Easter!

From egg painting and telling the Easter story to the kids, watching one of my volunteers share her gifts through dance at church, to a wonderful brunch with friends - it was a great Easter!

It Takes a Village...

I’ve been thinking about writing this for awhile now. I often wonder what impact I am having on the children I interact with on a daily basis. Because they are so young it’s hard to know if once they are adopted or return to their families if they will remember their time here or remember any of the values taught to them. This can sometimes be disheartening in light of eternity. I want to be able to show Christ to these kids while they are here and have them continue a relationship with God long after they leave this home. I have no control as to where a child ends up; what family they are raised in, what they will be taught later in life. Often times I’m only interacting with a child for a year of his or her life. Most likely the child will not remember my name or remember me.

I was reflecting on this in regards to my own life. I have had countless people pour into my life and teach me lessons that bring me closer to God; coaches, teachers, nurses, classmates, family members and friends.  

Last week I was driving into NYC for a fundraising event. One of my mom’s friends came along to support. We got to talking about how this same friend 14 years earlier used to drive with us for my cancer treatments. On her only day off from work, she would spend close to 12 hours with me. 14 years later she is still a support. This friend is just one of many people who have come alongside me and shown an interest. My life has been made up of so many positive relationships with people. People who have taken the time to invest in me, some who I don’t even remember their names or their faces. However, they have helped to shape who I am today. I pray that the children at the orphanage will take with them values that have been poured into them from the Tías, staff, volunteers, and me. That they will remember how God used so many different people in their lives to bring them closer to Him. I would ask that you pray that the work that is happening here would have an impact long after each child leaves with his forever family. 

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....

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

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!

Amanda bought a bike (which sadly was stolen a few weeks later)

In Cologne, Germany with friends from Quito

In Colmar, France with friends from Quito

A adoptive family in Italy

In Bergamo - a beautiful city!

Bergamo

I got to visit my host famiy in Spain from when I studied abroad in 2006!

The Titanic Museum in Belfast

With friends in Northern Ireland

Ireland

In London

With my friend, Izzy, in London

Views from the plane of Greenland

Hanging Out with Tia Nancy's Family

Tia Nancy has been inviting me to come to her family's house for the past few months. We finally made it work last week. Her family lives about 1 hour away. They have a beautiful house and garden and they were so hospitable. Kathryn and I learned how to make empanadas, which I found was not one of my spiritual gifts. We also drank coffee that was freshly ground at their house and did a fun nature walk. Great, relaxing day!