Two Things to Celebrate

1) Gideon slept through the night for night number 2!
Now we'll see how he does sleeping at Grandpa and Grandma's for the next 3 nights!
2) When I went in to watch Gideon sleep this morning, he had somehow spun a 180 and had his head where his feet were last night. The kid is going mobile on us!
For both of these we praise the Lord!

Gideon and His Dearly-Loved Entertainment System!

Gideon and the Jones Kids

Just Because I LOVE These Pictures

Mother and Son Pictures

If At First You Don't Succeed...

Last night Gideon had some more "tummy time." Kathee has been working with him on gaining core strength as he has been a bit developmentally delayed in things like holding his head up on his own, being able to sit up, etc. And we found that he spent about 0 time on his tummy.
So last night before bed she was working with him on tummy time (as I was blogging). After the second "Yay," Kathee called me up to witness Gideon "Paul Hamm" Terwilleger rolling over. And he stuck the landing time and again, until I remembered to grab the camera and video it. Make sure that after you watch this video you watch the one just below as he sticks the landing on that video!

Remain Steadfast Until You Do

After the second attempt of videoing this, we got the boy to stick the landing! He'd been doing it time after time until I grabbed the camera. It was then that he froze with stage fright!
I believe the kid is beginning to catch up developmentally. And oh yeah, last night was the first night he slept all the way through the night!!!!

Church Family UNITE!

Among other things Kathee, Gideon, and I now enjoy doing is walking the malls. Primarily because it gets Kathee and Gideon out of the house, it's warm, and it's incredibly cheap.
On Friday, which is my day off, we headed over to Northpark Mall in Davenport (our second week in a row doing that, I might add). So as we pull up to the food court, Pastor Ed and his wife Jeanette come around the corner, so we sat and chatted with them a bit. Then Delane Johnson came up as Borycz' and we were talking. Then Delane's wife Janet came from doing some shopping. And, twist our arm, they held Gideon while Kathee and I ate lunch. What a great time of fellowship. It's been awesome watching the church come around us and Gideon and love the daylights out of us. Then as Johnsons' and we parted ways, Lizette Swords, another brand-new mother and her son Elijah came strolling along, so we got to chat with her as well!
Oftentimes we have been asked by our caseworker what kind of support system we will have once Gideon joins our family. She asked about our family and whether or not they would be in support (I think judging by the fact that Mom and Dad picked us up in Chicago, my brother Zach- who has one of the busiest jobs on the planet- took time to come out to O'Hare to meet us, my brother Nathan and his wife Kris, my brother Aaron, his wife Jenn, and daughter Miriam all met us at our home soon after we arrived home says a lot about the kind of support we'll receive from my family.
The fact that Kathee's parents live in India and her sister and brother-in-law and nephew live in Mississippi all may have just something to do with their absence. They have all called, are concerned, and love our son to pieces!
This week is a big week for Gideon (I just wish he knew how much). We'll be making our first road trip when he's not jet-lagged, so that's big. Then we'll be meeting his cousins Samuel, Ava, Otto, Noah, Jonah, and Elijah (for he already has met my parents, brothers, their wives, and Miriam, and Aunt Beth and Uncle Larry).
We have been blessed and blessed and blessed! What a joy to be surrounded by so much love!

The Kronberg Visit!

Gideon had a couple buddies over to play today. Isaac and Joe Kronberg's mother Facebooked me and talked to Kathee at the women's Bible study yesterday about her children's desire to come over and meet and play with Gideon. It was a hoot watching them play with Gideon. He loved it too. Lots of laughs out of him. Thanks for coming over, boys. It's only a few blocks from your house to ours! Oh yeah, I'd be remiss if I didn't ask readers to take note of the PERFECT gift the boys brought over for Gideon. The sea horse makes noise and lights up when you push on his belly. Jenny Kronberg said I remind her of her brother when I said that I, too, light up and make noise when people push on my stomach. Teehee!

The Big Smooch!

The children of our church have been loving on Gideon a lot since he's been in our family. The other night we had a good friends the Jones' over to the house. As I was holding Gideon, Anavah snuggled up next to me and asked if she could hold Gideon. As she has A LOT of practice holding her brand new brother Asher, we thought it'd be great to catch some video. Hope you enjoy!

How Are The Dogs Transitioning?

This is a question we are getting quite often now. Tonight I had Gideon on my stomach while lying on the futon. And the ensuing action by Solomon we caught with the camera. Both Kathee and I were a bit shocked at what Solomon did. I guess he's still working through letting someone else in his coveted "favorite" spot.

