Kigali, Rwanda

Friday, September 30, 2011

Boarding our flight from Nairobi to Kigali

We boarded our flight after our long layover in Nairobi. Just before take off, Maddie spotted a bunch of police cars and other vehicles approaching the plane. Some people in suits got out and shook hands. Then a few of them boarded the plane. We later learned that it was the Vice President of Burundi and his staff. The flight stopped in Burundi before continuing on to Kigali. During the stop, a gentleman with a Rwandan flag lapel pin came to talk to us. He introduced himself and talked with us for a few minutes. Turns out, he's from the Rwandan Ministry of Transportation. He visited the Boeing plant in Washington recently to accept Rwandair's new jet. From there, the flight to Kigali was less than an hour it seemed. As we descended, we saw the hilly landscape that Rwanda is famous for. The red soil. The hilltop villages. Thirty something hours after leaving home, we'd finally arrived in the land of a thousand hills.

Nairobi Airport

Friday, September 30, 2011
3:03am

Maddie and the kids are trying to sleep on rearranged airport furniture. It's not good sleep, but it's sleep. We're an hour into our eight-hour layover.

Sleeping, well trying, at the Nairobi airport

It's raining outside and humid inside. The airport is older but is very clean. We're in a hallway outside a 24-hour restaurant. Restaurant workers make regular treks past us carting away spent cartons then returning with stock for the busy day ahead.

There are other stranded travelers around, each with their own style of making due with airport furniture arms that disallow laying down proper. One of two western travelers across from us let's out a good snore once every few minutes.

The flights were good so far. The LA to Istanbul leg (12+hours) went faster than it should have. There were plenty of on-demand movies to watch and a non-full flight, which made for some nice elbow room. If "Turkish airplane food" is any indication of real Turkish food, then I'm a fan. Istanbul looked interesting from the little we saw. Wouldn't mind spending more time there. The next flight to Nairobi (6+ hours) was fine. No complaints except for a fanny that's getting tired of sitting.

Joe has been pretty miserable, feeling side effects of the malaria medication. He's awake again. Sitting up with a blank stare of misery and tiredness.

It's hard to believe we're in Africa. It's been quite a long day so far and will soon turn into a big day... Maddie's birthday and the day we get to meet our boy.

It's a BOY!

It is with great excitement that we announce we will be having a 2 year old (and 4 months, but who's counting...) boy.

We will be leaving for Rwanda to meet him on Wednesday! We are all beyond the moon to meet him and welcome him into our family. All of us will be going, so this will be one family trip that none of us will ever forget!

We will try to update the blog as much as we can and will post pictures when we are able to (it's a legal thing).

Thank you to everyone for all of your support over the last 21 months! We appreciate your love and prayers!

Woo-Hoo!!!

Thankful

I'm a lucky guy.

The last few months have been a crazy time in the Hendrych house. We've seen our little girl graduate from high school. Followed the next day by sending our little boy go off on his own to work for a month at a camp in Oregon. (I use the term "work" here loosely... I understand there's a fair amount of fishing and other leisure activities going on.) With these two kids growing up the way they are, I'm torn between the loss of losing my "babies" and the pride I have in being the dad of such wonderful human beings.

Our adoption journey has been bumpy as of late. The highs of getting our approval in March and the baby shower in May have been followed by lows from uncertainty and doubt due to recent events. My relationship with God has grown along this journey during both times of thankfulness and times when we're in "the desert place". Fortunately, Maddie and I take turns being the strong one and the weak one. No surprise to anyone reading this, I am very blessed to have her. She is an amazing woman... a strong and caring wife and a wonderful mother.

I know that one day we'll have the answers as to why this period of our journey is so rough. Until then, we'll carry on faithfully... thankful for what we have and what He'll do.

366 Days

So our dossier has been in Rwanda for exactly 366 days. 


Now, more than ever, we need prayer... We've learned that if a family doesn't receive a referral within six months of receipt of their non-objection letter, their case may be closed. Our six-month day is September 11, 2011.

That part is a little scary, but while we pray for God's hand to move mightily, we're also mindful of the many great people at MIGEPROF (the ministry in Rwanda) and the Home of Hope orphanage who are working hard for the orphaned children there. Please remember them in your prayers.

A song came into my head. It’s called Valleys Fill First, by Caedmon’s Call.

This is the valley that I’m walking through

And if fells like forever since I’ve been close to you


My friends up above me don’t understand why i struggle like i do


My shadow's my only, only companion and at night he leaves too

Down in the valley, dying of thirst


Down in the valley, it seems that I’m at my worst


My consolation is that you baptize this earth


When I'm down in the valley, valleys fill first

Down in this wasteland I miss the mountaintop view


But it's here in this valley that I’m surrounded by you


Though I'm not here by my will it’s where your view is the most clear


So I'll stay in this valley it takes 40 years

And it's like that long Saturday your death and the rising day

When no one wrote a word, wondered is this the end

But you were down there in the well, saving those that fell

Bringing them to the mountain again

It reminded me that we are not alone, even when you feel like it.

Thank you for all of your prayers and love. We need them now more than ever! 


Let’s pray for an e-mail in July!

11 Months...

So, Monday marked 11 months of our dossier being in Rwanda. Nothing much else to report. We are being patient.

I have been praying for strength and patience and endurance throughout this long journey. I think it’s amazing how God will give you a little pat on the back or a little nudge to keep moving forward. Who knew it would come in the form of a fortune cookie? When I opened it, I knew that it was meant just for me. It read:

“You will win success in whatever you adopt.”

How amazing is that? Well, it’s time for me to go to sleep, but I’ll be posting pictures soon from our baby shower, taken by one of my best friends, Cindy. J It was an amazing event, thrown by my three best friends, Cindy, Heidi and Krista. I had hoped to have our referral by then and be writing this blog from Africa right now, but God’s timing is just perfect and I know that there is a reason why it’s taking longer.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Let’s bring BABY HENDRYCH HOME!

2 Anniversaries

Now that we have been Approved, we now have two anniversaries to keep track of. April 11th marked our 1 month anniversary of getting our Non-Objection letter and the 23rd of April will mark 11 months of our Dossier being in Rwanda. 


We are seeing a ton of progress and movement which is just amazing! Our letter stated that the rest of the process should take about 2 months, so that would put us at May 11th for getting a referral -or- travelling to Rwanda. I'm not sure if the 2 months was to referral or with the whole shabang, so we are preparing for either situation. 


We spent some time on Sunday getting toiletries purchased (LOVE Target!) but we are holding off on the specific baby items (OTC Medication, diapers, etc) until we know who we are buying for. Everyone has been so supportive and this journey has been amazing. I am just soo ready to bring my little one/ones to visit everyone who has been praying and helping our family become whole. 


Much love, hugs and kisses to you all!