Well, the day started well with an enjoyable breakfast and a visit to our second home - the Swazi Candle factory where we enjoyed a capucinno and the kids played in the sand box as the gentle breeze whispered through the palm and banana trees in the early morning sun - then the phone call - it was our lawyer calling to say that we need to come to Manzini [30 minutes away] immediately to sign affidavits so that he could go to court sometime late in the day - if he could get our documents bound that is...we couldn't believe it! We thought we were all set and yet here we were driving 120 kph on twisty roads trying to make to the lawyers on time!! Luckily I am starting to drive like Mario Andretti - on the left hand side of the road of course - and we even remembered where his office was - behind the pizza parlor, next to the liquor store - and we made it on time. We signed the papers with the other Canadian couple and went back to Swazi candle and waited...and waited...and waited...
We decided to let the kids have supper in the pub here on the property while we sat on the deck and enjoyed the view - it really is a breathtakingly beautiful country! As we looked out over acres of sugar cane and pineapples - with the rosy red sun setting behind the mountains the phone rang, the display said it was Vierah...we took a deep breath and then I answered! She greeted me warmly, asked about our day and then congratulated us on having a daughter!!! That's right...you are not dreaming and I am not smoking crack right now...we've completed the court process and we now have a legal daughter named Zoe Jane Hlengiwe McKnight!!! Praise God!! Woohoo!!! Hallelujah and holy crap this has been a long time coming!! Thanks for all your prayers and support! We are celebrating with peanut butter sandwiches all around!!
However, tomorrw the real fun begins! We are to show up with all our paperwork at Vierah's office and begin the process of birth certificates and passport applications! Please pray that Vierah will look with favour upon us and that she will be able to use her influence to help us get our paperwork together in the next 24 hrs. We have a flight booked for Jo-Burg on Thursday evening and are praying that our paperwork will be complete and we will be able to make it! This will allow us to input our visa request on Friday and hopefully see us leaving South Africa by the next Friday at the latest! Please pray for patience, grace, and that God would make our path straight tomorrow! Wow! I can't believe we have a daughter!! Thanks again for all your prayers and support! I am heading off to help with bath and bedtime stories- after which we will watch soccer and celebrate together!! Take care! We will keep you posted...and that my friends is the McKnight Report!!! Woohoo!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
God is full of surprises...and more waiting...part 2
March 28th -
So, it is another hot and muggy day...woohoo for hot and muggy! We received news today that all our paperwork is in to the lawyer and that he is working over the weekend to get us into court on Monday...maybe...so we are hopeful.
Today was one of those days when God kind of sneaks up on you and surprises you...so often we've wrestled and prayed and wondered what God is up to as we wait, and wait and wait...and then Saturday came. After breakfast Liam disappeared and went on what the Aussie's call a "walk about" - without our permission or knowledge he apparently exited the gate to the property and went for a walk in the pineapple field that is adjacent to the property - I know, we are parents of the year are we not? He returned safe and sound and after threatening to put him in the fridge if he did that again T asked him what he was doing. And he said that he needed some time to think...specifically about Jesus. Who he was, where he was, what he did and how he could know him more. We answered his questions the best we could and went on with our day. We laid low, played games, hung out and tried to enjoy the day as a family as we, you guessed it, waited some more! And then it happened.
As I was watching Chelsea get hammered by Tottingham [ I know Chad was smiling about that] Liam pipes up and says to T - I've been doing some more thinking and I just want you to know that I asked Jesus into my heart to be my forever friend!!! We were stunned! After further discussions about what this meant we realized that he knew what he was doing and we prayed together with him, wept like babies and celebrated Liam's beginning of the journey to become more like Jesus! What an amazing thing! We come to Africa to find Zoe and Liam comes to Africa to find Jesus...or maybe we should say for Jesus to find him...either way, it was an amazing day! So, March 28, 2009 was quite a day in Swaziland for the McKnights!!! Thought you would all like to know! We will keep you posted on the court thing....
March 30 -
It rained like crazy last night and we woke up to a cool cloudy morning - woohoo for cool cloudy mornings. We decided to go to Mbabane to get Zoe's passport pics done so we would be ahead of the game later in the week. We were assured that we were going to court today so we were waiting to here back from Vierah or Mr. M to let us know the good news. After pics we looked for Vierah but she was not in so we headed to our favourite family spot - Swazi candles for scones, cappcinos and some playtime on the swings. We were just wrapping things up when T got the call. It was a message through another couple here that Mary had called and wanted to let us know that there was a further problem with Zoe's paperwork and because of that the Lawyer was not able to go to court today. Vierah was currently on the road trying to get the paperwork ironed out - a 200km journey for her so that we can hopefully go to court tomorrow!!
Well, the mood was not festive but we've tried to stay positive and keep trusting God in the midst of it all - but it can be tough at times! However, we are going to stay calm and focused and trusting!
So, if you have a hankerin' to pray for the McKnights - please pray that the police reports will get sorted, that there will be no more missing paperwork and that we can go to court tomorrow! My time online is almost up so that will be it for today! We love and miss you all....this is the McKnight Report!
Actually, it's not because I ran out of time and had to buy another 30 minutes so here we are...but I really don't have more to say so I guess that is it! Please add to that patience for T and I in the process and a smooth birth certificate and passport process in the next couple of days so that we can make it to Pretoria before the weekend. We need to get there ASAP so that we can get the visa process going...which can take up to 7 days. Thanks again for all your support! I can't imagine doing this without you! Tons of love to you all...this really is the McKnight Report.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Our last Saturday in Swaziland...maybe...
Well you guessed it, it is yet another hot and sunny day here in the Kingdom of Swaziland. As we look out across the sugar cane with the sprinklers gently squirting water into the air we can see the haze in the mountains and we know that it is going to be a hot one. So, we've slathered on the sun screen, doubled up on the deodorant and buckled up for the day.
Today is another day of waiting. No news as of yet in regards to where we stand in the process. I did find out from another couple last night that the Deputy Prime Minister- who was supposed to sign our paperwork on Thursday - had actually not yet signed it and they were hoping that he would sign it yesterday. This has to happen before we go to court...so we are waiting to hear whether he signed or if we have to wait for Monday...which of course will set everything back yet again.
But we remain hopeful that all of this will get tied up this week. Last night was our roughest night yet with Zoe. She just simply refused to sleep! We were up until 3 am with her and the Liam was up a 5:45 am for the day so neither of us is feeling to chipper this morning and patience is at a premium. Zoe also seems to be determined to test every boundary we set - pushing to see if we really mean what we say and this takes tons of energy - as all parents know. So, please pray for us today as we work hard to stay lovingly consistent with both of our kids and as we navigate another day of waiting and trying to figure out what to do to pass the time.
If I hear anymore today, I will write again. Right now I hear Zoe screaming from our chalet so I am off to spell mum before she loses her mind. Loves to all...this is the McKnight Report!
Today is another day of waiting. No news as of yet in regards to where we stand in the process. I did find out from another couple last night that the Deputy Prime Minister- who was supposed to sign our paperwork on Thursday - had actually not yet signed it and they were hoping that he would sign it yesterday. This has to happen before we go to court...so we are waiting to hear whether he signed or if we have to wait for Monday...which of course will set everything back yet again.
