Amy Here

*** Update*** Got the passport this morning, but it has Ellen listed as a MALE, so back in it goes.  No idea how long that'll take.  Sigh.

Hi All,

Well, you survived and you're finished!  Yea!  I bet that feels great!  As for me, I have been given an "In Progress" for the last 2 classes and will be finishing the coursework over the school year. Gratefully, I don't have to get started right away.  I have been given permission to "get settled" with our new kids before I begin, so I am very thankful for that blessing.

If you have followed my regular blog, then you know a lot about my time in Africa.  I was there for 17 days and was prepared to stay longer to finish the process and bring the kids home, but we have one passport that was supposed to come "tomorrow" the entire I time I was there.  I finally had to set a date where if it came in time I would stay and if not, I would come home.  I have now been home one week and it still hasn't come.

It was wonderful getting to spend so much time with my kids and I went prepared to take custody if I felt they seemed terrified to be there, but with the new guard working there, they really seemed ok with being at Eban House.  They are truly wonderful children and want so much to be a part of our family.  They really try so hard to please, but of course, have to test some.  Overall though, I am MUCH relieved to have met them and I know that our 17 days together gave us a very nice beginning to our relationship.  

Leaving them was one of the hardest things I've had to do, but I just had to be fair to my kids back home and also be reasonable about the fact that we are moving.  Because I am home I can get our new space prepared for them... still it kills me that we are so close and just plain stuck without the passport (it was issued 2 weeks ago and has been sitting on the director's desk waiting for his signature the whole time- he is on his way out, so he has no motivation to come to work or to actually do his job when he does come in).  There are 2 other families in the same passport boat with us, ironically the 2 families have the 2 other girls that were witness to the attack.

I really appreciate your prayers and support.  This was, and is, one of the most challenging times in my life.  If you read this, and are the praying type, I sure wouldn't mind some help with that passport!

Hasta,

Amy