Coming Home

Well, today we saw a complete turn around at the U.S. embassy. The worker who was so rude to me apologized and she said we could pick up Max’s visa tomorrow after 3:00. It was amazing! Veldon and I were both crying by the time we left. She was kind about our wait for Max and explained that she was covered up yesterday. Praise the Lord for the prayers of the saints. He certainly worked a miracle for us today. We are flying home on Sat. and, provided we don’t get bumped, we will be home Sat. evening. Even if we do get bumped in LA we will be rolled to the next flight and we will be in America! We are so excited to bring our son home.

We said good-bye to Nicola today. What a blessing she has been to us these last 6 months and although we only saw each other for a week God has given us a bond, we will forever cherish her. We wish we could do more to help her ministry at Pakkred, but we will continue to be faithful to give what God has provided.

Max is exhausted…absolutely worn out! He woke up yawning and took a nap by 10:00 this morning, maybe 11:00 actually. Time escapes me here, having no concept of time is driving Veldon crazy but I think I enjoy it. We took the ferry over to the other side of the river to meet Nicola at the Skytrain and to eat one last meal at the department store. By the time we left to return to the hotel it was pouring down rain. I really thought that Thais would just carry on in the rain but they don’t, they stop everything. It was rather strange. We carried on like good American’s (and Brit) and just got wet. My hair is a mess now but it has been since we arrived in this hot, humid country with the strange electricity.

Max and Veldon played soccer in the sand this morning and Max seemed to really enjoy it. It is amazing how well he can kick a ball, catch a ball and even throw a ball. He is a natural athlete..at the age of 4 we’ll have to see how that goes as he grows older.

The next order of business for sweet Max is to deal with his arm. He uses his hand amazingly well and doesn’t seem to notice it is different. It is different though and it seems rather weak, of course. His scars are extensive and I wonder if they were infected at some point. Nicola thought maybe even the stitches were too tight and have now stretched. Whatever the cause I think an American surgeon will surely be able to clean up the scars as we deal with the arm. His right arm is also not quite right. He can’t extend it all the way. We have known that since the beginning, but I am anxious to talk to a doctor and see if he will need surgery on that arm as well or maybe just physical therapy. There has to be a reason he has these orthopedic issues and I hope we find a doctor who will be able to answer our questions. He is so smart and recognizes a doctor’s office a mile a way. I hate that we will be the ones taking him for further pain, but it is necessary if he is to have better use of his arms. I am so grateful he is with us now and we are in charge of his health and the decisions that will affect the rest of his life. I am applying him for Shriner’s Hospital. If he is accepted he will receive the very best care available and they will treat him for the rest of his life. That would be such a blessing for him. I trust God with this. If he is to be at Shriner’s he will be if not, that just means the best doctors for Max aren’t there. God is in control and we can and do trust Him with this precious gift He has given us to raise.

Well, that’s about all that is going on here. We are so very grateful for all we have been given this week from hotel stays, to airline passes to a most precious little boy. God has been faithful and has used the church in such an incredible way. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us, given gifts to us for Max and waited expectantly. We have been blessed beyond measure and we can’t wait to support the next family in our own church body who will go pluck a child out to be an orphan no more!