I'm finally communicating!!!!

Hi everyone.....I finally have a chance to communicate with you. I've been soooo busy these last couple of days trying to finalize everything before my lawyer had to fly out to Belgium for 1 month. If I didn't come Dominic would have been in the orphanage for at least a couple more months. Now having been there I couldn't bear it. The nuns love these children & are incredibly dedicated but their resources are UNIMAGINABLE.


To start....I arrived here sat. late and went to the hotel that my lawyer recommended. He wanted to save me some money so lets just say that I was in the middle of Kigali, with no phone (everyone has cell phones so it is next to impossible to access any type of residential/business/payphone) & definitely no internet & NO HOT WATER unless boiled with a tea kettle. Fidele (my lawyer) was kind enough to take me to his church Sunday morning. There worship was a blast. I just love there music here (even though I didn't understand what they were saying). Fidele translated the whole service for me.

Monday-I have Dominic with me now....praise God. Everyone here, including the nuns couldn't believe that I had the "To whom it may concern" letter in my hands by 8:30 monday morning. THis letter gives me all authority over Dominic & allows me to take him out of the orphanage. You can wait hours or days for this letter & it was ready to be picked up. Then it was running around notarizing, making copies, etc. My sweet Dominic was in & out of a car for about 6 hours! But didn't complain once, which I was concerned about b/c he was so withdrawn & in shock. For the first 2 hours his arms hung lifeless & just stared. After about 4 hours he would consider holding a cookie but wouldn't even put it in his mouth, so I had to feed him. By the evening he was playing & even said mama. The transformation was amazing in the course of a day. This morning he still was in a bit of shock & still acts a bit withdrawn but I can make him smile occassionally which gives me n incredible thrill. I believe I've gotten this far by your prayers. (PS:Thank you Tina for your encouragement!)

I was a bit dissappointed this morning (Tuesday) b/c they promised me his passport would be ready. But I was asking the Lord for direction of when I should be travelling to Nairobi & I believe the Lord wants me to wait little longer here. Thursday morning they assured me it would be ready. Until then I have been spending every moment with my new little boy & exploring more of the culture. I've actually been staying with Jen & Serge. They have been a real help in driving me & directing me where to buy things (food, etc). And that is why I have access to the internet. Dominic has also been very compliant with sleeping through the night, etc. I haven't been able to figure out how to upload pics with my camera on this computer. Hopefully tomorrow I will have more time to problem solve.

Thank you for your continued prayers. The most challenging part is yet to come at the high Commissioners. I have been hearing some discouraging news with another Ontario couple that ended up going to the US b/c they couldn't obtain a Visa. But I know God knows our hearts & situation & He is bigger than the High Commissioner.

I miss all of you & my family at home like crazy. PS: Thank you for the mommy blog it means so much....now that everyone in the room has seen me blubbering like a baby!!!! Until the next time....hopefully tomorrow:)