A week into parenthood…ey, yah, yai…
Ben and I are ready to get to Bogota; hopefully, return to the Refugio Hotel or Bed and Breakfast. It was really “kid-friendly” and had a back yard for the children to play in. The children are mostly in the room all day long…even though, our room may be half the size or in some cases the size of a casa around here…it is growing increasingly smaller to me!!! We show the children photos of their home in Mississippi trying to explain about their rooms, but I am not certain they understand. I overheard Andrew refer to the hotel room as their casa!!!
Diego has been congested and not sleeping well for the past two days. Andrew vomited 3 times last night. Our interpreter has a friend who is a doctor who we have consulted. I am praying we are going to get better quickly.
Ben took Tatiana and Andrew to lunch with Carlos and his family while I stayed at the hotel with Diego. The children love to ride in the taxi, shop, and leave the room. They give kisses and say, “Chow!” when they leave. They are precious.
Today, Andrew and Tatiana were looking through the photo album and found their “G-Mami” and “G-Papi;” There are several family pics, making it hard for them to distinguish who is who. They refer to several as “Abuelo” or “Abuela”-grandmother or grandfather. They are able to identify “Beamie.” They refer to Bro. Horace as “Abuelo”-Ben and I have been saying “Pastor.”
The children have learned or are repeating more English words such as “cookies,” “good job,” “French fries,” “thank you,” “I love you,” and “Hallelujah.” From time to time, we will hear Andrew or Tatiana sing the “Hallelujah” song.
Ben and I are definitely facing a challenge with the language barrier. I believe it would be so much easier had one of us been able to communicate with the children in Spanish. I do believe it will be easier once the children are in our own environment and culture that we will be able to define or establish the limits or boundaries in more clearer ways. Suggestions to others who are adopting in a Latin American country—learn as much of the language as possible.
Ben also was able to share the gospel with our interpreter and establish good rapport with him. Carlos is involved with a group of people or organization that ministers to homeless or poverty stricken people by providing food and clothing to them as they are available. He took us on a tour of Florencia by taxi. We drove through different sections of the city or town that housed the different socioeconomic levels… He described the sections as 1, 2, 3, or 4; 4, being the richest. We also saw the Hache’ River. This is one of the rivers that people will go and bathe in on Saturdays or Sundays. It is also nearby where the children were born and their birthmother lived. It was interesting to see this area. Carlos explained that this area is often flooded as during the rainy season the river rises, and the people are left homeless in already destitute area. It is interesting to see the area of which I have been praying for at last…to see the people and children who live here…to encounter them. I pray that we leave a spiritual mark on this territory. There are several churches here, also. There is one Pentecostal church; several Catholic churches, and one Mormon Church that we have seen. Who knows, we may come back and do ministry on the Hache’ River…
BTW, most of the clothes we have bought or brought with us are “MUY GRANDE”—the children are very small. Diego can wear a size 2 and Tatiana is between at 2-3. and Andrew is a 4 in most shirts and shorts. Hopefully, when this posts, I will be able to post pics as well. I’ve done most of the snapping and most are in our room. Maybe in Bogota, we will be able to do more touring in Colombia and we can give you pics of the area as well.
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