Some Pictures

A Bit of an Update

Normally on Wednesdays, I am to my office at church by 7:30am. However, after getting to church only to find that my church key was loaned to one of my leaders while I was in Africa, I was able to turn around and head home for an hour and a half. So I came home, spent some time in my new study (on Covenant), be there to welcome my son to a new day, change him and put his first outfit of the day on (but note most likely not the last), pay a few bills, and now do a short update of sorts.
As Kathee blogged, the Terwilleger's were all sick the day we left for home. Kathee woke up in the wee hours of Friday morning and went to the bathroom and ralphed. Her ralphing woke me up, only to feel my stomach beginning to mumble and make noises for which my thought was, "how much time until I'm in there barfing?"
Kathee shared that there was quite a buzz over our sickness in the Yahoo Group. Rest assured, Kathee and I have traveled all over the world. We know what to eat and not, what to drink and not, and no, we were not careless. It may also be of note that two of the other families were also stricken with what we got.
I haven't been that sick in my life. I hurled more than 5 times (after the second nothing in there but still wretching like crazy). I, along with my son, also had it flowing from the other direction as well.
So with me being sicker than a dog, Kathee had the privilege of taking care of two sick family members, as well as, packing all our belongings for the flight home. I was so weak I was unable to help at all. Luckily, another family had left over electrolytes, so I drank my Nalgene bottle of electrolytes and slept. We also had Gideon on them, although being little, he couldn't take them as fast as I could.
So at 5:30pm on Friday, we loaded the vans and headed to the airport for our 10:15pm flight. We got there, went through metal detection, immigration, and then through the metal detectors to get into our gate area.
The smartest thing we did was to purchase a third seat. The entire first leg of the flight, I was able to lie across the three seats and rest, while Kathee was up and down the ailse with Gideon. He didn't do well and was sick, so it actually worked well. By about 3 hours in to the flight, I turned the corner and was back to pretty much full strength (which I had been praying all day). So by the time we landed for crew change and fill up in Rome, I was good to go.
Gideon did A LOT better from Rome on as well. Although he kept going through clothes like crazy (I think ultimately he went through 15 of the 18 outfits we had for him). Kathee and I were able to team up, with her changing most of the diapers, me getting down the luggage to replenish the diapers, outfits, etc. I was able to walk him when she needed a break, etc.
The second leg of the trip, the 11 hours from Rome to Washington was a bit long, but Gideon did exceptionally well.
The layover in Washington was good for us, although Gideon got a bit crabby and cried a lot. However, who can blame the kid. He hit the wall and just wanted the fun to end. The flight from Washington to Chicago went well and was quick quick!
My mom and dad met us at the airport to drive us to Moline, so that went off without any real hitch either.
A really neat thing happened in Chicago as well. My brother Zach is a lawyer at a huge law firm in Chicago and works pretty much all the time. However, he was able to make it out to the airport to meet his new nephew. That really meant a lot to me (us) that he was able to make it.
Then we jumped in the truck and headed to Moline. Gideon slept the entire way from Chicago to Moline. Upon getting to our house, my eldest brother Nathan, wife Kris, brother Aaron, his wife Jenn, and their daughter Miriam, all came to the house to meet little Gideon. It was incredible to have my entire family meet our son on the first day of his arrival.
Family didn't stay long and we had some time to rest.
And now, we are just trying to get our son healthy. He is doing incredibly well. He smiles A LOT, laughs A LOT, loves his mom and dad, and is doing great. Last night he even slept a total of 10 hours, so we are pretty pumped about that, too.
That's it for now, just thought I'd give you the flight update.

In Him,
Isaac T

This is artwork that a young lady in our ministry did for Gideon (you may need to click on the actual picture to enlarge it so you can see it better). She just gave it to us this afternoon. WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! We have a lot of her artwork up in our home, but I think this one takes the cake. We are so blessed! Thanks Sydney, you rock our faces off!

Update

Well, Kathee is upstairs getting some needed sleep and I am in the dining room uploading pictures to Facebook and.... I'll post later. Gideon woke up crying and he's now sleeping in my arm. More later.

Introducing the Isaac Terwilleger Family!

Please pray...

This is Kathee writing.  This is my first-ever post!  We just need prayer please.  We are gathering to leave for the airport in about a half hour and we're sick.  I was sick during the night, Isaac was sick through the night and is still, and Gideon became sick this afternoon.  Isaac and Gideon are on medicine but we're already so tired.  These plane rides are daunting enough with a newly-met baby but when Isaac and I aren't at full-strength, I don't know what to think.  So please pray.  Thanks and we can't wait to get home!

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Forangie! Forangie! Forangie!

What a great day!  I hired Ayele today to take me to the Mercado and to the Hilton to buy a book.  The Mercado is the largest market in Africa, and it proved to be all that and more.  The place that was supposed to have everything, did indeed, have everything.  I had read that one can even purchase camels there.  I asked Ayele to take me to see the camels, but he laughed and said he wouldn't (so I'm not sure if that meant they weren't there or that it was unsafe, or too far).  The place was ENORMOUS.  We walked and walked and walked, and didn't see half of the market.  But it was so fun. 

Around every corner I heard "forangie, forangie, forangie!"  Translation:  foreigner, foreigner, foreigner!  Many waited till I passed to say hello.  Many said, "Obama, yeah?"  This is a place I wouldn't go by myself, although having Ayele take me was AWESOME!!!!  I had read that petty theft is rampant, and Ayele told me of two places where I could take pictures.  When I pulled out my camera he turned into body guard.  He'd say, "hold on to your camera, keep an eye on your camera."  But I had absolutely no problem. 

And as Ayele worked there for 4 years, he knew just about everyone.  I believe I had another opportunity of a lifetime with him.  He took me to the veterinary clinic where he worked and introduced me to everyone.  You'd swear he and I were long lost friends.  People out of the woodwork to see Ayele.  And he introduced me to them all.  He asked, "do you like coffee, tea, macchiato?  They want to take you out for some."  So he and his best friend took me out for the best macchiato I've had anywhere, including the Sheraton Addis.  About 20 minutes later the pharmacist for the clinic came over and we chatted over coffee.  WE HAD A BLAST!  We talked mostly politics and Obama specifically.  They were quite surprised I didn't vote for Obama, and more surprised I don't like him.  After discussing for about an hour, they asked if I studied political science in college.  When I shared that I studied theology, bible, and youth ministry, they were floored.  They seemed to pale a bit of the Obama-love when I shared with them some of his policies.  They agreed they were bad, but couldn't get over the fact that Obama is "one of them."  They are all about "change."  I told them that not all change is good.  The pharmacist seemed to agree with me after I explained to him that Obama wants to control health care and how he hurts the small business with taxes.  When I explained to him that he couldn't run a small business in America because of the taxes, etc, he seemed to see that maybe Obama isn't the Savior afterall. 

It was so fun!  We had a blast together.  Ayele's friend walked with us for a while and wanted to talk much.  It seemed for a bit that Ayele stopped being my driver and had become my friend, even though I was still paying him 60 birr an hour ($6). 

My goal at the Mercado was to purchase a new suitcase as I believe my lovely wife and I have purchased enough to prop up Ethiopia for years to come.  So I bought a new suitcase for 210 birr ($21).  My first purchase however, was for Kathee.  She really wanted to purchase green coffee beans to learn how to roast them in the States.  We went to a place yesterday to do that, but the man had lost his license and so she bought 15 pounds of freshly roasted coffee.  I, on the other hand, don't believe anyone at the place I had even knew one needed a license to sell green coffee.  So I bought 5 kilos of unroasted beans for Kathee.  The lady selling it said I purchased enough coffee for well over a year.  And before she'd hand me the beans she wanted the money.  We had a great laugh over that.  And then, to top it off, she gave me back an extra 50 birr ($5).  She was surprised, and a bit embarrassed when I gave her back the 50 birr.  She started to argue with me until I did the math for her (this is after she did it on the calculator, mind you) and then she thanked me much. 

