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!