Email and Blog

We have not been able to email like we hoped, and blogging is, so far, a hassle too.  We will try to post more later, but I guess the Philippines doesn't like our consolidated server... We are receiving messages buy cannot send messages, and we can't login to the consolidated website either!

If you want to send a message that we can reply to, send it to 

ritchies.1997@yahoo.com.

We also have to pay for wifi here at the hotel so we aren't logging on very often.  It's crazy expensive!  I just paid for 1hour at 3:20 am since I am wide awake, so I'm about out of time for now.  We will try to find free wifi at the mall next door so we can email and blog some more soon.

Until...SICK! :(

Ohhhh, poor guy!  Isaac, while he got to enjoy the adventure for an hour or so, started feeling bad!  It was probably a combination of being TIRED (his houseparents said he was so excited that didn't sleep well the night before we came), being CAR SICK (yes, traffic here is crazy and our route to Matabungkay Bay was curvy and hilly AND he is not used to so much travel, especially travel in a vehicle with AC, which can make people sick) and being SEASICK from playing in the waves then resting on a floating hut being bounced around by the waves!

He got sick twice during the day and slept a lot.  We got back to our hotel at 5 pm and he took a bath, put on a hoodie and sweatpants (the AC is a big change for him), got chicken noodle soup and breadsticks from the mall, and was in bed by 9 pm.  He felt much better!

What a memorable Saturday!  The floating huts at the beach were a unique, once in a lifetime experience, but our Isaac getting sick is not what we wished for!!  For sure, in more ways than one, will never forget our adventure at Matabungkay Bay, Batangas, Philippines!!

Saturday-OCEAN!

We got up to leave at 6:30 am for a day at Matabungkay Beach.  We didn't know exactly what we were in for...

It was almost a 4 hour drive!  Who would think, looking at the map, that we would have to drive that far to find a beach.  There ocean is closer than that, but nowhere with clean beaches to enjoy.

Notice the floating houses in the bay.  We rented one for the day!  The locals make a living from renting these by swimming out to pull it to shore, helping us board, then physically pulling it out into the bay and anchoring it.  They then made several trips back to shore to haul all of our picnic supplies that Ate Virgie brought for us and we're very skilled at holding it up over their heads out of the waves to get it to us.  Our local helper grilled the pork chops for us....masarap!   (Tagalog for delicious!). Ate Virgie brought rice and hot water for tea or coffee.  What an amazing experience!

Derrick and the boys swam and played in the SALTY waves.  Isaac had never been there before wasn't too sure about the waves, but Derrick offered for him to ride on his back and he did so without hesitation.  They had SSSOOO much fun until...

Gotcha Day!

We finally made it to Mama's Hope Haven of Norway to "fetch" our Isaac, as they say here in the Philippines!  Most of the children were at school, so he had already said goodbye to his friends the night before.

We took a tour of his home and met many of the people who have loved, nurtured, guided and encouraged him for most of his 12 years.  We had fun unloading the suitcase full of gifts for the children at the orphanage - gifts from our family and also from our church family at THCC ( they gave us a donation to buy medicine, vitamins, socks etc. for Mama's Hope.)

In Manila

We made it to Manila on time with no problems.  This will be the shortest post ever because we are exhausted and have our big day tomorrow - going to Ma-ma's Hope Haven Of Norway to meet Up with Isaac. They call it Entrustment Day.  We will post more tomorrow!

Waiting in St. Louis

So far, Josiah is enjoying our experience!  Waiting at our gate for 2 hours .... With Dunkin' Donuts ... Isn't too bad!!

We are on our way!

The last 5 emails from Isaac's social worker have been very emphatic that he is very, very and really, really, and very much excited to see us soon!  We can't wait to get there!

Travel in Two

Just TWO MORE DAYS until we embark upon our crazy and long travel adventure to the Philippines!

We are flying from St. Louis to Detroit (1.5 hours) to Nagoya, Japan (13 hours) to Manila (4 hours).

We will arrive in Manila on Thursday evening at 10:00 and on Friday, June 13 we will have our Entrustment Day at Isaac's orphanage at 10:00a.m.  From this time on, he will be with us and we will spend a few days in the Philippines doing some fun things, seeing some sights, and attending church together.

On either Monday or Tuesday we will have our final appointment with ICAB (the adoption board) and we will be ready to fly back home on Wednesday, June 18.  Because of the time change, we will also be arriving home on Wednesday, June 18.

We are grateful to be at this place and are anxious to get the show on the road!

We met Jazhel (Isaac) when he was here in America on August 3, 2013 . . .now, just 10 months later, we are ready to bring him into our family - forever!  God has left us speechless throughout this process as He has coordinated so many details as only He can.  Our friends and family have loved us in so many ways, affirming God's call to adopt Isaac.  We pray that we will be strong and patient and understanding and flexible and faithful through all the changes and joys and challenges that lie ahead.  We believe that God will use Isaac's life in a huge way for His glory!  We don't know exactly what that means yet, but we can't wait to see.

Check back for new postings this week as we share what we are up to with our new son in the Philippines...

Gotta' go; there's still packing to do!

****karen