The Journey Begins....Again: October 2013

Monday, October 28, 2013

I spent an action-packed week with a team from Tennessee. We were down in Latacunga for 10 days and we were able to participate in many fun activities. This was the first time we took the children in Latacunga to a zoo in Banos. The zoo was not very wheelchair friendly so it was a VERY good workout. We also got to spend some time relaxing/swimming in the hot pools. On our way home, this is what we saw!

Running from danger....

Friday, October 18, 2013

Quito - October

With some of the Tias at one of the children's adoption parties

A large tree fell down in August. We then realized that we needed to cut down some of the other trees that didn't have stable roots. A couple days ago we worked to roll these huge trunks to ship them away.

Like clockwork it rains everyday starting around 3 pm in Quito during rainy season. Yesterday we had a pretty strong thunder and lightning storm and hail! Can you see the hail on the ground?

We've had 6 adoptions in 6 weeks---amazing! This little boy was adopted by a family from Italy. I've known him since he was a little baby. I got to go to the hospital to pick him up with our social worker when he first came to FHC. It's incredible to see all the obstacles he has overcome!

Europe Travels

The word 'family' is heard a lot at FHC. We talk about finding a forever family for each child and our psychologist works with the children to help them understand what it means to be part of a family. In September I was able to experience the FHC family in a whole new way. I spent a month traveling through eleven countries in Europe, and had the privilege of connecting with many people who have a special bond- their love and support of FHC.

Maira with her husband and daughter (left), and her parents, sister and nephew (right),
in front of the cafe they own.

I met with FHC adoptive families, several adoption agencies that work in Ecuador, the sponsors of many of our children, and with past FHC volunteers.

In Denmark, I visited Maira and her husband Alan. Maira was born in Ecuador, and while she was not adopted from FHC, co-founder Melinda Vaughn was instrumental in providing a warm and loving 'human touch' during her adoption in the early 1990s. Maira and Alan own a restaurant in a small town in Denmark and are the parents of 5-month-old Filippa. Maira hosted a 'meet and greet' opportunity for me and FHC at her restaurant, and baked an enormous amount of fabulous pastries for all who attended.

Later that week, I connected with 20-year-old Marcus Sorenson and his family, Lena, Soren and Rebecca in Copenhagen. Marcus was adopted when he was a baby from FHC in the early '90s. Marcus has visited FHC several times in the last few years, most recently spending six months with us as a volunteer in 2012. Marcus is studying at a university in Copenhagen. He is diligently studying Spanish as he hopes to return to Ecuador in the coming years to spend time at FHC and with his Ecuadorian birth family, with whom he reconnected several years ago.

In Bergamo, Italy, I attended a gathering that included four FHC adoptive families, among them Carlos (Ayovi) and Carlos (Correa), who were adopted from FHC-Latacunga earlier this year. The families of Josué and Joshua, adopted in 2012, also attended. All four boys seem very happy and now speak Italian fluently - even Carlos A., who was adopted just three months ago! The boys' parents were happy to meet each other, and all of them expressed their appreciation for the Baby Books/ Memory Albums that FHC prepares for each child, containing photos and anecdotes of the child's time at FHC. We discussed forming a Facebook group to encourage Italian families who have adopted from Ecuador to stay connected and meet up on a regular basis.

FHC adoptive families in Bergamo, Italy with Jen Schneider
(fifth from right, in white blouse)

The trip ended with a lovely fundraiser at the Byk family home in London. The Byks volunteered at FHC/HPSN in August 2013 with their three children, ages 4, 8 and 11. They were very impressed with the ministry and were agreeable to hosting a gathering at their home when they heard I would be in the U.K. Over 50 people attended - some signed up to sponsor a child, and others talked with me about volunteering at FHC/HPSN.

The hospitality that was extended to me during my travel was incredible. People invited me into their homes, showed me their cities, prayed with me for the ministry of FHC, took time off of work to help with transportation - I was amazed by how God placed all of these people in my life during this special time. It is an amazing feeling to be halfway around the world and listen to the stories of the strong connections that people have with FHC: adoptive families often fondly recalled time they spent with Clark and Melinda Vaughn (FHC/HPSN's co-founders), volunteers asked for news about particular children they remembered, and sponsors gave me small gifts to bring back to their sponsored child. I was amazed to see the different ways God has connected and continues to weave together people in the FHC family.

What began as a trip to help a friend move to Sweden, ended with me visiting eleven countries, with opportunities to connect with churches, students, community leaders, and many families. Thank you to all who made my visit so very special.

Former FHC Volunteers Rahel Orth and Isabel Siegel, in Germany

The very crowded fundraiser at the
Byk home in London

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Photos from Europe

Amanda and I in Iceland. We had a day layover and rented a car to see the country . Beautiful scenery!

Amanda out in the middle of nowhere. We were unable to continue our adventures when we came to a river and could not pass in a little car. So we got out and took a little walk for ourselves.

In Copenhagen, Denmark with an adoptive family from FHC

In Kerteminde, Denmark with a friend adopted from Ecuador. She lives in a really great house and Amanda and I stayed with her and her family for a night!