We walked everywhere.  It was such a blast!  I can see why AWAA wouldn't take us there.  They say that security is their biggest importance, and I certainly wouldn't have gone there alone, but didn't feel unsafe at all with Ayele.  He assured me I'd have no problem due to having him along… all things worked out great! 

On the way home, I purchased a book from the Hilton entitled Touching Ethiopia.  It's a book we actually saw in Djibouti at Tom and Rachel's house.  They told us they purchased it at the Hilton and so we wanted it so Gideon (and others) can look at it. 

Getting in to the Hilton was different.  As Ayele drove up, a man tapped on the hood, so Ayele popped the hood and the guards checked everywhere.  Then they ran something under the car.  They popped the trunk and looked all through it, including my bags.  They also did the pat down.  Topping this off is the mandatory metal detector check once inside the entrance at the Hilton. 

I suppose there was someone VERY important meeting or staying there, as there was none of that when we stayed there. 

I got back to the Addis View Hotel and met Kathee in the lobby.  We immediately jumped in the hotel van who took us to lunch with the rest of the group.  I had asked Ayele to come back to the hotel and take us to meet the rest, but I guess after much discussion, a hotel van was left for us so when I arrived I could catch up with the rest. 

I paid Ayele, gave him a $6 tip, of which he acted like I'd given him the world.  He gave me his email, phone, and asked that "whenever any Americans come to Ethiopia, give them my number as I'd love to drive any of your friends around!"  And with that, we departed. 

This afternoon, after lunch, Kathee and I, and another family, were able to go to Gilgila, the orphanage AWAA got Gideon from when he was a month old.  Upon getting out, with Gideon, Kathee and I were rushed upstairs, through many hallways, into a back room, then into a room with the director of the orphanage. 

We chatted a bit, then the others came, and the discussion continued.  She shared the story of how she started the orphanage, etc.  After she shared, I shared with her some insight I gained from her story and she started to cry. 

She lived in the southwest of Ethiopia (where Gideon is also from… the southwest).  She was married, had 12 children, and a good life.  It sounded like she was doing very well, until her husband died.  After her husband died, one of her daughters got pregnant, which was an embarrassment to the family (as they were Christians and sounds like leaders in the village).  After she got pregnant the second time (she had mental issues), her mother brought her second child to Addis to a French agency to give the child up for adoption. 

Upon meeting her, the SOS group (French agency) asked her to keep bringing children.  So, in a year's time, due to fighting/war and HIV, she brought 170 children to Addis to their orphanage.  However, she brought 10 children over the age of 5 during one trip, and SOS said they won't take children over 5.  Upon asking what she should do, they said they didn't know, but wouldn't help her.  So, along with her 10 children (two passed), she took the 10 orphans into her home.  

She had a passion, came to Addis again, and starting meeting with people to find out how to get older children into orphanages.  None would take them.  So she prayed, and was encouraged by the SOS group to start her own, which she did.  And many times during the story, through the interpreter she continued to say that she has no education.  However, she started an orphanage, and now has 7 orphanages all over Ethiopia.  They have 3 offices in Addis.  In the orphanage where Gideon was, they have over 50 kids over 5 and many babies.  However, I believe they have well over 100 kids over 5 and about 50 babies (just a guess based on what I saw). 

After her story I shared with her two insights I gained from her story.  One was that God often uses pain and suffering to bring about hope, future, better life.  When the Father saw the pain and suffering of man due to sin, He sent His Son to die.  Through His death we now have hope, a better life, a future, and relationship with Him.  I shared that through the pain and suffering she had experienced, and giving up her granddaughter, she had brought about life and hope to hundreds of children (of which our Gideon came to us). 

I also shared that God loves to use the simple to confound the wise.  He loves to use the uneducated to change the world.  She had no education, yet has changed the lives of hundreds (maybe thousands) of Ethiopian children.  I shared that God doesn't need a certificate of education to change lives for eternity. 

She had tears as I shared this.  Upon finishing, she hugged us, we took pictures, and I shared that Gideon would know her story.

From there we toured the orphanage, seeing where Gideon slept, and even met the nanny taking care of him.  She cried when she saw him (tears of joy). 

I took pictures, and we left. 

It was quite a great day. 

I guess the hotel is throwing us a party this evening!  It begins at 7:30pm.  In the meantime, Tekle is bringing the map his friend made up for us and he's coming to share some information he has found out.  We are so excited!

Our time here is coming to a close.  I shared today that I could live in Addis.  However, I am more than ready to head to my home.  God has changed me by coming here.  He has changed Kathee.  And most certainly my son's life has as well. 

God is good, all the time. 

 

Isaac T         

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The Embassy Was a Cinch!

