November Update

We got a long awaited update on how Sonise is dealing with the fact that she is going to be adopted by Jeff and I and will be going to the U.S. One of the women that Sonise is close with told the director of the orphanage that Sonise is very excited to come to the States. She really liked Jeff and I (WHEW!) and she is practicing English and French very hard. She understands English pretty well but has some trouble forming her responses in good English. It will come with time. She loves getting our packages and has put things up in her room that we have sent and looks at them every day. Sonise really wants to go to the USA and cannot wait until it's time.

As you can imagine, this is a huge relief to Jeff and I. While we were there in September, she was faced with the very real reality of leaving her country and her birth family. She was understandably overwhlemed.

This is a picture of Sonise opening one of the packages we sent to her. We send packages once a month and they take 4-6 weeks to make their way to the orphanage.

Sonise was not able to go to the Toddler House the last several weeks because of the chicken pox outbreak at the Baby House. Sonise was a big help with the sick little ones, unfortunately that exposure caused her to come down with the chicken pox herself. She had a mild case and kept herself covered in Calamine lotion to help with the itching. So once again, the girls' pictures were taken separately.





Neissa and Chalinda are doing well. Chalinda is practicing her English with her teachers. The caregivers report that she is protective of her little sister and watches out for her. Neissa was on a tricycle and another little boy went over and tried to take it away from Neissa. Chalinda would have none of that and went over and made sure Neissa got to ride the bike!

Neissa is also working on her English. When the woman who writes the monthly updates went up to the Toddler House, Neissa walked right up to her and asked her if she loved Jesus. When she said "yes", Neissa then asked if she loved Satan and the worker said "no". That made Neissa very happy. She told the worker that all the children at the Toddler House loved Jesus and knew that Satan was very bad. :)

It is such a blessing to receive these monthly updates and get a little glimpse into how the girls are doing. We are still in the second of the two courts. We appreciate any prayers that our paperwork gets out of Parquet and our adoption is approved. I am praying specifically that our paperwork is approved by Thanksgiving. Wouldn't that be something to celebrate!?!


How beautiful are our daughters!?! We are going to have our hands full!