But we remain hopeful that all of this will get tied up this week. Last night was our roughest night yet with Zoe. She just simply refused to sleep! We were up until 3 am with her and the Liam was up a 5:45 am for the day so neither of us is feeling to chipper this morning and patience is at a premium. Zoe also seems to be determined to test every boundary we set - pushing to see if we really mean what we say and this takes tons of energy - as all parents know. So, please pray for us today as we work hard to stay lovingly consistent with both of our kids and as we navigate another day of waiting and trying to figure out what to do to pass the time.
If I hear anymore today, I will write again. Right now I hear Zoe screaming from our chalet so I am off to spell mum before she loses her mind. Loves to all...this is the McKnight Report!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
I thought this was the winter season...
Well we awoke to cloudy skies and cool air blowing in through our window! It was marvelous...of course it was 5:30 am because the birds were singing and Liam decided it was time for EVERYONE to be up as well so that's when we started our day! Have I mentioned that we are all living on top of one another in one room, one bed, with one table, two chairs and a hot plate...oh and that we've been doing that for going on 3 weeks!!!!! Calgone take me away...it's enough to drive you to drink...but I digress.
The cool crisp morning was short lived and has given away to a bright, sunshiny, burning hot morning! I asked Audrey, one of the staff that have become like family to us, if today was going to be cooler then yesterday - which was a scorcher - and she smiled and said, "Ah no - today will be much hotter according to the weather" - and I am like what the hey ding dong...I thought this was the fall!!!!! Don't get me wrong, winter was getting a little tiresome in the Okanagan but when you are living a one room brick chalet with a metal roof, two windows that open and a small fan for ventilation purposes - plus two sweaty kids who are getting to know one another and trying to figure out life together - well I think you get the picture...wow, I am a whiny butt! Enough about the heat already...sorry about that, I will move on.
We all slept well last night and Liam seems to be feeling better. Teresa was quite under the weather yesterday but also seems to have gained some strength today and was able to eat a good breakfast, so that should help too. Zoe is still a regular "snott factory" - going through boxes of cleanex and coughing a bit a night but not as much as she was. I am sure my good friend Dr. Morris would tell me it's viral and just needs to run its course - so that is the tact that we are taking with it. We are hoping that things dry up a bit more before Zoe's inaugural flight from Manzini to Jo-Burg next week.
There isn't much to add to yesterdays news. I spoke with our agency last night again and they assured me that they are encouraging Vierah to get our dossier to Mr. M - our lawyer - today so that he can make court on Monday. However, it looks as though she will not be doing that until Saturday so we are still unsure about what that means. What we are feeling confident about is that we will be finished up sometime next week. We are praying earlier rather then later so that we have a shot at getting our permanent residency visa for Zoe and making our flights out of Jo-Burg on the 6th of April. However, that is not looking so good at this point in time - but as many have reminded me, we serve an amazing God! So, we will keep trusting, praying and hoping. Worst case scenario is that we end up paying out to change flights and leave Jo-Burg a week later...not ideal by a long shot but we are trying to remain flexible.
On the family front - if the book on international adoption we are reading is worth anything at all - then we are coming along in the attachment process with lots of hugging, eye to eye contact, playing, laughing, wrestling, calling for family members when they are out of sight, Zoe playing on her own for short periods of time...all and all things seem to be going well. Although T would tell you that she is getting a little tired of being called Mum 50 000 times a day :)! It seems that she is willing the popularity contest at this point in time - with Dad and Liam a close second :)! Right now Zoe is standing at the door of the office calling for Liam who is hiding on her in the bushes nearby - she has called Liam 87 times as I have written this sentence...ahhhh the joys of parenthood!
Today is kind of up in the air - we've exhausted all tourist attractions in the area - seriously we've done it all! We've seen everything there is to see, we've attended everything that there is to attend, we've embraced every cultural event there is to embrace...the only thing left to do is to travel 3 hours to one of the other 3 game parks - which at this point we are not mentally prepared to do. So, today will be a day of running to the market, maybe a repeat visit to the Candle factory where they have jungle gym for the kids or maybe back to Malendella's to wander the gardens, play in the grassy field and hang out with the animal statues...who know...but nothing too crazy I guess.
Please continue to pray that we would go to court on Monday, that the birthcertificate and passports would get issued on Tuesday and that all our travel plans - which have to be last minute because of the process - would come together for later in the week [flights to Jo-Burg, a driver to Pretoria, a South African phone number, a place to stay, all paperwork into the High Commission...that sort of stuff]. Also, please continue to pray for T and my mental health - that we would stay positive and continue to create positive memories for Zoe and Liam. We know that many are praying and we feel strengthened day by day! So, thanks for that!
Oh, I forgot to mention that my crazy parents got up at 2:30 am N.B. time to call us at 7:30 am here in Swaziland. They finally got hold of our cell and didn't want to miss us! It was so great to hear their voices, to catch up, and then dad mcknight prayed for us - it was huge! it's an amazing thing how prayer crosses the miles and the cell towers to have an impact in our hearts! Dad assured me that there are tons of people in Fredericton who are journeying with us too! So, to all who are walking with us, praying for us, believing for us - we want to say thank you sooooo much! Only eternity will tell the difference you've made! We can't wait to bring Zoe back East so that you can meet her face to face - an opportunity to see your prayers answered! We are making plans for the summer of 2010 so we look forward to seeing you all then! We promise we will load Nanny and Grampy McKnight up with pictures to share upon our return.
Wow! This has been a long one! Zoe says it's time to stop what I am doing and pay her some attention so I will close! Thanks so much for journeying with us! Know that we love you all and miss you sooooo much...and that's the McKnight Report.
The cool crisp morning was short lived and has given away to a bright, sunshiny, burning hot morning! I asked Audrey, one of the staff that have become like family to us, if today was going to be cooler then yesterday - which was a scorcher - and she smiled and said, "Ah no - today will be much hotter according to the weather" - and I am like what the hey ding dong...I thought this was the fall!!!!! Don't get me wrong, winter was getting a little tiresome in the Okanagan but when you are living a one room brick chalet with a metal roof, two windows that open and a small fan for ventilation purposes - plus two sweaty kids who are getting to know one another and trying to figure out life together - well I think you get the picture...wow, I am a whiny butt! Enough about the heat already...sorry about that, I will move on.
We all slept well last night and Liam seems to be feeling better. Teresa was quite under the weather yesterday but also seems to have gained some strength today and was able to eat a good breakfast, so that should help too. Zoe is still a regular "snott factory" - going through boxes of cleanex and coughing a bit a night but not as much as she was. I am sure my good friend Dr. Morris would tell me it's viral and just needs to run its course - so that is the tact that we are taking with it. We are hoping that things dry up a bit more before Zoe's inaugural flight from Manzini to Jo-Burg next week.
There isn't much to add to yesterdays news. I spoke with our agency last night again and they assured me that they are encouraging Vierah to get our dossier to Mr. M - our lawyer - today so that he can make court on Monday. However, it looks as though she will not be doing that until Saturday so we are still unsure about what that means. What we are feeling confident about is that we will be finished up sometime next week. We are praying earlier rather then later so that we have a shot at getting our permanent residency visa for Zoe and making our flights out of Jo-Burg on the 6th of April. However, that is not looking so good at this point in time - but as many have reminded me, we serve an amazing God! So, we will keep trusting, praying and hoping. Worst case scenario is that we end up paying out to change flights and leave Jo-Burg a week later...not ideal by a long shot but we are trying to remain flexible.
