drousy but good

so - we went to see amanda - God made sure things went well with the surgery and she's doing well, just drugged up and tired like crazy. it seems as though none of our children can come to us without her receiving some kind of incision...

pray for her continued rest and restoration - her main concern is that she won't be ready to get Jayna when we get the call... all the nurses on the floor there are rooting for her and excited for the next "little" adventure to begin for us.

no matter what we seem to walk through in these days, it is so awesome to know that somehow in each situation, God is gently guiding us one step at a time. we are blessed to have a group of people that love and support us and are praying... so blessed.

thank you for all your encouragement and support - don't forget to give your time and $$$ to help get all our haitian "relatives" back on their feet... for the first time....

grace and peace.
jake and amanda

out of surgery, phew!

So, amanda is out of surgery and they have successfully removed the faulty part. thankfully it hadn't ruptured, and she is now just recovering. keep praying for her quick recovery.

grace and peace
jake

strange daze

Nothing new on the adoption front, however, although amanda was told in medicine hat that the pain in her right side was just a ruptured cyst - but - last night when the pain continued to get worse, she went into Foothill emerg and found ou this morning (after we got to hang out there all night) that indeed, she does have apendacitis (sp?) so we ask for your prayers for great surgery and speedy recovery incase we really do have to fly out to ottawa on wednesday. it never ruptured, so they believe that she should be out by tomorrow morning...

keep praying - this journey to get our daughter is not without its moments... yikes.

grace and peace
jake

Wednesday?

So, after yesterday's chaos and confusion, we have a pretty good idea of how we need to work this process. We have a few days to make sure the orphanage is aware that they Jayna's on the manafest for the flight.

So, we're praying that this is all gunna work out... SOON!! and we know that she is safe and well fed. now we just need to give that kid some hugs and kisses - nyla's got some stuffies lined up for her and ethan is ready to be the brother of 2 sisters.

we're not giving up!

grace and peace
jake and amanda

Rollercoaster again... let me off!

Today... was one of those days - he were under the impression that we may be called... for the trip. and we did get that call, and then (not because we don't take anyone's word at face value or anything...) decided to make some calls to ensure that this was actually true... after about, say, ten thousand calls, we came back to the point again, that though she was on the manafest for the flight tomorrow, noone could get ahold of the orphanage to get the details worked out. (everytime i called, i got through, however... strange).

So, she will not be flying home tomorrow. She is on the priority list to come asap. Again, only Jesus knows when we will be together...

its been a bit of an exhausting day - but we know that we've done what we could... heck, we did more than what most of the canadian immigration system could seem to get done.. and so we breathe, remember that God's got her in his care, and knows whats best... this is his little girl way more than ours.

pray for mental rest and perspective that its a couple days longer in the scope of a 2.5 year process... we appreciate your prayers and look forward to giving a really fun and less sarcastic and cynical update soon...


grace and peace.
jake and amanda

Haiti - i love and hate you!!

So the glitch in the plan now is that the canadian embassy cannot get through to the orphanage's phones... this seems to be the last part of the process in getting my baby out of there. these are the things that mastercard cannot cover... Haitian cell service.

significant prayer request: may the embassy get through to the orphanage.

grace and peace
jake

tired. waiting.

jan 28

We have been in contact with Barb again today, trying to see if they are prepared to get a call from the canadian embassy - and just trying to do whatever we can to make this process hurry along. i pretend to know nothing about "being in labour", but this past week i think amanda has been feeling this kind of ache - mostly pain, nothing to show for it.

please continue to pray with us that Jayna can get on the next flight - smoothly. A lot of bureaucrats need to get themselves aligned in order for her to come home - really, a miracle... but thats the kinda thing Jesus does, you know - like someone surviving under a building for 2 weeks...

thank you for thinking about us, and praying for our sanity as well as her safety.

grace and peace
jake and amanda

Swing and a miss...

So, many of you may have wondered whether or not our youngest was on it... nope. We have talked with Mr. Kenney's  office and they are talking with Barb to sort out some details and maybe get Jayna a boat or something to start rowing to Miami or something... seriously, they really have been very helpful and easy to talk with, so i give 'em props for literally working around the clock to get these kids safely home.

There is some word of another flight and we hope that the process will be far enough along that she could grab the next ride to this lovely climate...

Pray for her safety again... and again...
Pray that all the canadian embassy's stuff is ready for her and that she'll be on the next flight.
Pray for our mental stability - getting rest and staying clear headed.

We really appreciate your thoughts and appreciate how you spend some of your days wondering where she is at... kinda joining us in this journey. We like you, friends.

grace and peace
jake and amanda

Some answers, more time.

We made some headway today with the papers... There are people who will go to the orphanage and get documents settled, as well as the hope that we could see our daughter soon. No real idea when, but at least we know she's ok and there are people on the ground working on it! Keep praying that all these papers and whatnot go swiftly and that all the right people get to the right places with the right papers at the right times. Once again, miracles will need to happen for this to go through. God's got it.

Grace and peace.
Jake and Amanda
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry

Rollercoaster continues...

After reading about how orphanages are among targets for looting, Amanda's momma bear instinct kicked into HIGH gear - these are the times when i am impressed and a little frightened by her intensity and drive... but results happen! We have finally been in contact with Barb and know that Jayna is still safe - her papers are all ready to go (apparently the adoption process is complete in Haiti) we just need some "orphan evacuation papers" from the canadian embassy in Haiti and things should be on their way. Mr. Kenney's office is going to contact her and sort through all this. I have never talked to this many politicians in my life! They are actually quite nice, btw.

