Lots of positivity

Saturday night Nana and Aunt Lora helped us make centerpieces for the party- they are full of education about adopting as well as Rwanda- maybe someone will learn something that inspires them while partying with us Feb 7! Ryan also contacted the US consulate regarding the safety of US children traveling in Rwanda; he thought it was a great idea and said his only concern would be that TV and bookstores aren't in English and that waiting in lines can be long. I said I thought that was a universal parenting problem!

The other good news is that we've received our passports- now we just make color photocopies of them and head to the Kansas Secretary of State's office to get it authenticated.

The great news is that the KC Star is featuring our I Heart Rwanda story in the neighborhood news next week. Front page! Talk about free PR.

Being flooded with these blessings encourages us every day that God is behind us, so who should we fear?

Travel Safety

Lately, our family has been faced with questions regarding safety and travel when we venture to Rwanda to pick up our kids. First and foremost, Ryan and I believe with certainty that God will always keep us in His protective hand. Second, "despite the horrors that have visited Rwanda in the past, it remains a safe country to visit and Kigali is one of Africa's safest big cities." - http://www.go2africa.com/rwanda/african-safari-guide/health-safety Our agency, America World, will provide all of our travel arrangements, including transportation and lodging, a daily agenda and staff that will accompany us. It is also important to mention that Rwandans are saddened by the genocide of '94 and take deep pride in their nation's unity at this time. Rwanda is tiny, the size of Maryland, but it is surrounded by 4 other countries. Currently, there is unrest in the Congo, which is on the other side of Mount Karisimbi, a volcano. We're going to an orphanage in Kigali. We aren't going into this country without first learning as much as we can about what we're doing- not to mention praying that God guide us all the way. Also, we aren't the first to do this with our biological kids in tow; there is currently a family that is in Rwanda adopting their daughter and their biological kids are accompanying them. We'll keep you posted in their success story too. Thanks for your support and prayers.

Our Dinner and Auction

We've been blown away by the amount of support and donations that our I Heart Rwanda Dinner has received. The silent auction has everything from a Garmin GPS system to a doll's hairstyling chair (I am not kidding.). There will be plenty of smoked meat courtesy of Ryan, Jeff Herbster and other local BBQ dudes. Our whole family is excited for the event because it will mean that we can then mail our dossier to Rwanda with all funds for courrier fees covered. " And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." -2 Corinthians 9:8

Passports

Yesterday (1/16) we received our Homeland Security approval! They have forwarded it to Ethiopia (where our kids will ge their visas). Yesterday we also got our passports turned in, and in true Higgins fashion, Molly grinned ear-to-ear while Blake had to be pinned against a wall.

Rwandan Friends

Ryan laughs at my "glass is half full" attitude about seeking help for our adoption. A couple of weeks ago, I sent emails to safari companies in Africa and soon found myself with an emailing the manager of Kazinga tours (www.kazingatours.com). His name is Warren and he himself is a genocide survivor that raised 9 siblings. Besides being a source of information, he is also a strong Christian and now praying for our adoption. He believes strongly that his country has overcome the hatred of the genocide only through God's redeeming love. How cool is that?! Attached is a local picture he sent us.

Passports and such

Our last neccessary piece of the dossier is passports. Surprisingly, the Basehor Post Office made an appointment for us just down the street- and compared to the required paperwork for our homestudy and I-600, passports are a walk in the park. We will then take all of our documents to the secretary of state of Kansas to get them authenticated. My birth certificate and our marriage license have to be authenticated in NE, so they will go seperate. It is silly that there are this many hoops to jump through. I don't know how people could get through them if they didn't have faith in our Lord to help us endure! Now is mostly just waiting and praying. Ryan and I have completed 7 grant applications- these are like filing for taxes- all 7 grants are from Christian organizations that believe finances shouldn't hinder families from adopting. Neither of us fills at all anxious about the money because we feel so completely confident that God will provide in His time. Money isn't a mountain He can't move.

Dossier Update

January 11, 2009:

Today we received a document in the mail with a return address from Homeland Security...yipee! Thinking that our I-600A was complete, I was excited. However, it was only a letter saying that our homestudy either needed t obe ammended or we'd completed the wrong form. Agh. 2hrs later, Ryan Hanlon, our case manager, had the correct form sent and we've once again re-submitted our Homeland Security paperwork.

At this point, our dossier is so close to being complete. Every day we work on fundraising efforts for our dinner on Feb 7. We are so thankful that we rarely hear "no" for an answer! My prayer is that our kids are feeling loved right now. That someone snuggles them when they need snuggled, kisses their tears and tells them that their mommy and daddy will be here soon.