Our trip to the embassy went off flawlessly.  We parked across the street from the barracaded wall before the baracaded wall.  We all crossed the street, passed a tent-like structure filled with Ethiopians waiting for something, through the first set of metal detectors, and then through the second set.  From there we walked through sort of a maze work into a building, passed one waiting area filled with Ethiopians, up the stairs and into another waiting area filled with Ethiopians and our travel group.  We had to all be seated, and there were 8 windows before us.  One family went before ours was called.  "Terwilleger family, window 7 please," was called over the speaker.  So up we went and asked the questions we were told we'd be asked.  "Please raise your right hand and swear that all your answers will be truthful," "Is this the child you saw in your referral?  Yes."  "How did this child become an orphan?  His father passed away of malaria when his mother was four months pregnant with him.  When she had him she requested he be put up for adoption and placed in a family."  "Have you met the mother or do you intend to meet the mother?  No."  "Sign here and here.  Your wife will sign here."  We signed it.  He congratulated us and passed us some information.  He said, "Keep these as these are the originals."  In the packet is Gideon's Ethiopian birth certificate with Kathee's and my name as his parents, the court decree, the receipt of payment, and something else I forget.  He said that Gideon's visa will be ready on Friday morning.  From there we left the one waiting area and went down the stairs to wait for the rest of the families to get through.  We arrived around 1pm and I believe we left around 2:15pm, so it was quite quick and surprisingly uneventful!  
After that, Kathee, Gideon, and I waited in the van with 2 other moms for about an hour and a half while some went shopping (and Gideon didn't cry once).  Then we loaded up, went to the coffee place, and waited for another hour or more while they roasted the beans.  Again, not a peep out of Gideon.  He actually fell asleep in my arms and slept for almost an hour.  It was pretty cool.  And I changed him in the van, in less space than a plane seat, so that was encouraging, too!
We have now been chillin in the hotel room.  We just ordered room service.  I had the cheeseburger that tasted surprisingly like veal or lamb, but was still good.  The fries were AWESOME.  A couple of the other families went out for dinner, but we opted to stay in.  
Tomorrow I'm hiring Ayele to pick me up at 8:30 to head to the Hilton to buy the "Touching Ethiopia" book we want and then off to the mercado.  I believe we now have all our shopping done (15 pounds of freshly roasted Ethiopian coffee today) but I want to visit the largest market in Africa.  So we'll see.  
I'm so glad I did some reading before I came.  I'm just loving the history that is in this country.  I'm not the level of trivia of my brother Aaron, but I have found that I know enough to hold my own.  And, I also know my way around Addis pretty well, too.  
I'm not really sure what else to share.  Life is going well and we are loving our Gideon.  He has the most beautiful smile.  And he's quick to smile!  He talks with us a bit and has the "Dahh" down.  He is such a good boy.  We are hoping that continues until he gets out of Grandpa and Grandma T's car when we get to Moline.  He's so content, and we love him so.  
Our God is so good.  

Safely in His grip,
Isaac T       

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Happy Birthday, Uncle Zach!

Gideon wished that I express my deepest Happy Birthday wishes to his new
uncle Zach. He wants me to pass on that he can't wait to meet you (maybe at
the airport in Chicago?) and that he can't wait to spend Thanksgiving,
Christmas, Easter, and some weekends together for many years to come.
Gideon says he can't wait for his uncle Zach to play with him, read to him,
and be able to crawl up in Uncle Zach's lap and know he is loved by "Dad's
brother." Oh yeah, and Uncle Zach, Kathee and I wish you a happy birthday
as well.

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Morning update from a well-rested father

Well, after my first night as father, I find myself well rested and doing well.  Gideon fell asleep at 8pm, woke at 11:00pm to get his oil changed, back to sleep from 11:30 till 1:00am, up to get his oil changed and back to bed.  Up at 4:00am for another oil change and a bottle.  Then he slept until 8:15am.  The kid got over 10 hours of sleep (total). 
Here's the greatest thing.  Since he's been at the transition home for the past 5 months, he's been sharing a small crib with another child.  So last night, in his own crib, the kid was spread eagle and right in the middle of the crib.  It was awesome!!!  Each time we'd look at him sleeping, totally sprawled out and happy as a lark. 
We heard his cry this first time today.  He was a bit hungry and the bottle just wasn't ready in time.  Man, he is so cute it's almost a curse.  He has been smiling a ton, and has his times of giddiness.  It's so fun to have him with us. 
He's been spitting up MUCH LESS than when he was at the transition home.  I wonder if it's because the bottle isn't leaking (or maybe it was that the hole was too large).  And the kid can belch.  My son, taking after his father already!
We gave him a bath this morning!  It was so fun.  He seemed to do very well.  Kathee and I are having so much fun figuring stuff out.  We are in our element. 
We are going to be slowly weaning him off his schedule they had for him at the transition home.  We were told he was bathed twice a day.  Um, yeah, we love him, but this isn't the Sheraton.  And feedings every two hours is going to be slowed as well.  So we'll see how that goes. 
His disposition is great, although we are also wondering if he's been quiet because it's hard to get a word in edge-wise at the home.  He's been more vocal than we ever saw him at the home.  He was pretty quiet and reserved.  Now he's content, peaceful, and joy-filled.  And the glimmer in his eye is just too much.  He has a joy in life I can't wait to see God unfold before us. 
That's it for now.  Time to go spend time with Kathee and son.  We leave at 12:30pm (4:30am your time) for the US embassy.  By the time you read this, we'll probably already be back, hopefully with US visa in his Ethiopian passport!

Safely in His grip,
Isaac T

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A Word of Encouragement

The below is the response to an email I just received.  However, as the email noted that some of the waiting families have been checking my blog, I thought it may be helpful for all to have access to it. 

Kimberly, thanks for the email. Please note that Rachel has been trying to send out the updates for the last 2 to 3 days, but none will send.  She is kinda stressed about it.  She has them done, they just won't send.  Maybe today is the day?!!!
Please, please, please tell the Burk's their son is well!  We have pictures and video of him that we will send when we get home.  He was all laughs when the nannies were playing with him at the transition home. 
Please let them, and all the families know, that their children are being adored and loved on by the nannies.  They are cherished children and it's obvious by their actions.  And the children are surrounded by doting, loving women who are caring for their needs and giving them much love. 
All of the children we took care packages for are now at the transition home (I believe we thought that when we left two of the three children were still at Kid's Care).  They all three are at the transition home.
It's tough for me to say, "Yeah, this too is in God's hands," although we both know it is.  I'm sorry to hear about the struggles of another extension.  In times like these, it seems trite to say that "it's all in God's timing."  However, having our little Gideon is proof to us that when we started saving for his adoption in May of 2002, that God's timing is, in fact, perfect.  Although the urge was to begin the process earlier, we waiting for God's perfect timing.  And having my son in the room upstairs is proof that God's timing is perfect.  So as you endure and persevere, know that God is all about adoption, but in the midst of the wait, the pain, the anguish, know that our Faithful Father has also experienced the same was His Son was on earth.  And we know that Christ is waiting to be united with His bride, too.  Whether this brings solace or not, know that's God's word stands true, and what He calls His children to, He will carry to completion.     
That being said, it seems like this train NEVER comes in to the station.  And just when you see the depot in sight, you take another bend in the track and lose sight of the depot.  Believe it or not, just when you get here doesn't mean the depot is here.  Today we go to the US Embassy, which is still a stressful deal.  I don't believe we'll be getting off the train until we are safely at home in Moline, IL.
We serve an awesome and majestic.  Many times during the process that has been an easy reality in which to praise the Lord.  Also many times during this process it has been a choice (when the emotions/feeling weren't there).  We serve an AWESOME God!

