An angel named Andrew

I've been hesitant to share too much about my last couple of phone calls from Nana and her husband because quite honestly I just wasn't sure how serious they were and really how much they could do for us. But I feel like I need to give God the praise in all of this because there is clearly no other reason any of this is happening.

So last week I received an email from Nana asking me to call her as she and her husband "had an update" for me with regards to our adoption. Of course I called but really had no expectations at all. I believed they wanted to help but I really had no idea what they were capable of or what kind of connections they had. So I remained reluctantly optimistic.

Nana answered the phone and quickly suggested I speak with her husband who could explain recent events better than she. Her husband says hello like we're old friends. He apologizes for not calling sooner but says he wanted to wait until there was some real progress to report back to us. He goes on to say that his lawyers have met with the our attorney in Kumasi as well as the Director of Social Services in Kumasi. He tells me his lawyers are petitioning the court on our behalf and that if they don't make any head way in Kumasi, they will go straight to the Court in Accra.

He spoke with such authority and confidence. I was so taken aback at what this 'stranger' was saying to me, I was speechless. All I could say was "How can I ever thank you, re-pay you. I don't even know your name." "First", he said, "my name is Andrew and you don't owe me a thing." "God brought us together. I have the means to help you and that's what I am here to do for you." Of course I am near sobbing at this point. Rarely am I at a loss for words but clearly there are no words in my mind that convey what my head and heart are feeling at this moment. I mean, this man is giving of his time and resources to help a total stranger. Only God makes such a thing like this happen.

I continue to tell him how thankful I am and I have no idea how I can ever re-pay him for his kindness. He reassures me that it is no accident his wife called PoshTots that day and it was no accident I answered the phone. In my heart I know this is the only thing that makes any sense at all. And for a split second, I pictured God up there in Heaven chuckling at the look on my face as Andrew and I put all of this together. "Silly girl", says God, "don't you know I part seas and move mountains". "This is nothing for me, ye of little Faith," "Oh, but I do have Faith," I say. And I know this is all You, God!!!

As I sit here tonight trying to figure out exactly "how, if and when" all of this will work out, I am turning it over and learning to Trust. If not for myself, I will Trust for two amazing boys on the other side of the world who desperately want a family of their own. Joseph and Askia, my loves, I promise I will not give up on you. You have a mother, father, two sisters and a brother who love you so very much and pray daily for you to come home.

~ Andrea

An un-expected phone call .....

So I have not updated here in a while. Unfortunately we are still just waiting for the Director of Social Welfare to open cases back up again so that we can request a court date in Kumasi.


In the meanwhile, we talk to the boys at least once or twice a week. They are hopeful and happy and continue to ask when we will be coming back to see them.


I have been feeling so helpless lately; not knowing who to turn to for help or even what to ask.
So two weeks ago, I was working, had just received a text from Mary assuring me she was still checking in with Social Services regularly but that there was no change. I literally hit my knees in my office and wept and asked God to please just help in any way. And I asked Him what it was I was supposed to do. I just couldn't believe He had brought me this far for this adoption to fall apart.


This was on Thursday November 12th. Within 15 mins of my text and prayer, I received a phone call from a customer. I was helping with the Customer Service Lines at PoshTots because we were short staffed on that day. I answered the phone to a very polite pregnant woman asking about a cradle. After a couple minutes, I had to ask where she was from because I recognized that beautiful accent. "I'm from Africa", she replied. I asked "where in Africa". Of course my heart sank because I knew what her reply was going to be. "Ghana", she says. I then proceeded to tell her about my connection and visit to Ghana and how much I loved her country, the people and two young boys in particular.


She then asked me what "region" I stayed in when there. I said the Ashanti Region. She then tells me she is from Kumasi and her father still lives there. He is a physician and owns a hospital. I am in tears and she is clearly shaken up too. She tells me she never calls companies and prefers to shop online. She said she had a strong urge to call and talk with someone that day. As I explained I typically don't answer the CS lines, I only answered that day because we were busy. Clearly, God is laughing while the two of us are bantering back and forth and this crazy connection.


Okay, so let's fast forward to today. Nana has since contacted her father, who has contacted two lawyers who have also gone to the orphanage to meet with Mary and see the boys. I just received an email from her yesterday with pictures of the boys and Luvis and Vasty too. You see, because her fathers friends had difficulty getting Mary on the phone, they drove to Offinso to meet Mary in person and discuss our situation with her. I am teary just typing this again. I just cannot believe how incredibly generous this was.


I thanked Nana over and over again for all she and her father had done. She then proceeded to tell me that her father had offered to sign an affidavit of support for the court as he is very well known and respected in Kumasi. I just don't even know what to say other than God is still at work here and I still remain HOPEFUL!!


Below are the pictures that Nana's father emailed me of his visit at the orphanage. It breaks my heart to see the kids so sad and solemn. Also seeing the conditions of the orphanage just make me so sad too. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers!


~ Andrea

We Need Your Help!

