A Few More Tidbits

Just wanted to post a few more things Jake told me yesterday about his meeting with Solomon. I talked to him a few times on the phone yesterday...

After the initial meeting with Solomon they all rode to the social welfare offices to start the adoption paperwork. Jake said that Solomon's parents are very young, his mom is 24 and his dad is 26. Through Pastor Sam's interpreting, Jake was able to talk with Solomon's parents. Solomon's dad said that he, himself, had never gotten the chance to get an education, and this has affected the family because he can't find solid work there, and they are barely surviving. They want better for Solomon, and are giving him in adoption so that he can have the opportunity to have a life that they didn't. He told Jake that they have officially turned Solomon over to the social welfare department (as well as Solomon's older brother). Solomon is still living in the village with his parents, but social welfare gives him his clothes, food, etc. and helps with the adoption. Jake said that he could see Solomon's dad was very sad, but yet there was an attitude of hopefulness....that he was giving his son something that he would never have the opportunity to get. The bravery of both Solomon's parents is just remarkable.

The great thing is that we will be able to bring Solomon back to Ghana often to visit his parents, as we want this trip to be just the beginning of hopefully some great missionary work that we can do there. Pastor Sam told Jake that they had been praying for someone to come that could reach the youth of Ghana. And, he told Jake that the best way to do it is through sport. They have no toys there, but they have soccer. He said if you showed up in any random village with a soccer ball in your hands, you would have at least 200 kids surround you within minutes....and he was not joking. He even mentioned possibly setting up some hoops in the middle of a village, and bringing some basketballs and using that as a way to bring the youth in and minister to them.

Anyways, Jake got to spend about half a day with Solomon and Solomon's parents. They ate lunch together and Jake thought it was interesting that Solomon's parents ate with their hands, but they had Solomon eat with a fork. Jake said Solomon is very-well behaved, but yet he has a fun-loving childish spirit of goofiness.....sounds like fun. Jake said Solomon is potty trained, and was wearing PINK crocs, and a matching polo with shorts. Jake said Solomon smiled the entire time, and did not once let go of the little photo book we had made for him. Jake said Solomon would point to the picture of himself (which was on the cover) and just giggle and giggle...Jake thinks he probably hasn't ever seen a picture of himself before. He also loved the picture in the book of Jake and I reading books to JJ. Jake said he kept pointing to it and smiling. So, we think he really likes books. Jake said he also loves music and to dance!

Jake and Chris are now in the phase of working with the Right to Dream organization. More on this tomorrow, but Jake just texted me and said they were sitting by the river eating fish for lunch. He said the natives caught it on the Volta River, grilled it, and now they are eating it. He said it is the best thing he has ever tasted. What an adventure! More later.

Missing My Valentine

I need a hug, Valentine...

Thanks, how bout a kiss?

Ooooooh, good one. Maybe one more.

Thanks, I needed that! Miss you!

Jake meets Solomon

So, I was lying wide awake in bed this morning around 3am because I knew Jake would be meeting Solomon for the first time, around that time (which is 9am Ghana time). There was no way I could sleep....I had my phone in my hand, just waiting for something. Sure enough, a little while later the text messages came flying in! Here they are, from Chris who watched the meeting unfold:

4:02am He is doing great, this is Chris, he went right to Jake, very happy and outgoing, your book was a huge hit, everyone loved it!

4:07am Yep, going great, both Jake and Solomon haven't stopped smiling, his mom is good, you can tell she is a little sad, but good. His parents are young.

4:17am He is around JJ's size. Nobody really knows how old he is. Between 3 and 4 and has lots of personality.

I laid there in bed, just crying and praying and trying to picture it all in my head. I can't wait to meet him, and to hug his mom. I haven't been able to fall back to sleep, so I thought I might as well get up and do something. :)

Jake found out a lot more about Solomon yesterday from Pastor Sam. The main thing is that he does not speak English. He speaks a language spoken there by the other villagers, which Pastor Sam knows how to speak as well. Jake and I laughed when we talked about him not knowing English because now we can say God was preparing us for this by not having JJ really talk until last month! We definitely know how to communicate without using actual English words! His parents do not speak English, and cannot read or write. Solomon is not in a school of any sort....so the one listed on his info sheet was actually more of a type of orphanage which they call a 'school'. It sounds like it is a place set up by the social welfare system where he can go for meals, baths, etc. The social welfare system there is able to help these children whose families are in poverty-stricken situations. Pastor Sam told Jake that Solomon is very smart and athletic! He said that he will catch onto the English language pretty fast. Pastor Sam told Jake that from this point it is most likely going to be about 3 months from now until we can travel back to Ghana and bring Solomon here (due to the amount of time it takes to finish all the paperwork, get Solomon's visa, etc). Pastor Sam and his wife are considering taking Solomon in with them for the last month of his time there.....to begin preparing him for the big transition....because everything here is going to be a major shock. I am sure you can imagine. Solomon has one older sibling who is 5 or 6.