Safely in His grip,
Isaac T  
   

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Why No Pictures?

As the connection is so slow at the hotel, uploading pictures takes forever, and so I won't be uploading any pictures until we are Stateside.  We may be going to an internet cafe tomorrow (and borrowing high speed from the African Union who has offices above the cafe) but won't promise anything.  Just FYI. 

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Blogging Comments

I have also forgotten to let you know that I'm only able to post to the blog via sending an email.  So I can't actually see the blog.  So if anyone is making comments, or asking questions, please email them to isaacoffupc@qconline.com.  This is the email of which I'm checking, and sending blog posts.  So if people are waiting for me to respond to comments or questions, resend them to the above email address and I'll either blog the responses, or email you directly!

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My Two Wives (from Djibouti)

Kathee has been asking me to post on this since we were in Djibouti, and I have forgotten each time.  I forgot to write that when I went and spoke to the teenagers on Thursday evening they seemed a bit surprised (we found out).  As I walked in with two women who are about the same age, they assumed that Kathee and Rachel were two of my wives.  When Rachel told me this I laughed, until she said, "in Djibouti, a man can have up to four wives."  So I guess they thought it a bit weird that a youth pastor would have multiple wives.  Anyway, Kathee still laughs at that one!   

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OUR SON IS FINALLY WITH US!!!!

We just changed, fed, prayed over, and put Gideon down for sleep!  Man, what a blessing!  I'm ear to ear smile as I write this.  What a glorious day for us.  What a blessing from the Lord.  We love our son, Gideon.  

Today was a pretty spectacular day, really.  This morning we filled out all the paperwork we need for tomorrow's embassy appointment.  Then we went shopping (and we made a haul), then to lunch, and finally to the transition to get the children!  

This morning we got the rest of the information about Gideon.  We also got to see the copy of his Ethiopian passport picture and information.  The information for the government was again very confusing, but filled out and turned back in to Rachel with the $400 to process the US visa.  

Shopping today was great, too.  The one thing I wanted to purchase was an Ethiopian chair and a prayer stick.  I procured two chairs and the prayer stick (which I believe the prayer stick was purchased for me from a man using it, then sold to me as the man I asked told me he'd find me once he found one).  We also got a ton of other stuff, too, which is cool. 

The transition home was a pretty surreal experience.  We pretty much sat and played with Gideon for a few hours, fed him, had the nannies change him, etc.  Gideon's nanny, who seems to be very young had a great deal of struggle giving him up.  She made herself scarce much of the afternoon, popping in to feed him, change him, and then kind of evaporating.  Oh how she loves our son. 

All the nannies have been so loving to Gideon.  Many asked for their pictures with him and were kissing him and playing with him, etc.  It was telling to me that a few of the nannies who were not working today stopped by (on their day off) to say goodbye to the children they have been caring for for so many months.  It's so good to see what a loving, caring, nurturing, and healthy environment they are in each day until we come and pick them up. 

I only wish we spoke Amharric or they spoke English.  Although Kathee wrote each female nanny, the male guard, and the rest of the men, we would have so loved to have been able to pray with her, share with her how appreciative we are, and love on her with words she can understand.      

By the end, however, Kathee and I were ready to "cut the cord" and say goodbye.  We don't do well with Minnesota goodbyes (when you say goodbye in the house, the doorway, the front step, the driveway, inside the car, when you pull the car out, and as you drive off).  Obviously the rest of the group needs to say goodbye in the ways they know and want to do.  So Kathee and I just kinda made ourselves scarce as most of the others were still working through goodbyes.  

One neat opportunity we had was to take care packages for 3 waiting families.  So today we gave them to their children, took pictures and video, and will then get them to the families when we get home.  

On the way home we had to stop for formula and bottled water.  I think I purchased a man's limit (with four canisters and a case of water).  However, due to this amount, it appeared that the other fathers in the supermarket also walked out with just about the same amount of each.  

We want to get him home before switching his formula over to American formula.  And although they said they've been feeding him some cereals (which we were told he wasn't prior to our coming, so naturally we didn't bring dishes and whatnot… just another miscommunication…ahh, nevermind… not going to go off tonight).  Tonight after we took him up to dinner at the restaurant, we brought him back, and man did he start talking.  He and I were chatting up a storm.  Kathee was laughing about it.  It really felt good to see him starting moving his muscles, and talking, and being a baby.  Pretty much at the transition home he was very quiet and content.  So that was really fun. 

We also had a good laugh about the clothes Kathee packed for his "parting the transition home."  Decked out in his new Nebraska onesie, with the matching Husker socks, and the Husker pacifier (which pacifiers aren't used in the home, so we'll see how he does with one… if he even needs one), and blue jeans.  The family adopting from Omaha (now Boulder, CO), thought it was VERY cool.  The rest wondered how we got through the home study without the Nebraska abuse issue coming up?!  We all had a great laugh about that.  One new father, a Washington Huskies fan, said we should take bets on how long before he spits up on it because he wants to be in purple (I told him that purple might be cute on guys on the left coast, but not in God's heartland). 

So our day was very good.  Kathee and I sat at dinner tonight and chatted with a young couple (married for a month and a half) who are here in Addis and staying in our hotel, who are here serving on a medical mission trip with the Assemblies of God.  So we chatted with them for 20 minutes or so. 

I thanked them, as it hit me walking up the stairs to the restaurant (as I saw them), that their being here is helping limit the number of orphans in Ethiopia.  As Gideon's biological father died of malaria (an entirely preventable disease), it hit me how important their missions work here is.  So we had a great talk with them. 

It feels so weird to have Gideon finally with us.  For years he was a dream and a prayer.  Then he was a possibility (which child will we receive for our referral?).  Then we saw his first picture.  Then we got monthly updates.  Then we passed court and he became our son legally.  Then yesterday we got to meet him.  Then today we brought him home.  And as a quick aside, isn't that the way God sees us?  Isn't that God's plan of adoption of us from before the beginning (although as a good Calvinist, I believe he had our "referral pictures" and information from the beginning, but I further digress)?  We are living in the already-not yet of Christ's adoption of us!  This imagery is so perfect.  Almost like adoption was God's plan from before time (see Galatians and Ephesians and a bit of Romans, too). 