On the family front - if the book on international adoption we are reading is worth anything at all - then we are coming along in the attachment process with lots of hugging, eye to eye contact, playing, laughing, wrestling, calling for family members when they are out of sight, Zoe playing on her own for short periods of time...all and all things seem to be going well. Although T would tell you that she is getting a little tired of being called Mum 50 000 times a day :)! It seems that she is willing the popularity contest at this point in time - with Dad and Liam a close second :)! Right now Zoe is standing at the door of the office calling for Liam who is hiding on her in the bushes nearby - she has called Liam 87 times as I have written this sentence...ahhhh the joys of parenthood!
Today is kind of up in the air - we've exhausted all tourist attractions in the area - seriously we've done it all! We've seen everything there is to see, we've attended everything that there is to attend, we've embraced every cultural event there is to embrace...the only thing left to do is to travel 3 hours to one of the other 3 game parks - which at this point we are not mentally prepared to do. So, today will be a day of running to the market, maybe a repeat visit to the Candle factory where they have jungle gym for the kids or maybe back to Malendella's to wander the gardens, play in the grassy field and hang out with the animal statues...who know...but nothing too crazy I guess.
Please continue to pray that we would go to court on Monday, that the birthcertificate and passports would get issued on Tuesday and that all our travel plans - which have to be last minute because of the process - would come together for later in the week [flights to Jo-Burg, a driver to Pretoria, a South African phone number, a place to stay, all paperwork into the High Commission...that sort of stuff]. Also, please continue to pray for T and my mental health - that we would stay positive and continue to create positive memories for Zoe and Liam. We know that many are praying and we feel strengthened day by day! So, thanks for that!
Oh, I forgot to mention that my crazy parents got up at 2:30 am N.B. time to call us at 7:30 am here in Swaziland. They finally got hold of our cell and didn't want to miss us! It was so great to hear their voices, to catch up, and then dad mcknight prayed for us - it was huge! it's an amazing thing how prayer crosses the miles and the cell towers to have an impact in our hearts! Dad assured me that there are tons of people in Fredericton who are journeying with us too! So, to all who are walking with us, praying for us, believing for us - we want to say thank you sooooo much! Only eternity will tell the difference you've made! We can't wait to bring Zoe back East so that you can meet her face to face - an opportunity to see your prayers answered! We are making plans for the summer of 2010 so we look forward to seeing you all then! We promise we will load Nanny and Grampy McKnight up with pictures to share upon our return.
Wow! This has been a long one! Zoe says it's time to stop what I am doing and pay her some attention so I will close! Thanks so much for journeying with us! Know that we love you all and miss you sooooo much...and that's the McKnight Report.
39 and still counting...
Did I mention that it was hot here...holy crap I am baking today!! All of us are sweaty messes!! T tried to get a little sleep when Zoe went down for a nap and Liam watched a little disney classic action on the mac. Both mum and daughter slept for an hour in their own sweat and woke up grumpy and not feeling any better for the adventure. I took the opportunity to dig out my Cycle Canada magazine and actually read it cover to cover...what do you know, a moment of solace in the turbulent journey that is international adoption in Swaziland! It made me miss my bike and my good friends and riding buddies Cam and Jeff! I caught myself dreaming of the twisty roads of the Okanagan and I promised myself that we would all go for a long ride upon my return - so if either of you is reading this, consider yourself warned and invited :)
I wanted to update you on my meeting with Vierah this morning. We had a very friendly meeting where under the coaching of my social worker I spent most of my time praising her for the excellent work which she is doing - which she is doing for us...tons of it really - I thanked her for working so hard to get us out of country by Wednesday so that we could make it to Pretoria and potentially make our Monday flights on the 6th and then I gave her the gifts we had brought her from Summerland Sweets. We finished our time together by my pulling out my "Pastor" card and I took the opportunity to encourage her and to pray for her - asking God to bless her and to help her as she carried the burden of this massive process! She assured me that the Deputry Prime Minister would be signing our paperwork today and that our dossier would be to our Lawyer by Saturday at the latest with a Monday court date for the adoption.
I have been here long enough to recognize that this probably means a Tuesday court date and that we probably won't make Pretoria before Thursday but I am hopeful that Mr. Maphalala will expedite our legal work and will be able to complete the adoption on Monday!
So to all of you who prayed - thanks so much and please continue to pray for Vierah and Mr. Maphalala by name - asking God to move their hearts, increase the work of their hands and that it would all come together on Monday as they have promised. Thanks again for all your support! We love you all and we miss you much. We will write again tomorrow! And that my friends is a very sweaty McKnight Report...
I wanted to update you on my meeting with Vierah this morning. We had a very friendly meeting where under the coaching of my social worker I spent most of my time praising her for the excellent work which she is doing - which she is doing for us...tons of it really - I thanked her for working so hard to get us out of country by Wednesday so that we could make it to Pretoria and potentially make our Monday flights on the 6th and then I gave her the gifts we had brought her from Summerland Sweets. We finished our time together by my pulling out my "Pastor" card and I took the opportunity to encourage her and to pray for her - asking God to bless her and to help her as she carried the burden of this massive process! She assured me that the Deputry Prime Minister would be signing our paperwork today and that our dossier would be to our Lawyer by Saturday at the latest with a Monday court date for the adoption.
I have been here long enough to recognize that this probably means a Tuesday court date and that we probably won't make Pretoria before Thursday but I am hopeful that Mr. Maphalala will expedite our legal work and will be able to complete the adoption on Monday!
So to all of you who prayed - thanks so much and please continue to pray for Vierah and Mr. Maphalala by name - asking God to move their hearts, increase the work of their hands and that it would all come together on Monday as they have promised. Thanks again for all your support! We love you all and we miss you much. We will write again tomorrow! And that my friends is a very sweaty McKnight Report...
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
39 & Counting...
Well, it's a new day and guess what...it's sunny and hot again...I know that probably seems like I am rubbing that in but I could do with a little cool weather right now to be honest :)!
Yesterday was a good day together as a family! We celebrated my b-day by going to a local glass factory where they blow original works of glass - animals, vases, cups, glasses, candle holders...you name it! It was incredible! We enjoyed a light lunch there and there was a jungle gym so Liam was in heaven! We were joined by the other adopting families so it was great to have the kids all together again.
Then we came home and I feasted on a cup of parboiled rice and veggies - yummy!! What a b-day treat! The best gifts of all were the phone calls from home. Mum and Dad Fuller called and T and I had a good cry with them as we caught up and vented a bit about where we are at emotionally and how much we are longing for home! Then, the Wednesday morning prayer group from church all gathered around a speaker phone and called me for my b-day. It was so great to hear from Jeff, and Jim, and Laverne...not sure if John and Rube were in the background or not - but it was so good to hear familiar voices and to be reminded that we are not in this alone! I know you will all be shocked but I cried as we caught up and as they gathered around the phone and prayed for us! They will never know how much that meant to T and I! It was just huge!!!