Another text from Jake just came in:

Jake says: He can count to 100 in english.

Okay. I don't even know if I could count to 100 right now. I am so excited! I better try to get back to bed. More later.

Jake Update....On African Soil!

Just wanted to post that Jake and Chris landed safely in Accra, Ghana about 2 hours ago. Their flight was right on time! They met up with Pastor Sam and are now on the 2 hour ride to the village in Ho....in the itinerary I had noted that Jake would get to meet Solomon's family tonight, but I had that wrong....since it will be so late once they get there (10pm Ghana time) they are just going to go around the village....Jake will instead meet Solomon and his family tomorrow morning (which will actually be around 3am this morning - Iowa time). Pastor Sam told Jake that Solomon's family is so poor that you can't even believe it until you see it. I have heard this from other families who have adopted from near Ghana as well.....that you just have to see it to even understand. It is so sobering to think about.

On a somewhat lighter note, Jake and Chris did manage to be the only two passengers whose luggage got 'lost'. The airline is supposed to call them as soon as they find it. A funny story is that when I took Jake to the airport yesterday, right before he checked in he was trying to stuff a huge box of Club crackers into his suitcase (this is even funnier if you know about Jake's love for Club crackers). Well, when he tried to zip his bag shut the zipper broke beyond repair, so, I ended up walking down to the gift shop and buying him a new suitcase....BRIGHT orange! It was the only one they had left that would fit his stuff, and it was on clearance! So, at least his bag won't be too hard to find.

Before he left Jake switched cell phone providers to AT&T so that he could have their world plan. He's been texting me all along, and the service was great when he just called from Accra. We couldn't talk for too long, but I did ask him what it looked like there....or what stood out to him. All he said was 'lots of people....it's like driving down Highway 30 with tons of people everywhere'. I'll post more updates as I know...

Leavin on a Jet Plane

We are getting ready to take Jake to the airport this morning! Here are a few prayer requests if you think of it:

-Safe travel...flights on time, easy transitions at each stop over, safety while in planes or cars

-That Jake & Chris would be able to stay healthy while in-country...getting enough sleep, good food. Especially pray for protection from disease and travel type illnesses once in-country. They have both gotten the maximum level of protection through vaccinations, and will be taking an oral medication for malaria prevention. Pray that they would have much clean food and water available to them for meals.

-That the meeting between Jake and Solomon and Solomon's family would go wonderfully. That Solomon would feel comfortable with Jake and that there would be a sense of openness and peace. That Jake would be reassuring to Solomon's family, and able to easily communicate with them.

-That as much adoption paperwork as possible would be able to get completed, that the process would be straightforward, that the court officials would be approachable and easy to work with.

-That Jake & Chris could help Right to Dream formulate an achievable vision for the new basketball facility

-And, lastly, please pray for me, JJ & Jayla as we miss Jake and try to hold down the fort without him. :)

Also, Jake received his itinerary from Right to Dream yesterday. I thought it would be fun to post it on here. Yesterday I noted that they would be staying at a hotel for this phase, but it turns out that they will actually be getting to stay at the house of the founder of Right to Dream (his name is Tom)! So, that is neat. I also see that they get to go to church on Sunday...I am sure that will be a pretty cool experience. Here is the rest of his itinerary:

Friday Feb 13th

Evening: Pastor Sam drops Chris & Jake off at Top Herbal Clinic in Hattso to meet Tom; Tom will then take them to his house where they will have dinner.

Saturday Feb 14th

Morning: Tour RTD Football (soccer) Academy (in Dawu). Meet director & head of recruitment.

Afternoon: Visit site of new RTD academy with Tom (in Old Akradi)

Evening: Dinner with Tom, Helen, Andy & Anna in Accra

Sunday Feb 15th

Morning: Church Labaddi with John

Afternoon: Watch 18U game with Anna & Tom (in Adenta)

Evening: Dinner at Tom's house

Monday Feb 16th

Morning: View local basketball facility examples (around Accra)

Afternoon: Back to RTD Football Academy (in Dawu). Meet head of pastoral care & director of education.

Evening: Dinner with academy pupils (stay overnight in Akropong)

Tuesday Feb 17th

Morning: RTD academy (in Dawu)

Afternoon: Grassroots schools basketball program with Issac (in Adenta)

Evening: Depart 8:20pm (Lufthansa)

Sounds like fun! Thanks ahead of time for your prayers during this exciting time for our family.