So many of you who are living this experience with us have been wanting to help. We are so amazed at the true love that is surrounding us on this journey. We feel it and we thank you all. What we truly need is financial support for the enormous costs associated with this mission. Everything from our Ghana Attorney to Travel to Government Fees is expensive!! Some very good friends of ours, Deborah Clark, Maria Elder, Lynn Hurley and Kelly Evans, are organizing an "Adoption Yardsale" for us in the parking lot of PoshTots on Saturday, June 22nd. If you have any items you would like to donate for our sale, please let one of us know. We are happy to pick up donations or you can message me about where and when to drop off. If you can't make it to the sale on the 22nd and are interested in making a donation, here is how you can help by donating here via Visa, MC or Amex through GoFundMe All donations over $50, will automatically be in a drawing for a 1 week stay at PoshCasa on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay in CapeCharles (value $2200). Drawing will be on July 1st! Thanks for everyone's continued support and encouraging messages. Having such a supportive group of family and friends has been such a blessing and we are truly appreciative!

"A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of one child." Forest Witcraft

~Andrea

Reflections from Ghana

It's been a bittersweet past few days as Evan and I get back into our normal routines at work and school. We are both missing our newest family members and all the other new friends at the Offins Children's Center. Before I left, I purchased an inexpensive phone for the boys to use to call or text us until we are together again. We've heard from them several times; asking how we are and telling us how much they miss us. This is the hard part as we wait for the next step in the adoption process. I've had a chance to sort through the pictures on my camera and have loved seeing and remembering the special moments of our visit and seeing the sweet, joyful faces of our friends. Just looking at them again reminds me of just how really special the people of Ghana really are. As challenging as it was at times, it's clear we were happy and loved our time in Ghana and at the orphanage. I'll update more about the adoption process and where we are in the next couple of days. For now, I just wanted to enjoy the pictures and the faces in them. ~ Andrea

Life in Ghana

I'm on Day 6 here in Ghana and am starting to settle in.  My morning regime is pretty simple now.  I throw a wet washcloth on my face and tie my hair up in a pony tail.  I still refuse to give up my mascara.   ;-)

We have gotten a lot done in the past week - a visit with the lawyer and a visit with the boys' family members and "family representative".   Part of the adoption process is that Social Services investigate the boys' situation and background to determine they are in fact orphans and that it is in their best interest to be adopted into another family.

Joseph and Askia were taken to "Antie Mary" (orphanage)  11 years ago after their father died and their mother became unable to care for them.  Their grandfather, Thomas Osei, tried his best to care for the children but because of his health and age, he was unable.  He made the decision to bring them to the orphanage.  

After meeting with him yesterday, it is apparent he loves these children and did the best he could for them at the time.  He was very vocal about his appreciation for all that Mary had done for his grandchildren.

Thomas is a retired Catholic Catachist.  He is a very friendly, happy, jovial man with a great sense of humor.  It's been my observation that most Ghanaians (men especially) keep a stern, serious look on their faces.  It drives me crazy because they have such beautiful smiles and are actually very friendly and kind.  I guess it's a macho thing.  ;-)

Thomas also spoke great English and I loved the fact he greeted Evan directly with a big smile.  We all agreed we could understand where the boys got their friendly, happy disposition. 

Evan is doing great here.  I worry about him getting enough to eat but I've discovered an International Market in Kumasi, where I grabbed some generic "Oodles of Noodles".   He also puts Peanut Butter on Granola Bars and Tuna out of packs we brought from home. 

Today we are taking all the boys to Kumasi for the weekend and will stay at Treasure Land Hotel for a couple nights so they can swim in the pool and get a change of scenery.  For Joseph and Askia, this was their very first night ever out of Offinso and first night in a "hotel".   And even though they told me they could swim, I'm pretty sure that was their first time in a pool as well.   Boy will they have a lot of "firsts" coming up when they get to America.  I can hardly wait to see their faces when we take them to our pool and to Cape Charles.

My journey here in Ghana is quite an eye opener and as hard as it is, I am glad I am getting to experience life through the eyes of my boys.  I have such a greater understanding of where they come from and such a greater appreciation for my life in America.  And the irony in all of it is that these people are so full of Joy and Love and appreciation.  I never once sense they are bitter or resentful.  And even the ones not coming to America; yet knowing their friends are going, are genuinely happy for their friends.  There is no jelousy or competition here. 

These sweet children and sweet people of Ghana are truly "gems" and I am forever grateful I have been able to get to know each of them. 

Going into this Memorial Day Weekend, I think of my family heading to Cape Charles together and am so sad to not be going.  We are missing you all terribly and look forward to all being together soon.

~Andrea

I Hate Cliffhangers

So, technically, we have not completed processing, because Andrea is there NOW as part of the processing, to be granted a court date. Wow. I hate cliffhangers.

This clarification just in from US State Department:

Ghana

May 20, 2013

Alert: All Adoption Cases with the Ghanaian Department of Social Welfare are Subject to Suspension

The Government of Ghana has temporarily suspended processing of all adoption cases, including intercountry adoptions, pending Ghana's review of its current adoption procedures. All adoption cases which have not received final approval by the Ghanaian Department of Social Welfare are subject to this suspension.

At this time, adoption cases which have completed processing with the Ghanaian Department of Social Welfare, and are either before a Ghanaian court or have a completed adoption order, are unaffected by the suspension. Urgent or emergency cases subject to the suspension can be referred directly to the Ghanaian Director of Social Welfare in Accra for consideration.

The U.S. Embassy will continue accepting orphan petitions and approving qualified visa applications of those cases not subject to the suspension.

Joy