We finished the day with stories and an early bed time for the kids - we are trying to get them to bed by 7 pm because the sun is up at 5 am and so are they...everyday...who said this was going to be a holiday...anyways...everyone settled and then T and I watched one of the worst movies ever made - some British murder mystery, the only thing that was on - we lasted an hour and then gave up on it and went to bed! That was my b-day!
Today is another day where I am 39 and counting in Swaziland. I am going to visit with Vierah this morning to talk about our plans so continued prayers would be much appreciated. But mostly we are in need of prayers that the court case will proceed quickly, the paperwork will be in order, and then that we can get the passports and birth certificates in order in time to travel. Thanks for all your prayers and support!
Also please pray for T and she is now getting sick too! Her throat is killing her, her nose is filling up and she feeling overall under the weather. This makes life a little more challenging as Zoe is still a Niagara Falls of mucus, Liam is snuffy and a little off and now T isn't well either. So, all in all - it looks like we are all in for it! So, prayers for health and strength would be much appreciated as well. We love you all and miss you much...and that's the McKnight report!
Yesterday was a good day together as a family! We celebrated my b-day by going to a local glass factory where they blow original works of glass - animals, vases, cups, glasses, candle holders...you name it! It was incredible! We enjoyed a light lunch there and there was a jungle gym so Liam was in heaven! We were joined by the other adopting families so it was great to have the kids all together again.
Then we came home and I feasted on a cup of parboiled rice and veggies - yummy!! What a b-day treat! The best gifts of all were the phone calls from home. Mum and Dad Fuller called and T and I had a good cry with them as we caught up and vented a bit about where we are at emotionally and how much we are longing for home! Then, the Wednesday morning prayer group from church all gathered around a speaker phone and called me for my b-day. It was so great to hear from Jeff, and Jim, and Laverne...not sure if John and Rube were in the background or not - but it was so good to hear familiar voices and to be reminded that we are not in this alone! I know you will all be shocked but I cried as we caught up and as they gathered around the phone and prayed for us! They will never know how much that meant to T and I! It was just huge!!!
We finished the day with stories and an early bed time for the kids - we are trying to get them to bed by 7 pm because the sun is up at 5 am and so are they...everyday...who said this was going to be a holiday...anyways...everyone settled and then T and I watched one of the worst movies ever made - some British murder mystery, the only thing that was on - we lasted an hour and then gave up on it and went to bed! That was my b-day!
Today is another day where I am 39 and counting in Swaziland. I am going to visit with Vierah this morning to talk about our plans so continued prayers would be much appreciated. But mostly we are in need of prayers that the court case will proceed quickly, the paperwork will be in order, and then that we can get the passports and birth certificates in order in time to travel. Thanks for all your prayers and support!
Also please pray for T and she is now getting sick too! Her throat is killing her, her nose is filling up and she feeling overall under the weather. This makes life a little more challenging as Zoe is still a Niagara Falls of mucus, Liam is snuffy and a little off and now T isn't well either. So, all in all - it looks like we are all in for it! So, prayers for health and strength would be much appreciated as well. We love you all and miss you much...and that's the McKnight report!
Turning 39 in Africa
Well...here we are! I am turning 39 in Swaziland! Who would have thought eh?! Well, here's the skinny on the last few days.
It's been hot...really hot...really really hot...there's your weather update.
Monday - the 23rd
We spent the morning at the cultural village learning about Zoe's homeland. This inlcuded lots of singing, beautiful traditional dances - which Liam was invited to join and did! Some great picks of my very white son trying to do some funky African moves...I think the dancers got a huge kick out of him! Then we went on to tour a traditional Swazi village and learned about lodging, cooking, village life, traditional dress and celebrations. Overall, it was a good day where we learned as much as we could. Our guide Alfred left a little to be desired but we still learned lots. He plans on visiting us in Canada sometime soon...along with a couple of thousand of his friends - it seems everyone we meet is planning on coming to see us...I guess dad better add on to the house :)!
Tuesday the 24th
Yesterday was a whirlwind tour of the southern part of Swaziland. We joined Vierah and the other Canadian couple on a trip to meet the nurse who had rescued their baby when he was only a few hours old. The drive was long and the day was very hot! As usual, the trip didn't end there but consisted of 6 other stops to greet cousins, stop at old offices and greet fellow social workers, lunch at a casino - the kids were pretty wrestless by then so I took them to a park to play - and then we went on an hours drive to find a police station to get final reports on the other Canadian couples baby so that we could go to court. This took over an hour of waiting for the police to decide to see us and then we eneded up leaving without the paperwork!! Yikes...stress, stress, stress...
Then we enjoyed a 2.5 hour drive home with two sreaming children who were wondering how much longer they needed to be in the car - it was now 4 pm!!! Thankfully, the local pub - Malendella's - welcomed us an hour early for supper and the kitchen took mercy on two very tired parents with crying children. They made an amazing supper for us all and once the kids had eaten I gave T a mental health break and we wandered the beautiful tropical gardens and took pictures of the kids on the various animal statues [lions, crocs, elephants, rhinos and turtles]. We then hung out and sipped on cool drinks as a family until the sun went down and headed home...exhausted, sweaty but in a much better place mentally for sure! God was gracious too us and we had a chance to thank Peter - the proprietor of Malandella's personally for his hospitality. He is an Irish man his 70's who has lived in Swaziland for most of his adult life! Like every good Irishman he was full of stories of his one visit to Canada and was a welcome distraction from the stress of the day.
Zoe's cold is still persisting but she finally slept through last night for which we were all thankful. Liam is starting to get sick so we are whomping the meds to him too! T and I are on massive doses of vitamins and antioxidants daily so we are so far staying healthy though we are pretty tired!
As far as prayer requests go, here's the scoop!
Yesterday we were told that everything in our dossier is not actually in order as we were told it was - SHOCKER!!! - but that the police report for court is not in order as the names on her birth certificate and police report are not the same. They are hoping to correct this today and hope that we will be able to go to court on Monday...this was heartbreaking news! We were so discouraged...so, please pray with us that the report will come in today and that our file will be complete so that it can go to the lawyer and he can begin to build our brief for court.
Please pray that all other reports will be complete as well so that we can have our court date on Monday. Time is getting short and our tickets out of Jo-burg are booked for April 6th. So, it is imperative that we are in Pretoria by Wednesday so that all our paperwork can be turned in to the high commission and her visa can be issued in time for us to travel - at this point, to be honest - it will take a miracle for all this to happen! If it doesn't, we are looking at spending a ton of money to re-book tickets...which we don't have...so we are asking you to pray that miraculously this would all come together.
I am also going to meet with Vierah today and I need wisdom! I need wisdom on how to present our case in such a way that I do not offend but still communicate our timeline clearly and the urgency of getting our dossier to court ASAP. Your thoughts and prayers will be much appreciated.
On the personal front - please pray for T and I to stay strong for the kids! Liam is really starting to struggle with homesickness! He is crying often asking for Grandma and Grandpa and just repeating that it's time to go home! This is breaking our hearts as we feel that same but know that we have at least one more week here! Zoe isn't helping as she walks around holding one of Liam's planes repeating over and over again - "I go to Canada!" "I go to Canada...Daddy we go Canada...Mummy we go to Canada..." So, please pray that T and I will remain positive and create good memories for Liam and Zoe during this last stressful week!