And so for the next few days my struggle will be maintaining Godly attitude.  I'm ready to be home in America.  I'm getting done with Ethiopian food for a while (although this country makes the best French fries of any place in the world).  I'd like just normal "comfort" food.  I enjoyed Djiboutian food.  I enjoyed the Somali food.  I enjoyed Ethiopian food.  But I'm ready for AMERICAN!!!!  I'm ready to be in my own home.  I'm ready to speak English fluently again.  I'm ready to be at home with my wife and my son.  I'm ready to get back to youth ministry and being at the church.  And so Kathee and I will walk with Christ in remaining steadfast to living this time in Ethiopia to its fullest.  We will walk to bring Christ glory and make His name great, even when our desire is to just get our Warrior Son home (Gideon means warrior).

Tomorrow we head to the US Embassy at 12:30pm for what will probably end up taking 3 to 4 hours (to get the 5 families through all of their appointments… which are more or less "be here at this time and wait until we call you").  I believe we are on our own for supper tomorrow evening.  Thursday is a trip to Kids Care orphanage in the morning (although I'm going to head to the Mercado) and then to the orphanage Gideon lived in for the first month of his life in the afternoon.  

Friday is open till 6pm check out and head to the airport.  I'm thinking that it will take us 24 hours plus to make the trip to Moline from Addis Ababa.  

And so, dear friends, our God continues to astound me with His grace, mercy, and love.  I am a father in the truest since.  I have new responsibilities placed upon me by my Lord and Savior, which I am excited about and unqualified for completing on my own.  And so, I kneel in prayer, knowing that my faithful Father will equip me, walk with me, help me, and pour grace upon my child(ren).  Blessings friends, He is great indeed! 

  

Safely in God's family,

Isaac T

     

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Some sad but encouraging words!

Today we got to see Gideon's profile while we were filling out information for the US Embassy.  We found out that Gideon's father, born in 1978 died in December of last year of malaria.  He passed while his wife was four months pregnant with Gideon (we are so happy and relieved to find it wasn't from AIDS or some along those lines).  His mother was born in 1985, having no other children, and willingly signed off on adopting him to anyone living anywhere, and forever!  A later document said she signed off on his international adoption!  He has 3 aunts and uncles, I believe between the ages of 10 and 20 years old and a grandfather still living.  We found out he was born in the south of Ethiopia, we have the name of the district, and the area.  Now we are off to shop, to the Hilton for lunch, and then to the transition home to pick him up!
I believe we are leaving.  

In Him,
Isaac T  


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WE MET OUR SON!!!!!!

Our Gideon, our Gideon, our Gideon!  What a handsome young fellow.  Oh, our union was so sweet!  We woke this morning, went up to the restaurant on the top floor for breakfast, and then met the rest of the families at 10:00am.  From there we loaded up and went to the local Starbucks knockoff to meet Rachel (the director of the transition home) for our first team meeting (time, culture, money, etc, etc, etc).  From there we went upstairs in the same building for lunch.  And then after everyone was done, we headed to the transition home.  We all arrived, and waited outside one of the buildings, where Rachel brought our children out to us by last night (so naturally, Terwilleger was last).  So we were able to take pictures and video for everyone else as they were united with their children.  As we were last…ahhh…. It was so sweet!  Kathee and I decided that I'd be the one to receive him, just awake from his nap.  Our son is magnificent!  We received him soon after 1pm, he fell asleep on Kathee at 4pm, and we left at 5pm.  He didn't cry once.  Our son has been surrounded by love.  The nannies are outstanding… it's obvious they have been loving our children in our stead.  Gideon's nanny, a young lady (looks about 14 or 15) by the name of Mulu______ (sorry, can't remember the rest) loves him to pieces.  She is very protective and he takes to her quite well.  It must be so hard on the nannies.  They know from the beginning that they are loving these kids until we arrive, and boy do they love them.  Kathee and I have been praying that Gideon would be in a home where love and laughter flow abundant… it's obvious he has been in that arrangement.  I got to feed him and he ate like a horse (and then spit up a lot of it). 

Gideon (called Markos for the rest of the week, or while no one else is listening) is attentive to noises, played with me and showed pretty good motor skills, laughed a bunch when the nannies got him going, had great eye contact, and seems to be a peaceful and content little boy. 

Here's something we found really neat.  We found out that Gideon had been sharing a crib in the orphanage (during his first month alive) with the Nunez' boy (another family picking up their son this week).  The head nanny said that the two of them came from the same orphanage and that they shared the same crib in the transition home until the Nunez boy got too big!  So we are going to find if the two of them came from the same village, but at the least, they both spent about the first month of their life in the same orphanage together, and then got moved to the AWAA transition home on the exact same day, and shared the same crib until Josiah Nunez started hogging the crib. 

We also found that we will be going to the orphanage that Gideon lived in until he moved to the AWAA transition home.  So that will be pretty cool, too.  Added to that, hopefully, any information Tekle can get us, and we feel like we have WAY more information than we could have imagined. 

I took a million pictures and video today, however, due to the incredibly slow speed of these computers, I won't be able to upload pictures until we get back to the States.  I believe we have video of receiving Gideon, and I know we have pictures! 

At 5pm we left the transition home, headed back to the hotel for an hour, and then out to a traditional Ethiopian restaurant.  It was much like the one we went to with Tekle, and we again were able to have the Tej (the honey beer).  I don't believe anyone other than the Ethiopian man with us enjoyed it like we do.  However, it was just fine.  And I remembered my camera and video camera, so we have both of singing and dances. 

Tomorrow we meet to fill out paperwork for the US Embassy at 10am, go shopping for souvenirs, out for lunch, and then to the transition home.  There we will meet with the head nurse and head nanny to get medical information and how much to feed him, when, etc.  We'll meet with Rachel to get files and other information, have time for the nannies to say goodbye, and then we'll head back to the hotel to hang out. 

I suppose that's it for now.  God is good.  Our son Gideon Markos is beautiful.  And we are still madly in love.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow! 

