Human Rights Celebration Benefit

It's been one week since we attended the Human Rights Celebration benefit, in which we were honored. The night started with a lovely potluck dinner & we all ate well! Some good friends of ours also came to support us, we had a nice time talking and eating with them. The service started and it brought attention to many issues throughout the world dealing with Human Rights. There were also prayers and a few songs. The Local/State President told our story, mostly what was published in the paper, and then asked us to step forward.

We were presented with a framed certificate that reads: Church Women United, Inc.- United Nations Office presents its Human Rights Award for your leadership service as a mentor and social activist on human rights and human development, an advocate for peace with justice with no boundaries of political system, country, cultural background or religion. The certificate was then signed by The Local/State President and The National President of Church Women United.

They also gave our children a CD set of Children's Bible songs & stories. There was also a "love offering" taken and we were handed the overflowing offering plate. The people there were so generous and we are so thankful for their donations towards the adoption expenses. The women there offered to have a "clothes" shower for us before the children arrive home. That will also be a tremendous blessing as clothing 4 more children has been weighing on my mind (where does one start?).

We are so thankful and so humbled by this experience. It took hubby & I about 3 days to fully sort through all our emotions. It's during times like these that saying "thank you" just doesn't seem to be enough. We wish we could do more to show our appreciation, but thank you is all we have. We thank God that He has brought all these generous & loving people into our lives to support us and stand beside us!

Letters from Dear Son #2

This is the only other picture we received of ds#2 from the disposable cameras. The second picture of him is with the other 3 children (on ds#1 post). Dear son #2 is the boy in the front wearing the Scooby Doo shirt. During the Christmas Eve phone conversation with him, we were able to hear a little more of his voice. He said, "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, mom and dad. I love you." That was more than last time! :) He has a voice like an angel, I can't wait to scoop him up in my arms!

This is a little of what he had to say in his current letters:
Dearest Sweet mom,
I send a special and kind greeting in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I love you so much, but you know that God loves you the best. Thank you for the wonderful letter and things you sent to me in the last package. I pray that we can come home soon.
Love, peace and joy from your son


Dearest Dad,
Special greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I love you so much but God loves you the best. Dad, I cannot wait to see you here in Liberia some day. I pray that the almighty God will be with you and keep you safe and sound. Bless your work and everything you do.
Love always from your sweet son
*There are drawings of little stick people all over the bottom of the page of the whole family, all 9 of us! There is also a little saying that says, "We all love you dad, mom, sisters & brother!"

Letters from Dear Daughter #1

These are the two best photos of Dear Daughter #1 from the disposable cameras we sent last trip. The first photo shows her in her room, striking the same pose as dd #2 in her picture. They seem to have swapped the stuffed bear and hat for each picture... The picture below is of Dear Daughter #1 wearing the bandana I sent for dd #2's birthday (they share everything!). I purchased a blue bandana and then embroidered her name on the edge. Dd#2's two favorite colors are blue & red.

Dear daughter #1 didn't send home her camera or any letters in the last batch. We were very concerned about her, thinking she may have become ill again and had to leave the orphanage. When we called the orphanage on Christmas Eve, we were able to speak with dear daughter #1 and she apologized for not sending a letter. We didn't mind- we were just so thankful she was ok! She sounded great (as did the the children) and we used her again as our "interpreter." It's more difficult to understand dd#2 over the phone so if we cannot understand, dd #1 gets back on the line and explains to us what sister is trying to say. The phone connection always seems to be in and out and the children are very quiet (with a lot of background noise). Here are some of the things dd #1 had to say in her last batch of letters.

"To my baby sister,
How are you? I hope you are fine- as the Lord blesses you. How wonderful to know that you are my baby sister. My name is ****, my new name is ****. I love you very much and I will teach you how to dance and dress like a princess and act like a princess. You look wonderful in your picture. I love you.
Your sister

To my sweet brother
How are you? I hope you are fine as the Lord may bless you and the family. I am ****, your new sister. When I come over, I will teach you a lot of games and brother will teach you how to play football (soccer) and baseball. I can not wait to see you and I pray for you. I love you so much. Bye to my sweet brother---
Your sister

My wonderful sister (dd#3),
How are you? I hope you are fine as the Lord may bless you all. I am your new sister, *** and when I come over, I will teach you a lot of new games. I will also show you some African dance. I cannot wait to see you, I love you and I pray for you.
You are my wonderful sister.
From your sister

Dear my mom and dad,
I greet you with all my love and care. How is everyone doing? I am fine, in the Lord Jesus. It is a blessing to know you people better, because I was not thinking about going to the U.S. because I gave up in everything to be adopted. I gave up hope but all the while, God was keeping my family aside for me and my brother (ds #1). We have been a long time on this mission, people come and go and meet us. Everyone leaves to go to the states, we thought that God had forgotten about us. But, I thank God we have a family who cares and loves us much.
Mom and dad, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am **** and I lived on this mission with my brother and other children. I came here in 1996-1997. See how long I've been here? Some of my friends that came with me have gone but I always know that there is a God who never fails, he says in Isaiah 55:6, "Seek the Lord while he may be found, Call upon him while he is near." He says that all things are possible and that He will not leave me as an orphan. My prayer is that God will work everything out for us and that the paperwork will be soon completed and we will be together.
I like the new name you gave me, I am so happy because I have my new grandmother's name for a middle name. I will teach you all African games and cook African food for you. That day will be a wonderful day in my life! Mom, I don't know how to express my love for you but when I come home, you will see it.
I send you extra love and hugs (XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO), may God richly bless you!
Your lovely daughter