Thanks to all for your love and prayers - and for the B-day wishes! They mean more then you will ever know! We long just to pick up the phone and hear a familiar voice or to just drop by for a cup of coffee with friends...soon enough...soon enough...until then my friends! Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! May you know the smile of your heavenly Father today and may you know how much we all love and miss you!! And that's the McKnight report.
It's been hot...really hot...really really hot...there's your weather update.
Monday - the 23rd
We spent the morning at the cultural village learning about Zoe's homeland. This inlcuded lots of singing, beautiful traditional dances - which Liam was invited to join and did! Some great picks of my very white son trying to do some funky African moves...I think the dancers got a huge kick out of him! Then we went on to tour a traditional Swazi village and learned about lodging, cooking, village life, traditional dress and celebrations. Overall, it was a good day where we learned as much as we could. Our guide Alfred left a little to be desired but we still learned lots. He plans on visiting us in Canada sometime soon...along with a couple of thousand of his friends - it seems everyone we meet is planning on coming to see us...I guess dad better add on to the house :)!
Tuesday the 24th
Yesterday was a whirlwind tour of the southern part of Swaziland. We joined Vierah and the other Canadian couple on a trip to meet the nurse who had rescued their baby when he was only a few hours old. The drive was long and the day was very hot! As usual, the trip didn't end there but consisted of 6 other stops to greet cousins, stop at old offices and greet fellow social workers, lunch at a casino - the kids were pretty wrestless by then so I took them to a park to play - and then we went on an hours drive to find a police station to get final reports on the other Canadian couples baby so that we could go to court. This took over an hour of waiting for the police to decide to see us and then we eneded up leaving without the paperwork!! Yikes...stress, stress, stress...
Then we enjoyed a 2.5 hour drive home with two sreaming children who were wondering how much longer they needed to be in the car - it was now 4 pm!!! Thankfully, the local pub - Malendella's - welcomed us an hour early for supper and the kitchen took mercy on two very tired parents with crying children. They made an amazing supper for us all and once the kids had eaten I gave T a mental health break and we wandered the beautiful tropical gardens and took pictures of the kids on the various animal statues [lions, crocs, elephants, rhinos and turtles]. We then hung out and sipped on cool drinks as a family until the sun went down and headed home...exhausted, sweaty but in a much better place mentally for sure! God was gracious too us and we had a chance to thank Peter - the proprietor of Malandella's personally for his hospitality. He is an Irish man his 70's who has lived in Swaziland for most of his adult life! Like every good Irishman he was full of stories of his one visit to Canada and was a welcome distraction from the stress of the day.
Zoe's cold is still persisting but she finally slept through last night for which we were all thankful. Liam is starting to get sick so we are whomping the meds to him too! T and I are on massive doses of vitamins and antioxidants daily so we are so far staying healthy though we are pretty tired!
As far as prayer requests go, here's the scoop!
Yesterday we were told that everything in our dossier is not actually in order as we were told it was - SHOCKER!!! - but that the police report for court is not in order as the names on her birth certificate and police report are not the same. They are hoping to correct this today and hope that we will be able to go to court on Monday...this was heartbreaking news! We were so discouraged...so, please pray with us that the report will come in today and that our file will be complete so that it can go to the lawyer and he can begin to build our brief for court.
Please pray that all other reports will be complete as well so that we can have our court date on Monday. Time is getting short and our tickets out of Jo-burg are booked for April 6th. So, it is imperative that we are in Pretoria by Wednesday so that all our paperwork can be turned in to the high commission and her visa can be issued in time for us to travel - at this point, to be honest - it will take a miracle for all this to happen! If it doesn't, we are looking at spending a ton of money to re-book tickets...which we don't have...so we are asking you to pray that miraculously this would all come together.
I am also going to meet with Vierah today and I need wisdom! I need wisdom on how to present our case in such a way that I do not offend but still communicate our timeline clearly and the urgency of getting our dossier to court ASAP. Your thoughts and prayers will be much appreciated.
On the personal front - please pray for T and I to stay strong for the kids! Liam is really starting to struggle with homesickness! He is crying often asking for Grandma and Grandpa and just repeating that it's time to go home! This is breaking our hearts as we feel that same but know that we have at least one more week here! Zoe isn't helping as she walks around holding one of Liam's planes repeating over and over again - "I go to Canada!" "I go to Canada...Daddy we go Canada...Mummy we go to Canada..." So, please pray that T and I will remain positive and create good memories for Liam and Zoe during this last stressful week!
Thanks to all for your love and prayers - and for the B-day wishes! They mean more then you will ever know! We long just to pick up the phone and hear a familiar voice or to just drop by for a cup of coffee with friends...soon enough...soon enough...until then my friends! Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! May you know the smile of your heavenly Father today and may you know how much we all love and miss you!! And that's the McKnight report.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Life...
Monday the 23rd.
Sorry it has been a while since we wrote! The weekend was full. An answer to prayer is that our medicals were sent to Nairobi early Friday morning.
We had lots of opportunities over the weekend to spend time with the other adopting families. Several outings and meals together.
On Sunday morning we went to Hilltop Church-very cool experience-didn't last the whole service with 4 children but heard some beautiful singing and troy had to give greetings from Powers Creek Church!
We spent the rest of the afternoon at SwaziCandles-had a fantastic lunch and the kids played at the playground.
Please pray for us as we continue to bond as a family. Zoe is very sick with a cold right now and that means we are not sleeping-Liam manages to sleep through it all! Makes the days that much more challenging when there is no sleep at night! we are definately ready to come home!
We are told that we will be going to court either Wed. or Thurs. then we will have to apply for birth certificate and passport-so possibility that we will be able to head to Pretoria early next week. Please pray that will be so-we feel like that puts us one step closer to home. Liam is just starting to ask for home-which to me is amazing-he has been very content here-made friends and having a great time.
We are heading to the Swazi Cultural Village this morning. Tomorrow heading to the southern part of the country with the other Canadian family and Vierah-they are to meet the nurse who found their son and Vierah wants us to go along for the journey. A great chance to see more of this beautiful country-a long journey though-so keep us in your prayers!
Will try to do better this week with more regular posts!
Sorry it has been a while since we wrote! The weekend was full. An answer to prayer is that our medicals were sent to Nairobi early Friday morning.
We had lots of opportunities over the weekend to spend time with the other adopting families. Several outings and meals together.
On Sunday morning we went to Hilltop Church-very cool experience-didn't last the whole service with 4 children but heard some beautiful singing and troy had to give greetings from Powers Creek Church!
We spent the rest of the afternoon at SwaziCandles-had a fantastic lunch and the kids played at the playground.
Please pray for us as we continue to bond as a family. Zoe is very sick with a cold right now and that means we are not sleeping-Liam manages to sleep through it all! Makes the days that much more challenging when there is no sleep at night! we are definately ready to come home!
We are told that we will be going to court either Wed. or Thurs. then we will have to apply for birth certificate and passport-so possibility that we will be able to head to Pretoria early next week. Please pray that will be so-we feel like that puts us one step closer to home. Liam is just starting to ask for home-which to me is amazing-he has been very content here-made friends and having a great time.
