Day 2....

Today we went as saw the medical clinic. It was so awesome to see how much has been done. They were in the process of tiling the floors so there will be no more cement dust for the patients. Also they have started to build a radio station for Pastor to broadcast his sermons.

He also showed us the building that will be known as the Marion house. It's the infant home for the babies to stay in, away from the older children and potential illnesses. It is named after a baby girl who was going to be adopted, but got sick and passed away a few months ago. Her to be adoptive parents have raised money to help build it. It's being built on the property that Pastor Wesley and his family live on. It'll have a place for the infants, an office for Addy's Hope as well as a second floor for visitors, missionaries and most importantly adoptive parents.

We are spending the rest of the day today at the hotel and man, 5 kids and a baby...that is one loud combo. We did have one "emergency" after breakfast when Ryan picked big Z out of his stroller and dripping out of his pants was a mustard looking, sulfer spelling substance. It was absolutely nasty. He had exploded all out of his pants and up his back. Ryan and I both kind of froze, he held Siete out with two arms and just held him there...I...well I just stared for about 30 seconds. I had no idea what to do :)...finally I came too and got the wipes, cleaned up Siete's legs and stroller then up into the shower we went...oh the joy of diapers.

I realized today that most of the clothes we brought Quatro and Siete are just way too big. the shorts I put on Siete today he needed a belt, so I think this will be a week of onsies and 1 piece outfits. Too bad I didn't bring him a nice pant suit.

It's going to be an interesting dynamic when we all get home. I know Dos and Uno are going to want to play with Tres and Quatro and I'm sure they will do fine, but the Liberian kids are very hard to understand. And the way these kids interact with each other, it's like they lived in an orphanage or something. They are surprisingly sharing, but also very territorial. If a toy or food is dropped, they will yell at each other to get it back, but if they feel like sharing, they'll offer up the same toy that they just fought for.

Today Quatro has really come out of his shell, almost too much :) He is one of the louder kids and very vocal with what he wants. I was able to make him giggle and he responded to tickles. I was so nervous last night that he was going to be so quiet and withdrawn, but he seems like he's going to fit in just right as a .

Tomorrow will be a day at the children's home to visit and give out the adoptive parents gifts they sent to their new children. Wednesday is a day to just hang out at the hotel (which could be 1 loooooong day), Thursday is our trip to the embassy, Friday back to the embassy to pick up visa's (God willing), Saturday there will be a fellowship time with the biological parents and members of the church (not sure I knew about that and trying to figure out how comfortable I am with that), then Sunday we start our short 2 day trek home.

Last 2 things. 1. Thank you all for the comments and emails...nothing like being a 30 yr old guy along in restaurant, weird techno music playing in the background, in the middle of Liberia Africa....wiping tears off my face. I love it!! and 2. God is so stinking amazing...He sent with me the most incredible friend in Ryan...he's 19 years old and is making this trip even more fun than it would have been by myself. I absolutely wouldn't have been able to do this with out him!!! Great job Reich's in raising one heck of a kid!!

Getting pictures up here is so tough, I apologize for not having more. The internet connection is amazingly, painfully slow.

Love You All!

We Made It!!

Well it's 7:45AM Monday morning and Ryan and Tres are still sleeping, Cinco is laying on the bed but wanting nothing to do with anything and Siete is sucking his fingers laying next to me.

We made it! Mayberry to Don'tKnow to Washington to Brussels to Monrovia....30 whatever hours later, we are here. The flights were for the most part, not that great. There was a lot of turbulence and at one point on our way to Brussels, the plane dropped a few feet unexpectedly, which promptly made people scream and one person called out to Jesus. Scared the junk out of me. Once in Brussels we met up with Kevin, who is one brave man. He is also adopting 3 children through Addy's Hope, only he came here alone.

We landed in Monrovia and didn't have any troubles getting our bags and getting through customs...that right there is 1 HUGE Praise God! Met the kids last night and took "ownership" of them, not too sure how else you say that. We went to Pastor Wesley's house after checking in at the hotel.
Tres seemed very nervously excited. She wanted to come and be by my side but didn't want to make too much eye contact. Cinco wanted nothing to do with any of us. Seite came right to me and just chilled out, but he's a baby and that what they do best. The 3 children Kevin is adopting seemed to accept him as soon as he got there. IT was very dark out and a lot of people were all around, so it was hard to keep straight everything that was going on.

Afterwards, We brought them back to the hotel to get some dinner. Ordered up 2 plates of Liberian style chicken, which I forgot is pretty spicy. BUT...Cinco and Tres ate it like champs. Tres almost ate a whole plate by himself. Tresput back her share, but she didn't eat as much as I thought she would. I sat with Seite on my lap the whole time, no high chairs in Liberia I guess.

After eating and talking with Pastor Wesley, we finally came back up to the room for the night. I will tell you the next hour and 1/2 or so was one of the most stressful, doubt filled times in my entire life. Cinco and Tres were very quiet and didn't seem to want to have anything to do with us. And Seite....he cried...and cried.....and cried. He cried through a bottle, a new diaper, new pjs....he just wailed. I had no idea what to do....this would be the time I would say Wife....here! He finally fell asleep as I rocked him, but man I thought he was going to cry all night long.

So now, when everyone wakes up, we'll go get some breakfast and maybe head over to the medical clinic to drop off the medical stuff Kevin brought with him. After that I'm not sure what the plan is. What I do know is I didn't plan on the rain. It's is pouring out and I don't have anything to cover us.

Stupid battery in the laptop is dying....I'll try to get more pictures up later.

It is indeed worth it.

And We're Off....

4:30 AM....not fun. But neither was 2AM, 2:15AM, 3:06AM....you get the point...I was up a lot last night...I'm ready to go.

Spent last night with Ryan and his awesome parents. It was fun sitting around, eating pizza and laughing together. It's easy to see where Ryan gets his incredible spirit and love.

OK I'm off to go give my kiddos some last minute hugs and kisses. Oh and wipe away the tears Dos has running down his face!

God is AMAZING!!!