So, we wait, again. You can pray that these papers are ready and that all the fun government details get sorted out ASAP. Pray for protection over the orphanage (s) all over Haiti, and then be some of the answer to your prayers by sending donations to your favorite Haitian ministry - at this point, every single dollar counts. Here's a few ideas:

• reach out to haiti
• haiti arise
• lifeline haiti (local guy: Crazy Bob Davidson)
• prairie gleaners (preparing food to go to haiti  - actually, grab your family and go volunteer for a morning, its FUN
• buy the "Hope for Haiti Now" Album off iTunes
• bring all your empties (milk jugs included) to Redi Bottle Depo and tell them its for Hope4Haiti 
• call Bean There Roasting Co. and order a lb of Haitian Blue freshly roasted beans - it will help you make other decisions about donating and serving.... but its not a donation!

as we know more, so will you! as a bit of encouragement, heres a chapter out of Isaiah that gets me psyched about what God's cookin' up in Haiti... (insert Haiti instead of Jerusalem...) 

¹"Get out of bed, Jerusalem!
Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight.
GOD's bright glory has risen for you.

²The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,
all people sunk in deep darkness,
But GOD rises on you,
his sunrise glory breaks over you.

³Nations will come to your light,
kings to your sunburst brightness.

⁴Look up! Look around!
Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you:
Your sons coming from great distances,
your daughters carried by their nannies.

⁵When you see them coming you'll smile--big smiles!
Your heart will swell and, yes, burst!
All those people returning by sea for the reunion,
a rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations!

⁶And then streams of camel caravans as far as the eye can see,
young camels of nomads in Midian and Ephah,
Pouring in from the south from Sheba,
loaded with gold and frankincense,
preaching the praises of GOD.

⁷And yes, a great roundup
of flocks from the nomads in Kedar and Nebaioth,
Welcome gifts for worship at my altar
as I bathe my glorious Temple in splendor.

What's That We See in the Distance?

⁸"What's that we see in the distance,
a cloud on the horizon, like doves darkening the sky?

⁹It's ships from the distant islands,
the famous Tarshish ships
Returning your children from faraway places,
loaded with riches, with silver and gold,
And backed by the name of your GOD, The Holy of Israel,
showering you with splendor.

¹⁰Foreigners will rebuild your walls,
and their kings assist you in the conduct of worship.
When I was angry I hit you hard.
It's my desire now to be tender.

¹¹Your Jerusalem gates will always be open
-open house day and night!-
Receiving deliveries of wealth from all nations,
and their kings, the delivery boys!

¹²Any nation or kingdom that doesn't deliver will perish;
those nations will be totally wasted.

¹³The rich woods of Lebanon will be delivered
-all that cypress and oak and pine--
To give a splendid elegance to my Sanctuary,
as I make my footstool glorious.

¹⁴The descendants of your oppressor
will come bowing and scraping to you.
All who looked down at you in contempt
will lick your boots.
They'll confer a title on you: City of GOD,
Zion of The Holy of Israel.

¹⁵Not long ago you were despised refuse--
out--of-the-way, unvisited, ignored.
But now I've put you on your feet,
towering and grand forever, a joy to look at!

¹⁶When you suck the milk of nations
and the breasts of royalty,
You'll know that I, GOD, am your Savior,
your Redeemer, Champion of Jacob.

¹⁷I'll give you only the best--no more hand-me--downs!
Gold instead of bronze, silver instead of iron,
bronze instead of wood, iron instead of stones.
I'll install Peace to run your country,
make Righteousness your boss.

¹⁸There'll be no more stories of crime in your land,
no more robberies, no more vandalism.
You'll name your main street Salvation Way,
and install Praise Park at the center of town.

¹⁹You'll have no more need of the sun by day
nor the brightness of the moon at night.
GOD will be your eternal light,
your God will bathe you in splendor.

²⁰Your sun will never go down,
your moon will never fade.
I will be your eternal light.
Your days of grieving are over.

²¹All your people will live right and well,
in permanent possession of the land.
They're the green shoot that I planted,
planted with my own hands to display my glory.

²²The runt will become a great tribe,
the weakling become a strong nation.
I am GOD.
At the right time I'll make it happen."

Grace and Peace,

jake and amanda

Waiting and more waiting...

So I'm pretty sure I'm "nesting" or just organizing like crazy to keep my mind busy (this is Amanda by the way).  I guess Jeremy's nesting in his own way by putting the finishing touches on our bathroom reno.  We really haven't heard much more.  I did talk to someone in immigration this morning and they said that they were trying and planning to get the rest of the children out sometime this week... nothing's official though.  They said we would get a call as soon as they know.  So we wait and pray.  Not sure where Jayna is in Haiti...if she's still at the orphanage or if they have moved her.  Just praying for her safety, health and peace for her... can't imagine what she is thinking of all this.  Thank-you everyone for all your encouraging words, support and prayers.  Please keep praying for our little girl!

still no word.

uh, how bout those Vikings? we really have nothing to add right now, but thought you may want to be updated about that too?

All our bags are packed, we're ready to go... every time we walk past her bed (pack&play) in our room we pray God would fill it with her... If you are interested in donating to her orphanage (they are doing a BIT of  renovation these days) go to the reachouttohaiti.com link and go to donate using paypal.

hoping for a real sleep tonight, but a call from Mr. Kenney to come hang out in Ottawa is also welcome!

grace and peace
jake and amanda

Sunday 24/10

Today we sit and wait for a call from CIC (immigration) to tell us when Jayna will be in Canada. Is an hour like a thousand years...? YES. We know she probably wasn't on the first flight from Haiti that was on the news this morning. Actually, we really know almost nothing about Jayna's status right now - is she in Haiti? Somewhere in between Canada and Haiti? The US? Cayman islands... no. Seriously, Jesus and probably 3 or 4 other people know what's going on.

Pray for:

- patience and mental stability for us (every time the phone rings we nearly wet ourselves)

- protection and safety for Jayna and others as they travel