We are heading to the Swazi Cultural Village this morning. Tomorrow heading to the southern part of the country with the other Canadian family and Vierah-they are to meet the nurse who found their son and Vierah wants us to go along for the journey. A great chance to see more of this beautiful country-a long journey though-so keep us in your prayers!
Will try to do better this week with more regular posts!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
so we are 4...
We picked up Zoe on Tuesday! What a day! The drive itself is a nightmare-we left an hour and a half after we were supposed to, so time in Bulembo was short. We signed some papers then headed to the house where Zoe has been living (she was moved to the 2-3 year old house a short time ago-Talitha and her husband Johna are the caretakers). We met her friends, toured the house, and learned about her schedule. After a short time to play it was time to go. Then the screaming and crying began! Not by Zoe-she had a huge smile on her face and kept saying "I go to Canada!". The crying was all her friends and roommates-I (teresa) was a complete wreck as we said goodbye! We then had to say goodbye to Robyn (who runs the orphanage-so more crying by me!). We thankfully made it off the dirt road before the heavens opened and the rains came! It poured-to say the least! Then the fog came-can I just say that there is nothing so scary as driving these mountain roads in the fog and rain at 120km then coming to a complete stop for no apparent reason! To say it was a stressful 3 hours does not describe it! Anyways, thank the Lord we were able to pick Zoe up on Tuesday because the rains that came that night made the road impassable.
The night we came home was great-she had one little cry then went to bed with a smile on her face. She is a very happy little girl with an attitude allready! She has her own mind for sure! We are allready seeing some 2 year old behaviour! The transition is going very well! Suvi-we are not sleeping in the same bed-she is in a cot beside me cuz we are in twin beds-hopefully it will all be well! She loves to cuddle and wants to be held a lot! Is not one bit afraid of food-she can pack it away!
Yesterday was a down day-just a day to get to know each other better-it was lovely. Today (thursday the 19th) Liam went to school with the owner's son and we took Zoe to fetch her passport and get her Visa Medical done. After about an hour of drama the passports arrived and we were set for the dr. We spent a little bit of time at the halfway house here in Manzini-very stressful for Zoe-so did not spend long. We had a lovely afternoon at the SwaziCandles where we had lunch and all the adopted kids were able to play together at the playground. Been a very busy but nice day-we are all pooped and ready for showers and bed!
Please pray that the Dr. sends the Medical forms ASAP-the secretary told us they would be sent next week-not good enough! We are now in Vierah's hands as far as waiting for the adoption to be done-everything we have to do for the time being is done! Pray we can continue to have patience-we seem to trade bad days which is good. Continue to pray for us as we attach-the biggest obstacle seems to be that Zoe doesn't want much to do with Liam. Apparently the little boy at ABC was quite aggresive with her and she doesn't want much to do with white boys. Love you all-that's the McKnight Report!
The night we came home was great-she had one little cry then went to bed with a smile on her face. She is a very happy little girl with an attitude allready! She has her own mind for sure! We are allready seeing some 2 year old behaviour! The transition is going very well! Suvi-we are not sleeping in the same bed-she is in a cot beside me cuz we are in twin beds-hopefully it will all be well! She loves to cuddle and wants to be held a lot! Is not one bit afraid of food-she can pack it away!
Yesterday was a down day-just a day to get to know each other better-it was lovely. Today (thursday the 19th) Liam went to school with the owner's son and we took Zoe to fetch her passport and get her Visa Medical done. After about an hour of drama the passports arrived and we were set for the dr. We spent a little bit of time at the halfway house here in Manzini-very stressful for Zoe-so did not spend long. We had a lovely afternoon at the SwaziCandles where we had lunch and all the adopted kids were able to play together at the playground. Been a very busy but nice day-we are all pooped and ready for showers and bed!
Please pray that the Dr. sends the Medical forms ASAP-the secretary told us they would be sent next week-not good enough! We are now in Vierah's hands as far as waiting for the adoption to be done-everything we have to do for the time being is done! Pray we can continue to have patience-we seem to trade bad days which is good. Continue to pray for us as we attach-the biggest obstacle seems to be that Zoe doesn't want much to do with Liam. Apparently the little boy at ABC was quite aggresive with her and she doesn't want much to do with white boys. Love you all-that's the McKnight Report!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Not what we expected...TIA [This is Africa]
Well we left you this morning full of hope and the promise of a birth certificate, Passport and visa medical being completed today. We come home late tonight with no birth certificate, no passport and no visa medical...as one person put it to us today - TIA my friends...TIA - this is Africa...so get used to it! To describe our 7 hour day in a clautrophobic hallway and stair well with Liam, Zoe-Jane, 4 month old Benjamin, Teresa, Gerry and Talitha [from the orphanage] and myself as a total "Gong Show!!!" would be the understatment of the year! We left with nothing except a request to come back next Monday for the passports...maybe! Feeling this was unacceptable, Gerry spoke with the powers that be and they told me to come back on Thursday instead! So, it looks like Zoe-Jane and I will be back on Thursday for another day in the hallway!
Please pray that the passport will be ready and that a medical can be done on Thursday so that the process can continue to move forward. We go to pick up Zoe-Jane tomorrow so that will be an awesome day for us! She is with us to stay from then on so we couldn't be more excited!
Well, that's a quick up date for now. We are getting ready for supper and then off to bed! We love you all and miss you much...and that's it for the McKnight report!
Please pray that the passport will be ready and that a medical can be done on Thursday so that the process can continue to move forward. We go to pick up Zoe-Jane tomorrow so that will be an awesome day for us! She is with us to stay from then on so we couldn't be more excited!
Well, that's a quick up date for now. We are getting ready for supper and then off to bed! We love you all and miss you much...and that's it for the McKnight report!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Ok - Here's the 411
Well - the internet is back up for the moment and we've had a ton of stuff happen since our last post so we will try to catch you up as quickly as we can and then hopefully we can keep more regular updates in the days ahead. So, here's the scoop on the last 3 days.
Friday the 13th [afternoon]
After my frantic blog in the am our day turned 180 degrees! It was miraculous to say the least! We drove into Mbabane - an adventure in itself- made our way to Vierah's office and then say for an hour in front of her desk while she worked on something else - did I mention we are learning a lot about the difference between time in Canada and time in Africa? Anywho - she finally turned her attention to us and within 20 minutes we had Zoe's passport figured out, a medical appointment for Monday morning, a meeting booked with the head of social welfare for the country and an intial meeting with our lawyer Mr. Maphalala. Then the fun really began!
We were whisked through the streets of Mbabane like we were part of some crazy formula one racing school - as I am figuring out how to drive on the left hand side of the road in my little black opel - did I mention it's a five speed? We meet with Eric - head of social welfare - a wonderful man who filled us in on the state of the country, the state of the Aids crisis, drout and a poverty level of 69% nationwide. It was heartbreaking to hear him talk about the plight of his people. He is working night and day to care for those in need and yet it is never enough! Please pray for Eric as he serves so tirelessly!