 

In Him,

Isaac T   

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Hotel Link

I don't know if anyone is curious or not, but here is the link to the hotel we are staying at this week.  We absolutely love this place.   
http://www.addisviewhotel.com/

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Sunday Night Update From Addis

Sunday

This morning was attended church at IEP.  Yesterday when we asked Ayallah, the driver we employed for Saturday and today, if he knew where the International Evangelical Church was he had no idea.  Later, we found out that everyone here calls it IEC.  So we had a good laugh this morning when he picked us up.  He knew exactly where it was and took us right to it.  It's a massive church, although we were surprised how few expats were there (that's what we were hoping for).  For those of you who don't know, Kathee's father's call is to English-speakers who are living outside the US, mostly in capital cities where English is not the primary language.  Which is why he's served in Kinshasah, Zaire (DRC), Guatemala, and now New Dehli, India.  So we were pumped to go there today.  Add to that, last night Tekle shared with us that he had tried to get Karl (Kathee's dad) to pastor IEP some years back.  

It certainly wasn't a Presbyterian church.  Singing.  Man there was singing.  Seemed like the whole service was singing, with a short devotional thrown in.  Give me four walls and a sermon (and let's sing…maybe three hymns).  There was an American preaching there today, and we thought not much depth at all.  Kathee said that my teaching to the teenagers is much deeper than the sermon today.  The church was beautiful, and it was great receiving communion on a cross-cultural basis.  

After church, with Ayallah waiting in the parking lot, we jumped in the car, Kathee found a restaurant in the piazza area of town.  We ate the best French fries I've had anywhere in the world, a hamburger that didn't taste like hamburger but the fixins were better than American burgers, and coke.  It was very fun.  And good food.  

Our purchase of the Lonely Planet book has been the most-helpful resource we have here.  That alone has allowed us to go pretty much everywhere in the city and do things we find interesting.  And man, we've gone everywhere. 

So after lunch we had our driver drive us to the Entoto Market.  As it was Sunday, there really wasn't much open (which is why we opted not to go to the Mercato, which is "the largest market in Africa).  However, I want to go to the Mercato this week, so we thought it best to go to Entoto Market today.  We walked the shops, and Kathee purchased a necklace and bracelet.  I am wanting to purchase some fabric that will adorn our altar we have for our Wednesday evening worship time with the kids.  We had guys running all over the market bringing us back table cloths that I ultimately turned down for one reason or another.  

At 3pm we got back to our hotel, paid Ayallah 300 birr for 6 hours (about USD $30) and asked him if he'd be willing to drive us places this week if we called.  "Oh most certainly, Isaac, I have really enjoyed driving you around."  Whether the joy is our company, or the money we've paid him over the past two days (about $50), we are both mutually encouraged by each other!

We went to our room, rested, awoke, went to dinner on the top floor (overlooks Addis) and now I'm here.  

One thing I'm amazed at here is the infatuation with B. Hussein Obama.  He's on pretty much all the international stations we get on tv.  We've seen people wearing his shirts in Addis, and Djibouti.  They love him "because he's one of us."  I'm also amazed at the inherent racism that's cheered on (nevermind his politics, his actual record on Africa (see Darfur), or the fact that Bush and the Republicans have done more in Africa in the past 8 years than any president has ever done before.  Bush has pumped in literally billions of dollars to fight AIDS, teach abstinence, etc (I first read about this from my man Bono of the band U2).  And yet, everyone here is infatuated with an unproven man, with absolutely no experience in foreign policy (they are excited about how he might deal with places such as Congo, Somalia, etc), all because he has family from Kenya?  Seriously?  No.  Seriously.  CNN today said that Obama spent his formative years in Kenya.  Seriously?  What about his schooling in Indonesia and Hawaii.  And, just because Kathee spent her formative years in Congo in junior high and Guatemala in high school doesn't mean she's an expert on Guatemala and Congo.  Shoot, McCain (who I didn't vote for, so ease off) spent more time, at an older age in a prison in Vietnam.  He was well-versed in the foreign-policy of the VC.  He also is well-versed in dealing with communist and rogue states.  And yet, we want Obama because he's one of us?  My gosh.  And what's sicker, is that it's the same crap in America… okay… I'm venturing into politics… and away from the point of this blog.  Sorry.    

Well, tomorrow we meet Gideon.  We have a travel group meeting at 10am in the conference room (which happens to be right outside our room).  Then we do lunch someplace, then head to the transition home to meet our children.  Then on Tuesday we'll bring him back with us to the hotel.  We are super-excited and pray that all will go well.  The other 3 or 4 families haven't arrived yet so we'll meet them tomorrow at the meeting.  Please keep us in your prayers.  He is good, all the time He is good!

 

In Him,

Isaac T

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Our Night With Tekle!!!

I will now try this again.  And this one may be significantly long, as the long email/post I had last evening was not uploaded or sent because I was somehow kicked off my email (and no draft was saved).  However, I found Word on the computer and am now going to do a copy and paste to insure it doesn't happen again.  

So Kathee and I had the most extraordinary evening last night with Tekle, and old friend of the family.  He studied under Doctor Bob Smith (Kathee's grandpa who was a beloved professor at Bethel College) in the late 60s.  He is also an uncle of sorts to David Wicklund, who is a beloved brother in Christ with me, as well as, Kathee's cousin Lisa's husband.  And man, did we get two great stories about "little David."  However, those needent be shared here, as I HIGHLY doubt David would appreciate them being posted.  

Tekle came and picked us up around 5:30pm.  He said he had reservations for us, but that we had to "burn some time" before they were ready.  Ultimately we headed to the restaurant at 8:00pm. 

On the way, when Tekle found out I was a youth pastor he said, "if only I'd known this before.  Isaac, I could have had you out preaching in the villages to teenagers.  We are so in need of youth ministry in the villages.  The teenagers need Jesus Christ.  We could have set up 4 days of you preaching and teaching the Gospel in the far-out villages."  What a neat possibility, however, then we'd have missed out on visiting our friends Tom and Rachel in Djibouti, and missed out on seeing what they do in Djibouti (of which we also share in a small part).  

So we headed to the Sheraton Hotel, which is by far the most beautiful hotel I've ever seen.  And gigantic!  Wow!  

