The United States' "Technical Glitch"

Most of my friends probably don't have a clue what's going on with all the US embassies around the world. 

There's a "technical glitch" in our computer system, apparently. Google it. Every country is advising its citizens to not plan trips to the US as this time. 

In normal circumstances, I wouldn't be bothered by this. I am now. I found out yesterday that one of the few families who is meeting us at the airport in a few days is affected by this. They just received word that their orphan can't leave the country. Immediately, the rest of us wondered if it affected us. Thankfully, it doesn't. All our children were informed yesterday that they were coming to America! They (supposedly) received our welcome letters and are planning to fly here in a few days. Her child was a "re-host" and knew he was coming, but just found out he is not, now. Unless...there is a miracle.

      "Anyone trying to travel to the USA will face difficulties, as a technical glitch makes it impossible for visa applications to be handled for the time being."

       "Worldwide delays in U.S. visa issuance at U.S. embassies and consulates"

      "U.S. Embassies worldwide currently are experiencing serious technological problems with their passport and visa systems. As a result, the U.S. Department of state (DOS) has warned travelers to brace for delays in the issuance of U.S. passports and U.S. visas."

As I mentioned, this only seems to relate to one of our kids from our host country. Unfortunately, the worst news is all the Project 143 families who are hosting from Ethiopia this summer are now on hold. They had to relinquish all their plane reservations/seats. As many of my friends know, we were considering Ethiopia. There are such adorable kids in the photo listing. 

I hurt for all these kids and families. 

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8

The N Word

We all know what the "N Word" is, right? It's the one that we don't say... for many, many reasons. Guess what? The country where we're getting our orphans didn't get that memo. Apparently, it's not just that country. It's a number of Eastern European countries. 

You can imagine my surprise when I read another host mom's warning on our FB page. The post read:
WARNING ⚠ they use the N word as normal language!! 😳😁😣 we go to a culturally diverse church and well...

 This child was in youth group at the church when he said it! Ouch! 

When I was in Guatemala a few months ago, I shortened the word "caribiner" to "beener" (referring to rock climbing) and was told by a 19 year old it was racist. I was very confused, as I had never heard that term before. My face turned red. It was never my intent to offend anyone! When working a high ropes element at camp 20 years ago, we all used that word. Oops. Now I know. I wish I would have learned it before I was stared at, like I had shot someone... that day in Guatemala.

These orphans have one word to describe African Americans. It's "nigr". The orphans have told their host parents that it's normal, and not derogatory. Others chimed in and told their embarrassing stories. For two of the countries in which Project 143 hosts from, there is no other word in their culture to describe African Americans. We weren't told this in the training. We have learned that many of these kids has never seen an African American before, however.

My son's favorite friend in the whole wide world is African American. Thankfully, I don't believe my son has ever even heard the N word. Looks like Ray and I will need to "nip this in the bud" - with love - when our guests arrive. 
 
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him. Romans 10:12

Happy Birthday... or However You Say It

We finally received our host children's insurance cards and personal information. This will be helpful for setting up dental and eye appointments for them. By the way... if you happen to know an eye doctor who will donate some free exams, let me know!

We didn't really know their exact ages until we saw those cards. They will be 12 and 10 by the time we meet them. What's crazy is that the little boy's birthday is the exact day he travels to America! By the way, I feel like I need a name for him, so I can talk about him more. We're not allowed to post the kids' names... but an initial might be confusing... because his name starts with an initial that is technically a word. I'm going to call him "Iceman" for a while... and hope that urban dictionary hasn't skewed my memories of Maverick's buddy in the movie, Top Gun, by using that name to now discuss some new, horrific teen lingo.

Moving on... Iceman turns 10 next week. He will wake up excruciatingly early on his birthday... or maybe not even go to sleep that night. He will travel a couple of hours to the international airport in his country. He will board that plane, have a 2 hour layover, and then land in Texas nearly 20 hours later. He'll make his way through customs, with the other orphans and the chaperones. Then, he'll meet his new Texan host family, with at least 9 more hours left on his birthday.

Will his host family give him a big, hearty Texan birthday celebration welcome? Yeehaw! {I say that while envisioning big hair, denim and a bedazzled poster with balloons and streamers} 

This is where I am puzzled. We have been told how exhausted and scared these kids will be. We do not want to frighten them. We are told they will most likely have issues with American food. I wanted to take it slow... going all organic, natural, no-sugar for a week or so. Where does a birthday cake fit into all that? HOWEVER, as an orphan advocate for so many years the one thing I have ALWAYS said is, "These kids don't even get a birthday cake on their birthday!" And, here I am. I have an orphan, staying in my house, on his birthday. Let me rephrase... I probably have an exhausted, potentially nauseated, scared orphan staying with us on his birthday. 