Then it was off to Manzini to meet Mr. M our lawyer. It is a 45 km drive at 140 km/h as I try to keep up with our driver - Jameson - in his white Isuzu truck which he apparently borrowed from the Nascar truck series!! It was insane! People everywhere! Walking along the highway, crossing the highway, selling things on the side of the highway, hanging out on the side of the highway...I think you get the point. Manzini is a much bigger, much busier city with the streets flooded with people. We made our way through the congested streets, avoiding pedestrians until we pass a Debonair pizza shop where we hang a right down a narrow, unpaved alley that twists it's way by crumbling businesses until we arrive at a door with people lining up outside. Apparently this is the place. We get out, and squeeze our way into the waiting room with 12 other people and we...wait...wait...wait...and then Liam decides he should go hang out outsdie for a while so we take turns with him and we wait... and finally we get to meet Mr. M. He is a large man who is welcoming enough but appears to be one part lawyer and one part Sopranos cast member - all rolled into one! We have a brief meeting with him and he decides he would like to see us again on Saturday morning to go over our paper work so we set an appointment - not sure why - for 10 am. With that he steps outside his office to say goodbye, grabs a cold Heineken from his legal assistant and sits down on a chair to finish off the day with his staff.
We invite our social worker Vierah and Jameson our driver out for dinner at Melandella's - a local internet cafe/restaurant just down the road from us - and we fall into bed exhausted, elated, and thanking God for his goodness and grace!
Saturday the 14th
Jameson picks us up at 9:45 am for our 10 am appointment with Mr. M - who's office is 35 km away. And you guessed it - the race is on again! Let's just say that T is not very comfortable with my driving but I figure that when in Swaziland do as the Swazi's! We arrive at 10:05 am to - you guessed it - a room full of people and we wait...and wait...and wait...and wait...at 11:15 am Mr. M shows up in his Mercedez and begins working his way through the clients in the room. We are last. Around 12:30 pm he sees us, works through our dossiers, explains the process, takes a few notes and sends us on. Vierah and Jameson are waiting for us and they whisk us off to International Women's day - a huge celebration and forum on women's rights and roles in Swaziland. This is our first culture outing - according to Vierah. We arrive at a massive field house complex full of Swazi women - all in their traditional dress with members of parliment at the guest table at the front. One by one different presenters come forward and passionately share their concerns, their questions, their dreams for women in Swaziland - some in English, most in Siswati. So, I want you to picture this field house full of mostly Swazi women, a few Swazi men and the 4 white Canadians and their small boy - who isn't at all impressed by this event and continues to wonder aloud "Where are the elephants?!" It was quite an experience! But we survived and by 2 pm we were heading home to rest for the remainder of the day - with the news that we will be heading to ABC to meet Zoe-Jane for the first time on Sunday - just out of the blue! So, we are to be ready to go by 9:30 am!
Side note: Liam is the king of all things! He is the greatest ambassador that Canada - or more importantly - we could have asked for! He and Vierah have already established a very special friendship. Everywhere we go, they are walking hand in hand! Vierah loves holding him, walking him around, introducing him to her friends and officials as her Canadian boy! And you all know how shy he is! He is loving every minute of it! We think that he is making a huge impact and helping us move forward in ways we never would have imagined! So, yeah God and go Liam!
Sunday - 15th
We are off at 9:45 am to Mbabane where we...you guessed it...wait for 2 hours for everyone else to arrive. Then we begin the 2.5 hr journey north through some of the most beautiful country we have ever seen to the town of Bulembo - where the orphanage is located. INSANE is not even beginnig to describe the roads as we run out of pavement 18 km before we get to the orphanage! The dirt logging road we are traveling on makes bear creek main look like the Coq! It is washed out, massive mounds, pot holes, huge rocks...and guess what- Jameson doesn't seem to know how to slow down - SHOCKER!!! - so we are flying like we are some sort of hair on fire off road rally through the mountains of Swaziland in my little two door black opel - think chevy sprint and you are close!
By God's grace we arrive safe and in one piece. We meet Robyn and Gerry - who run ABC - and before we know it we are sitting in the living room and the cutest little thing ever is brought in and we find ourselves balling as we are face to face for the first time with little Zoe-Jane! We spend the next 2 hours holding her and playing with her, and snuggling and celebrating with the other parents as one by one the children are brought in for first introductions. Then, all too soon, it is time for us to hit the rally circuit again and head back to the Willows. Leaving her behind was soooo hard but we know that we will see her tomorrow and then on Tuesday we will return to bring her home! We arrive home exhausted but so full of joy!
Monday -16
We are getting ready to leave for Zoe-Jane's medical. So, that's it in a nutshell - sort of...we will write more later! We love you and miss you all...and that's the McKnight Report!
Friday the 13th [afternoon]
After my frantic blog in the am our day turned 180 degrees! It was miraculous to say the least! We drove into Mbabane - an adventure in itself- made our way to Vierah's office and then say for an hour in front of her desk while she worked on something else - did I mention we are learning a lot about the difference between time in Canada and time in Africa? Anywho - she finally turned her attention to us and within 20 minutes we had Zoe's passport figured out, a medical appointment for Monday morning, a meeting booked with the head of social welfare for the country and an intial meeting with our lawyer Mr. Maphalala. Then the fun really began!
We were whisked through the streets of Mbabane like we were part of some crazy formula one racing school - as I am figuring out how to drive on the left hand side of the road in my little black opel - did I mention it's a five speed? We meet with Eric - head of social welfare - a wonderful man who filled us in on the state of the country, the state of the Aids crisis, drout and a poverty level of 69% nationwide. It was heartbreaking to hear him talk about the plight of his people. He is working night and day to care for those in need and yet it is never enough! Please pray for Eric as he serves so tirelessly!
Then it was off to Manzini to meet Mr. M our lawyer. It is a 45 km drive at 140 km/h as I try to keep up with our driver - Jameson - in his white Isuzu truck which he apparently borrowed from the Nascar truck series!! It was insane! People everywhere! Walking along the highway, crossing the highway, selling things on the side of the highway, hanging out on the side of the highway...I think you get the point. Manzini is a much bigger, much busier city with the streets flooded with people. We made our way through the congested streets, avoiding pedestrians until we pass a Debonair pizza shop where we hang a right down a narrow, unpaved alley that twists it's way by crumbling businesses until we arrive at a door with people lining up outside. Apparently this is the place. We get out, and squeeze our way into the waiting room with 12 other people and we...wait...wait...wait...and then Liam decides he should go hang out outsdie for a while so we take turns with him and we wait... and finally we get to meet Mr. M. He is a large man who is welcoming enough but appears to be one part lawyer and one part Sopranos cast member - all rolled into one! We have a brief meeting with him and he decides he would like to see us again on Saturday morning to go over our paper work so we set an appointment - not sure why - for 10 am. With that he steps outside his office to say goodbye, grabs a cold Heineken from his legal assistant and sits down on a chair to finish off the day with his staff.
We invite our social worker Vierah and Jameson our driver out for dinner at Melandella's - a local internet cafe/restaurant just down the road from us - and we fall into bed exhausted, elated, and thanking God for his goodness and grace!