As we entered, you'd think Tekle owned the place.  The security guards were glad handing him.  The people at the metal detectors we all excited to see him.  And that was pretty much the goings on for the entire evening.  It was obvious to us that God has raised this man up in Ethiopia to build God's kingdom here.  

So as we sat sipping our machiato's, Tekle leaned over the table and said, "the men sitting next to you are high government officials.  They are very powerful.  And for them to be meeting here, at this time, I can only imagine what important issue they are working out.  Two minutes later, they notice him, "TEKLE!!!!" and off Tekle goes and chats with them a bit.  In some ways, it made us feel like we were with royalty!

Tekle was interested in how we met, and was greatly encouraged that we met at Bethel.  He graduated from Bethel and took some classes at the seminary.  He said he had a tough time at the seminary, but was involved in making a change that had a great impact on my life.  He greatly struggled with Bethel's equipping of its students to do missions on a cross-cultural basis.  He shared with the head of the missions department that he was struggling and planning on leaving because of it.  Before he did, the head asked his opinion on how to build a program that would effectively equip its students to do mission in Africa and elsewhere.  One of the recommendations he made was to hire a man named Herb Klem, a friend he had made while in Kenya, a man heavily involved in world missions, and knew how to do missions in Africa.  At that time, Doctor Klem was at Wheaton.  So Bethel hired Doctor Klem.  Kathee and I took Missions in the 21^st Century our senior year of college from Doctor Klem.  Now, I disagreed with him on a lot of things, but remember talking things out with him sometimes 30 minutes to an hour after class had dismissed.  I remember going to his office at the seminary and discussing issues in world missions with him.  I didn't like him as a teacher, but loved dialoging with him as a believer and lover of God's children across the globe.  So that was an incredibly neat connection. 

After dinner we strolled through the grounds at the Sheraton.  So beautiful, with a fantastic water spout show, amazing roses all over the grounds, etc.  It was very, very nice.  After we had finished talking there, we jumped in his truck, headed to the Ethiopian version of Starbucks (complete with green and white insignia that says "Kalids") for Tekle to drop off some information to a friend. 

From there we headed to a restaurant called Fasili, which serves traditional Ethiopian food.  We both tried and ordered Tedj, which after getting home and reading in our Lonely Planet book, is fermented honey- a local drink that is a "must."  Tekle, laughingly said, "Don't tell the Baptists!" 

Tekle had called and reserved the best seats in the house for us.  In the middle of our seats was the traditional Ethiopian table for eating (I'd describe it but can't).  The inside of the restaurant kind of had a "hut feel" to it.  There was lived music being played, with songs coming from the 80+ tribes in Ethiopia.  A really neat part was the dancers that would come out and dance the traditional tribal dances.  It was fantastic.  At one point, the dancers (4 in all) came to the table areas and kind of challenged the people to dance with them.  Tekle refused, Kathee laughed it off, and naturally I stood and embarrassed myself.  Other than having no rythmn whatsoever, I really had fun "mirroring" the dance.  I believe this shall be kept from my son's knowledge until he is psychologically ready to hear this story.

After each song, the 4 would go into the back, get into their new costumes and come and dance to another tribes song and dance.  It was an opportunity we'd never had taken in had Tekle not taken us there. 

We at the ingera (a kind of fermented flat pancake that has an acidic taste).  What they do is put a large, flat piece of injera that covers the entire top of the table.  On top of the injera comes whatever is ordered (we had collared greens, lamb, and beef).  Then rolls of injera are placed around the table (they look like rolls of tp).  One picks up the roll, tears off a piece, and picks up the food with it and eats it all.  It was very good food.  We enjoyed what was pretty much a ceremony.  Just before the food coming a man came up with a large teapot and colander-type thing.  In the colander was a bar of soap.  One picks up the soap and washes their hands while the man pours hot water over the hands.  Upon completion, a lady brought towels to dry off the hands, making one ready for the food to come and eat.  And man did we eat and enjoy our time!  At the end of the meal, they come back, wash hands, and then asked if we want coffee.  For the first time since we've been here, I tried the coffee….HOLY COW!!!!  It's honestly like espresso on espresso.  It's like drinking mud, like having espresso with 4 shots of espresso in the drink.  I took two sips and was done (Tekle noticed I was trying to be polite and swallow more down.  He said, "Isaac, you are free with me.  You don't like it?  Don't drink it.  You are free)

What an amazing experience. 

On the way back to our hotel he asked us about our son.  We asked him if he would have time to come and see where Gideon was born and if he could tell us anything about the village, area, etc. 

When we handed him the referral information he burst out laughing.  He was just in Gideon's home village two weeks ago.  He said, "Two weeks ago I would have had no idea where this was."  He said pretty much no one in the country would know where this is as the village was just started 6 years ago.  He said it was a couple hundred Km from Addis.  He went there with a friend who just purchased a large farm there and asked Tekle to ride along.  "Kids, I just stayed there, in the very village, two weeks ago tomorrow.  I know where this is.  This is simpying amazing, a mystery revealed to me!" 

He also shared that his friend works in the Ethiopian Mapping Department and will have him make us a map of the area, so we know right where he is from (the map we bought from the guy on the street was old, Tekle said, and didn't even have the roads on it correctly).  He also said his friend is the head of the district that Gideon was born in, so Tekle would call and see what he could find out about Gideon's biological mom and dad.  "I'll get back to you on this.  Don't worry.  I had no idea why I went with my friend to this place, now I do."  So we'll see if anything comes about from this.  The possibility is neat to think about, and what a joy if it comes to fruition.  However, we continue to pray for Gideon's mom that she knows (or will come to know) Jesus as Savior and Lord so we can all reunite in heaven!          

By the end, Tekle prayed over us, prayed for Gideon Markos, his biological mother.  Man, Kathee and I were crying like little babies.  What a joy.  We hugged, shared our love, and walked him out.  We asked him to come back and meet little Gideon, and we want him to pray over our little one, of which he seemed enthusiastic! 

It is certainly one of the most intriguing and fun nights we've ever experienced.  And to share it with a brother in Christ who loves the Lord and serves Him mightily.  What a blessing!

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