Return - to turn again

The blog has been neglected for a time. Good thing it has no feelings, cannot cry, and will not hold a grudge. The blog is not a child.


We have returned from Guatemala with our adopted son, Ethan Michael.

I can hardly imagine where to begin in telling even the smallest detail of our adventure. Guatemala City is larger than you might think. 3 million people to be exact. I was told by our translator that urban sprawl is responsible for the rapid population growth. The city spreads out in every direction across canyons, ravines, gullies, and hills. The inhabitants of Guatemala City are always in the company of three active volcanoes sending the occasional smoke signal drifting up into the sky. They are also always in the company of rain around this time of year. Almost every evening we could count on a strong thunderstorm to blow through and cool things off. We didn't think much of it until we saw the erosion problems on the evening news. It seems that every time it rains very hard at all, many communities become inaccessible to all but the most hardy all terrain vehicles. (its ironic that only the very wealthy can afford them in Guatemala as they usually aren't the ones living along hillsides or canyon walls prone to falling in)

I am once again confused as to what classifies a country as "third world". I believe a country is much more probable to gain that title if it is small. There is much about North American life that could be compared to "third world" standards, only the US is too big to be defined by these comparative situations. I'm sure there is a political and socioeconomic definition for "third world" classification that makes perfect sense (to politicians and social economists).

We arrived on a Tuesday afternoon and were presented with our son not 5 hours after arriving in country. He was, to say the least, a bit confused. My wife and I had commented so many times before this about how he had achieved this sort of celebrity status in our family. We kept getting pictures of him every month for seven whole months, and now we were meeting him for the first time. It was emotional for both of us.

After some filling out some initial paperwork, the foster parents, attorney, and translator said their good-byes and filed out of the room. We were alone with this famous little boy who had captured our hearts and spirits for so long. We were holding this little one for whom we had spent countless nights in a half awake/half asleep praying vigil, and now, here he was, real as you and me; delivered safely into our arms just as we asked. There was one moment when we all looked at each other with a knowing look that only comes after much waiting for something that is believed in with much faith and trust in God to pull it off.

Just as quick as that look had come, it was gone, and we were changing diapers, giving bottles, and rocking to sleep this one who had suddenly assumed his rightful place as our adopted son. He did not ask for us to adopt him. He did not refuse the adoption. No doubt all of us will spend more time getting used to the idea of Ethan being a part of our family, but he was given a place with us by God and through our obedience to God's call. There are now many years to explore how these events will change us and make us more aware of God's presence in our lives. For Ethan's sake, and for mine, I say "bring it on!"