Saturday the 14th
Jameson picks us up at 9:45 am for our 10 am appointment with Mr. M - who's office is 35 km away. And you guessed it - the race is on again! Let's just say that T is not very comfortable with my driving but I figure that when in Swaziland do as the Swazi's! We arrive at 10:05 am to - you guessed it - a room full of people and we wait...and wait...and wait...and wait...at 11:15 am Mr. M shows up in his Mercedez and begins working his way through the clients in the room. We are last. Around 12:30 pm he sees us, works through our dossiers, explains the process, takes a few notes and sends us on. Vierah and Jameson are waiting for us and they whisk us off to International Women's day - a huge celebration and forum on women's rights and roles in Swaziland. This is our first culture outing - according to Vierah. We arrive at a massive field house complex full of Swazi women - all in their traditional dress with members of parliment at the guest table at the front. One by one different presenters come forward and passionately share their concerns, their questions, their dreams for women in Swaziland - some in English, most in Siswati. So, I want you to picture this field house full of mostly Swazi women, a few Swazi men and the 4 white Canadians and their small boy - who isn't at all impressed by this event and continues to wonder aloud "Where are the elephants?!" It was quite an experience! But we survived and by 2 pm we were heading home to rest for the remainder of the day - with the news that we will be heading to ABC to meet Zoe-Jane for the first time on Sunday - just out of the blue! So, we are to be ready to go by 9:30 am!
Side note: Liam is the king of all things! He is the greatest ambassador that Canada - or more importantly - we could have asked for! He and Vierah have already established a very special friendship. Everywhere we go, they are walking hand in hand! Vierah loves holding him, walking him around, introducing him to her friends and officials as her Canadian boy! And you all know how shy he is! He is loving every minute of it! We think that he is making a huge impact and helping us move forward in ways we never would have imagined! So, yeah God and go Liam!
Sunday - 15th
We are off at 9:45 am to Mbabane where we...you guessed it...wait for 2 hours for everyone else to arrive. Then we begin the 2.5 hr journey north through some of the most beautiful country we have ever seen to the town of Bulembo - where the orphanage is located. INSANE is not even beginnig to describe the roads as we run out of pavement 18 km before we get to the orphanage! The dirt logging road we are traveling on makes bear creek main look like the Coq! It is washed out, massive mounds, pot holes, huge rocks...and guess what- Jameson doesn't seem to know how to slow down - SHOCKER!!! - so we are flying like we are some sort of hair on fire off road rally through the mountains of Swaziland in my little two door black opel - think chevy sprint and you are close!
By God's grace we arrive safe and in one piece. We meet Robyn and Gerry - who run ABC - and before we know it we are sitting in the living room and the cutest little thing ever is brought in and we find ourselves balling as we are face to face for the first time with little Zoe-Jane! We spend the next 2 hours holding her and playing with her, and snuggling and celebrating with the other parents as one by one the children are brought in for first introductions. Then, all too soon, it is time for us to hit the rally circuit again and head back to the Willows. Leaving her behind was soooo hard but we know that we will see her tomorrow and then on Tuesday we will return to bring her home! We arrive home exhausted but so full of joy!
Monday -16
We are getting ready to leave for Zoe-Jane's medical. So, that's it in a nutshell - sort of...we will write more later! We love you and miss you all...and that's the McKnight Report!
Friday, March 13, 2009
We are here!
Ok, first off, sorry about not writing for so long but our internet has been down since we arrive. I have ventured out and found an internet cafe and voila! Here you have it! Our first blog from Swaziland. It is going to be short and sweet as we are paying by the minute at this point.
We are all exhausted, not sleeping and all out of whack - a 9 hour difference is wreaking havoc with schedules and systems. So, please pray that we will normalize and start sleeping instead of eating toast at 2 am as a family! Liam is doing great! He is loving all the different plants, all the geckos and he is making some new friends with kids who live at the lodge - Robert is 4 and is the owners son and Tadtho - is a 5 year old little Swazi girl who's family works and lives on sight.
We had our first meeting with the social worker yesterday and things are not as set as we would like so...here come the prayer requests:
1. The Medical is not done and we will have to try and get it done sometime next week after we bring Zoe home. This is a time crucial deal as it takes two weeks to process before we can get our visa in Pretoria.
2. It seems that our social worker is away for 4 days next week at conferences which means that she will not be able to start working on our cases until next week...not sure what that means either - so feel free to pray about that!
3. Also, apparently there has been a change in government and the man who used to sign adoption orders no longer does. So, they are trying to figure out who is going to do that...which needs to happen in order for the adoption to actually happen...go figure!
4. Please pray for us - we are physically, mentally and emotionally worn from the trip and all of this uncertain news so we need tons of prayers for peace, rest and faith to trust that this too will turn out for our deliverance - there's that pesky Paul again...:)!
Well, I know that might seem short and a bit of a downer but that's the real deal here in Swaziland and since we are all about being real...well there you have it! So, the next big thing is figuring out when we will go to pick up Zoe-Jane and when we can get the medical done. I will write again tomorrow! We love and miss you all very much...and that's the McKnight Report!
We are all exhausted, not sleeping and all out of whack - a 9 hour difference is wreaking havoc with schedules and systems. So, please pray that we will normalize and start sleeping instead of eating toast at 2 am as a family! Liam is doing great! He is loving all the different plants, all the geckos and he is making some new friends with kids who live at the lodge - Robert is 4 and is the owners son and Tadtho - is a 5 year old little Swazi girl who's family works and lives on sight.
We had our first meeting with the social worker yesterday and things are not as set as we would like so...here come the prayer requests:
1. The Medical is not done and we will have to try and get it done sometime next week after we bring Zoe home. This is a time crucial deal as it takes two weeks to process before we can get our visa in Pretoria.
2. It seems that our social worker is away for 4 days next week at conferences which means that she will not be able to start working on our cases until next week...not sure what that means either - so feel free to pray about that!
3. Also, apparently there has been a change in government and the man who used to sign adoption orders no longer does. So, they are trying to figure out who is going to do that...which needs to happen in order for the adoption to actually happen...go figure!
4. Please pray for us - we are physically, mentally and emotionally worn from the trip and all of this uncertain news so we need tons of prayers for peace, rest and faith to trust that this too will turn out for our deliverance - there's that pesky Paul again...:)!
Well, I know that might seem short and a bit of a downer but that's the real deal here in Swaziland and since we are all about being real...well there you have it! So, the next big thing is figuring out when we will go to pick up Zoe-Jane and when we can get the medical done. I will write again tomorrow! We love and miss you all very much...and that's the McKnight Report!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
My first blog...ever!!
Woohoo!! Look at me go...I am officially a blogger! A big thank you to my friend, mentor and Sensi on all things technical - Mr. Jeff Falke for getting me set up and ready to go. Well, this is where you will find daily reports on the McKnight's African adventure as we head off to Swaziland to pick up our gorgeous, long awaited gift - our daughter Zoe! It is hard to believe that 2+ years of waiting have finally come to an end and this coming Tuesday we are actually leaving to go and meet her face to face!
To all of you who have been walking with us, hoping with us, crying with us, praying for us...we just want to say "Thank you" so much! We couldn't have made it through without you!
Our goal is to write a brief update every couple of days to keep you up to speed on our journey, where we are at in the adoption process and how you can continue to pray for us in an informed way. So, that's the plan for now!
We look forward to sharing the adventure with you. Grace and Peace to you all...this is the McKnight Report.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)