Perhaps we give him a card that says we want to celebrate his birthday next weekend? {a couple days after he arrives?}

I think we'll start with a sign at the airport that says "Happy Birthday" {Iceman} in his language. I have looked at the translation and I can barely say it. Let's just say that it isn't two words! It's long. It's more than twice as long as in English. It's even longer than Turkish! I've always been in awe of how long Turkish words are. I have looked at it for two days and am struggling. I hear it, yet feel like Joey in that crazy episode of Friends where Phoebe was trying to teach him French. 

DAWBSXZIT FDATEEHKGAK DREGZEDZ DUNOFOLO, ICEMAN!

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

Toilet Talk

How important is it to translate toilet ettiquette? Well, this picture from another P143 host parent shows that it is extremely easy to get lost in translation:


I ran into something similar when I was writing our welcome letter to the host children. I kept typing "My friend has a trampoline" and it kept changing it to "My friend IS a trampoline". Nothing seemed to work. I just gave up after a while.

I have been working hard on the bathroom instructions. I've used 6 different translation sources, including going to Internet forums to find people from that country to answer questions. I wanted the simplest way to ask my host children if they had to go the bathroom. Simple, right? No. I don't want "Do you need to take a bath?" or "Do you need a rest?" I wanted the correct words for using the toilet and relieving themselves. Who knew that would be so difficult?

I was told we need to "teach" them how to use a toilet like Americans do. Listen... this is not something you want to Google. Believe me. You have to sort through many pictures to find a good one. Here are some interesting finds:

Seriously. Do not Google. I don't understand why someone hasn't created a template for orphan hosting. This is taking quite a bit of time and is confusing. I'm certain it will be for these kids, too. 

Because I need to get back to translating, I'll leave you with this "gem".
 

 Ew. 

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

For Those Who Have Wondered How They Can Help

I have wonderful friends. I definitely feel blessed. After posting our news about orphan hosting, we've had some friends donate clothes, supplies and a bed. I even had someone unexpectedly order some cookies and push pops from me with a HUGE donation for these kids. We had a garage sale and raised a little money, but there is still so much that we need. These kids come to America with nothing. Almost every day, I purchase something ... just to help our household grow to 4 kids from 2 kids. We had to finish out the Jill portion of our Jack-n-Jill bathroom upstairs. We didn't even have a light fixture in there, much less towel racks, etc.

In addition to the "donation love" I've received... yesterday I received a text from a friend who said she wanted to go on an outing with me and the 4 kids. Does she have any idea what that means to me?? Whew! This is what the equation looks like:
Mom (who isn't a fan of Texas heat but loves to keep kids very active in the summer)
+
Oldest son (who has a brain that likes to confuse things, including directions, numbers and a whole bunch of what is being told to him)
+
Eastern European daughter (who speaks a language that I have yet to meet or know anyone in the area who could even come close to speaking it)
+
Eastern European son (who is young, doesn't know English - and from our extensive training will "most likely run off in crowds")
+
Youngest son (who is generally a helpful and exceptionally behaved child - but that was proven differently last Saturday)
=
YES! I'LL TAKE ALL THE HELP I CAN GET!
(and if anyone has a pool in his/her backyard and can have us over, you'd be our best friends. I mean it.)

For those who have asked how they can help, here's a list of items that we've been told we should have ready for these children:

• Girls socks
• Girls (gently worn) shoes, sizes 2-5
• Kids' slippers/house shoes - all children wear them in European orphanages
• Girl used clothes and shoes - approx. 10-12 year old sizes (have no clue until she gets here) or gift cards to buy clothes when she comes
• International calling cards
• Disposable cameras (so they can take their own photos)
• Photo album or scrapbook for photos they take here
• Boy digital watch - solid color preferred
• Girl digital watch - solid color preferred
• Sketching pad/paper, for the girl
• Notepad/markers, etc. for the boy
• Jewelry - nothing fancy - $5/$10
• Hair rubber bands, barrettes, etc.
• Legos
• Tickets for an event - amusement park, movies, pottery class, zoo, aquarium, etc.
• Texas gifts?
• Coupons for ice cream/shaved ice... something local?
• Eastern European dinner (for those daring to try a German/Russian/Ukrainian/Latvian/Swedish recipe for us, I'll take you up on it)

I think we're good on boys' clothing, although we'll definitely take any gently used shoes (sizes 1-4?)


GIFTS NOT ALLOWED

• Electronics, things that require batteries
• Name brand items (makes them a target with other orphans)

If you have an mp3 player you're not using (generic is fine) that you'd like to donate to the older girl for the summer, I was told the kids generally like that. They won't be able to take it back home, but they'll enjoy it while here.

