December 7, 2010 “Meetcha Day”

Today was the day!  Our first chance to meet our new Daughter, Hermela, in person!  This day that was filled with anxiety and anticipation,  turned out to be one of those moments that we will look back on as a very special lifetime memory!

(This is the first time I got to TOUCH my daughter!)

While she was shy and reserved at first, it is obvious that she has a quiet, sweet spirit that will be a welcome addition to our family.  Lord, how sovereign you are to have chosen this special little girl for us.

Lots of photos and video helped us capture this memorable occasion.  One sure positive sign for us was her immediate interest in the photo book we created for her.  She showed it to all her friends right away.  She was quickly interested in all the pictures of her at the beginning of the book.  These were her referral pictures and the many photos AGCI families sent our way as they traveled to Hannah’s Hope to meet their children.  She then became fascinated  with the photos of her siblings, her bedroom and all the dolls that awaited her!  It really was amazing to see the children gather around her to check out who Hermela’s new family was.  This went on for about an hour. 

(*We have blocked out the precious faces of the children who have not come home to America.)

Some of our first pictures with Hermela!

I love this verse from Isaiah written on the wall at Hannah’s Hope.  This is the first picture we took with just the three of us.  We were so happy when we felt Hermela’s hands on our shoulders as we knelt down next to her!

Almaz (HH Director) shared with us that the best way to “warm up” to Hermela is to have some one-on-one time with her and then to let her observe us loving on and playing with the other children. 

Some of the children at HH are from the Gambela Region which is far west close to the Sudan boarder.  They are just beautiful!

This little guy was so cute as he tried to put a bracelet on Dick’s wrist.  He wanted him to have one too!

 

All the kids was their hands at this sink before each meal.

We decided to take this Giraffe out of the donation bin once we got to HH so we had it to play with the kids.  Hermela saw it in our backpack and immediately attached to it(Thank you Rita!).  As we were finding ways to connect with her, this proved to be a comforting aid.  When Almaz told her that she could keep it on her bed “until mom and dad came back” she was very happy!  Her little friends liked it too!

This was a powerfully emotional “Metcha Day” for us and became even more so after learning more about Hermela’s birth mom and her very difficult life. 

Father may we just simply thank you for seeing us through this day together; for reminding us of your presence in our lives; for giving us your grace which is sufficient; and for blessing us with a beautiful new daughter, Hermela.

You are more than enough, Lord!