Is it really today?!

Sitting on the westjet flight to ottawa (thanks Jenni and Keith!) writing this update. Its so wierd to think that my little girl is flying to the same city to meet us! What a journey this has been...

From having the discussion with Amanda about possibly having another kid and then proposing adopting to her... Thinking that it was a nice idea, but never would Amanda go for it... All the pre paperwork and fees and emails and phoning and changing orphanages and crying and wondering if we have completely lost our minds... Finally seeing the beautiful picture of Edmara Gilles on the proposal document and praying for her... Feeling sad for her losing her mom and trying to fathom the horrible decision her father had to make to give her up for her good his other kids.

Then spending those days in Haiti, saddened by the state of this beautiful country and its people. Feeling so helpless and knowing that there is so much that needs to be done... What a week that was... It truly broke my heart and made me fall in love with Haiti. Seeing how things work in Haiti has helped us keep our heads straight through the rest of the adoption... It ain't Canada, things happen when they happen...

I also remember talking with Kerry and Mandy and Jana on the trip about needing to never forget this experience... Getting "the tattoo" as a visual reminder of the importance of serving the oppressed and giving our lives to making a difference in others lives. For me, this adoption began as the answer to my own prayer to know more of who God is and what he truly cares about. True religion... Helping widows, orphans, foreigners, the oppressed. In the last few years I have discovered that Gods plan and hopes for us is not that we would have nicer churches with bigger attendance, but that we, his creation would care enough about our neighbours all around us to live generously, graciously and hopefully in anticipation of his kingdom returning to earth... The kingdom where the last are first, the broken are healed, the hungry are fed and the lonely are loved. This excites me to be part of his work on earth... And sitting here thinking that though this all started with an idea of doing something for someone else, its crazy how God realy has shaped our hearts and broadened our understanding of his love for us and burned an intense love for a little girl that lived her whole life so far... A couple thousand miles away. It is so amazing to me how gracious God is in letting people like us be part of his bigger plans. I am struck with my own insignificance and yet so grateful that God doesn't wait for perfection to use us... He's using us right here and right now. Its brilliant!

So, maybe I have had too much time on a flight with no sleep, but there's what runs through my brain as we prepare to land and get ready to meet our little girl. Its been so long, and yet we are so not prepared for this... But, God's got us, and will continue to carry us through this next part of the journey.

Sorry for the rambling... Thank you for your love and support in all this. We are blessed.

Grace and peace.
Jake and Amanda
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