In addition, I'd like as many people to come over this summer to meet these cuties.

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS! 
And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Matthew 21:22

Time is Ticking

                               

It's happening fast.
Time is ticking away.
It's happening.

The first kids from Project 143 arrived on Sunday. It was so "REAL" (as my friend, Kelly described it). Each group had colored hats as to which airport they were arriving. We host parents... who have been communicating on a Facebook page... were cheering on our new friends, as they welcomed their host children for 8 weeks. These are the host parents who are re-hosting their orphans. They shared pictures and stories about how their kids have changed. It was a wonderful time.

Until it happened.

One host parent wrote something that made all of our hearts sink. Her host child's chaperone mixed things up and he missed his plane. BOOM. He was supposed to be picked up at his orphanage and taken to the airport. It didn't happen on time. This poor child. This waiting family. All had been counting down days for months to be reunited. Now, there is so much uncertainty. It's not a simple task to get an orphan to America. Nope. You must have someone to travel with him. And what about the funds? They are hoping he can come over with the "short program" (5 1/2 week program, like we are doing). 

So... what do you think this "glass half empty gal" is focusing on? Yep, you got it. Not the pictures of ALL the kids at the airport. No. I'm thinking of everything that could go wrong. I also read that one of the kids might not make it on a plane from another country this week, due to health reasons. 

I can't imagine telling my boys that these kids are not coming. Not a day goes by that we aren't praying for our precious host children who we have never met. 

We just keep praying this...
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

7 Minutes of Buried Emotion

I find myself scoping out all the local spots to see if they might be a good fit for my FOUR children and me this summer. Today was no different.

We headed to our favorite water park and had a blast. I kept thinking about how my Eastern European children might do. Would they be scared of the water? Would they be scared of the PEOPLE? (A doctor told me that they might be shocked at how disgustingly gluttonous Americans are.) Could they keep up with the raging wave pools? Could I keep up with 2 additional kids? It's at the forefront of my mind when I'm out in public. Places with water in south Texas in the summer are ridiculously crowded, generally. How could I keep up with these kids? I've already been taught, in the orphan training, that they might venture off often. But, we just LOVE going to the water park!

Then, it happened.  

My kid disappeared. One minute he's there. The next minute, he's gone. How could this be? I'm only a few yards away, watching both of them. His 10 year old brother was supposed to be with him at all times, but he ran to me to tell me about the "epic waves". In that millisecond, my baby disappeared. The emotions that followed, in the next SEVEN (long. crazy long.) minutes were off the chart. FEAR. EXTREME FEAR. THIS PARK WAS CROWDED. 
                                                              VERY CROWDED. 
I didn't think he had drowned, as he's a great swimmer. No... by minute 2 I had already come up with a detailed story in my mind that included a big, ugly man taking him out of the park, screaming and kicking. The man would tell the park employees that he's just his spoiled, little son who didn't want to leave the park. He'd be in Mexico within 2 hours and officially be a sex traffic statistic. 

By minute 4, I felt the tears, behind my sunglasses, drop into the water - as I wondered how my life would even be able to continue, without him in it. My other son and I scanned the huge wave pool and waves, looking for a glimpse of my little guy. Finally he asked if he could go to nearby attraction and look. I had to stay behind, in case my baby came back, looking for me. By minute 6, my mind story included a lady telling my baby that his mom had left the park and she was supposed to take him to her. He would hold her hand and innocently leave the park and our lives would be devastated. 

While these minutes passed, the outside of me was pretty calm... except for my hidden tears. My mind was frantic, but my body was another mom in the mass of humans, looking around. Oh, and a man next to me lost his kid (for a brief moment) and I determined that there was a ring of abductors... until he found his kid, standing behind him. I started wondering if I should notify a life guard. I mean, what could he do? People. Everywhere. Should I go to the exit and see if I can find him and "his abductor"? There are too many exits. My child knows where our bag is and I need to be there if he comes back.

Then I saw both my kids walking toward me. I didn't think my brain could hold as many emotions as it did at that moment. Relief. Frustration. Emotional exhaustion.

When we got in the car, this cool, calm and collected mama let those emotions out with gigantic tears. When we got home, they each wrote an essay about the event and what could have been done differently. (Yes, I was exhausted and that was the first thing out of my mouth.)

Needless to say, I don't think I will be taking all 4 kids to a water park this summer without another adult (or 4!). I wish I had a friend nearby, with a pool in her backyard. These host children could enjoy the water and I could keep my sanity.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.  Matthew 6:34