remember that God is in control. He either ordered this or permitted it. And I am safe and protected. I'll update when I can.

SO EXCITED!!!!

This is hilarious. I don't blog often....but I did this morning. And it was pretty much a whine fest of why the adoption thing won't happen and why it's taking so long.....
This afternoon I get a phone call saying the girls' family is going to be in Quito TOMORROW night. How's that for a quick answer?
Wow! Talk about no warning. Of course I've wanted this for so long but then when it's on me so suddenly, it took my breath away.
There's a lot to do!
The girls are beside themselves with excitement. They have lots of questions. My favorite was, "Can't you come with us? Come on please?!?"

June 30

I know no one can give an exact date with all this adoption stuff... I get that. But I was more or less assured (by my s.w.) that the girls would be gone by the end of June. Hmmm look at that. It's June 30.

I am trying SO hard to be patient. I know in my heart God's timing is perfect. I know He's not making a mistake. And this detail isn't on a pile on His desk that He just hasn't gotten to yet. I get that too.

But it's so hard. Today is Zac's 2nd round of chemo. Yesterday Mom left. It's hard to wait. Plus the girls are ready to go. They constantly pray and ask for their new family. I can only imagine it's 100 times worse for their family to wait.

Don't misunderstand me though. I enjoy every day I have with the girls. I know I'm going to miss them beyond belief when they leave. I love, love, love being with them and we have so much fun. I told a friend yesterday it's like an ongoing party around here. (As you can probably tell by the pictures!)

So.... since this is all completely out of my control, I suppose I should just continue to trust God and I should continue to learn patience. Please pray for those two things with me. Thanks!

The waiting game

My mom came to visit me and it's been amazing! This had been the longest stretch of time that I had not seen a single member of my family and it was truly affecting me. To see my mamita has been great!

We've had a lot of fun with Nataly and Joselyn. They love their "Abuelita."

Today we did bumper cars! Yesterday she took us to KFC and that's a HUGE treat around here!

We went to the doctor yesterday to get one step closer to bringing their forever family down here.

It seems to be dragging out....and it's so hard to wait. It's so hard to explain to the girls that NO one wants to wait this long but it's what we have to do.

At the doctor's office we met the social worker from the agency and she gave us a package from the forever family. Two brand new dresses, sweaters and loads of hair things were among the surprises. They were giddy with excitement! There was also a letter and a video and a little booklet of pictures. In the waiting room I let them look through the pictures.

They recognized everyone right away. They pointed excitedly to the pictures and said, "look there's my Daddy.... that's my big sister, that's my baby brother.... there's Mommy!"

It was so precious! The s.w. was wiping away tears!

Hopefully this excrutiating waiting game won't be much longer!

I can't even begin to imagine how hard this is on the family... to have 2 beautiful, precious little girls and not be able to meet them yet! We keep trusting in God's timing!

The pictures are of the girls primping up their Abuelita. She got the full-on salon treatment!

You Were There

This song really was what I needed to hear today. Thought I'd share it. It's an Avalon song....

I wonder how it must have felt when David stood to face Goliath on a hill. I imagine that he shook with all his might until You took his hand, and held on tight, 'Cause You were there, You were there in the midst of danger's snare.
You were there, You were there always. You were there when the hardest fight seemed so out of reach
Oh, You were there, You were always there .You were always there.
So there he stood upon that hill, Abraham with knife in hand was poised to kill. But God in all your sovereignty had bigger plans and just in time, You brought a lamb.
'Cause You were there, You were there in the midst of the unclear. You were there, you were there always. You were there when obedience seemed to not make sense. You were there, You were always there, You were always there.
So haven't I learned that my ways aren't as high as Yours are, and You alone keep the universe from crumbling into dust. You are God and though we would not have understood You, there You were hanging blameless on a cross. You would rather die than leave us in the dark. Every moment, every planned coincidence just all makes sense with Your last breath. You were there, You were there, during history's darkest hour. You were there, You were there always. You were the Victor and the King. You were the power in David's swing. You were the calm in Abraham. You are the God who understands. You are the strength when we have none, You are the living, Holy one. You were, You are and You will always be the Risen Lamb of God. You were, You are and You will always beThe Risen Lamb of God

Beginning of the end.....

I got word today from Nataly and Joselyn's "new" parents. It's official. The girls have been assigned to their forever family. From the little that I know as of today (pictures with detailed descriptions, and a letter) I could not have hand-picked a more suitable family for these 2 precious miracles.
I should be ecstatic right? So why can I hardly see the computer screen through the tears in my eyes? This part of my job is always a pardox. It is always bittersweet. I have been praying for this family since 2006. I have been praying that God would select and prepare the best family for these two little girls. And He has! They seem so ideal. And although I've been praying for this to happen, now that it IS happening, my heart is breaking.
As of tomorrow I will have been their foster mom for 5 months. That doesn't seem like a very long time. But it is 5 months of 24/7. Every waking moment (and some of the asleep ones too!) have revolved around these girls. I love them so much. I really feel like I've gotten a handle on this mom thing. We have a good thing going. Why does it have to end? I can't picture my days without them. I can't picture my life without them.
I don't feel ready to let them go. Would I ever be ready though?
None of us ever have the assurance of tomorrow. Our lives can change in the blink of an eye. I see it as a blessing and a privilege to have a set time frame of when mine will change. I will enjoy every last minute, every last experience, every last detail. I will treasure them until the day comes where I have to release my grasp on my little girls.

Easter Eggs

Today we colored eggs and then I hid them during nap time. The girls were so cute finding them. They didn't see it as a competition but rather kept pointing out eggs to each other to help each other along. Flor joined in too!