Where it all began...

What a day- the most amazing mix of emotions! Isaac has been unable to sleep for days. His brain couldn't slow down the excitement and nerves of seeing his foster mom again.
First we reunited with all his friends from the orphanage. These ladies worked so hard on behalf of my son when he lived there. Several of them remembered him- it was so sweet to see their joy at seeing him again.

Isaac had to sample the little fruits from the tree out front. It was the only thing that calmed him the day we first met.

And he got to hold the baby who is currently sleeping in 'his crib'. This is where he lived the first several months of his life. And now this baby is here. And my brain just can't hold on to all those emotions- the joy that Isaac found a family, the overwhelming gratitude that we get to be that family, and the grief for this sweet baby who has no family yet. Isaac is beginning to process all that his adoption means and I am thankful he got this time here.

My sister was able to spend time with the little boy she is sponsoring through Holt. He is 5 years old and absolutely full of energy! Just the sweetest! I love how Holt organized that time for them to share. Sponsorship does matter! Isaac had several during his life and I just love that there were families holding his picture and praying for him before I knew him.

And then...off to the foster family's home. Isaac has always referred to her as Me (there's a dot over the e and it means mom in vietnamese). As soon as the van arrived, he threw the door open and ran to her! The Holt worker asked if Isaac remembered her- he just nodded and hugged her tighter. It was the most precious thing ever. The couldn't get enough of each other- he hugged and laughed the entire time. No language was needed- they just wanted to be together. 

Then grandmother showed up. She couldn't get enough of squeezing Isaac- she clearly loves him so much, too! He's almost as tall as she is! Between Me and Grandmother, Isaac was being held the entire time. It was so beautiful. Eight years and it was like no time at all had passed. 

And then it was time to go. And no one was ready. And we had to go anyway. And how do you just leave? We all cried and Me walked him back to the van and Isaac didn't stop waving until we were out of sight. The last thing we saw was Me wiping her eyes- the same thing we saw as we left 8 years ago. My heart has been broken again for this wonderful family and for my son. So much love and loss and redemption here. 

Back in Vietnam!!

It is surreal to be back in Ho Chi Minh City! The city has changed so much- it is more prosperous and the traffic is much safer. The kindness of the vietnamese people remains unchanged- they are still so friendly and helpful! We spent our first day getting used to the time. We are exhausted. Also, HOT!! It's 95+ degrees at dinner. But, we are here. We made it to the Reunification Palace and to Ben Thanh Market. Spent most of the rest of the day trying not to fall asleep!!
Tomorrow we get to see Isaac's foster family and orphanage!!

Last Day

First stop was the Statue of Ramses- one of two likely rulers during the Exodus. The statue was immense!! Each fingernail was bigger than my fist! It's so strange to see all these ancient treasures out in the middle of nowhere- still exposed to the elements. You can actually touch almost all the statues and slabs of marble with ancient writting....crazy!

Here's a much smaller sphinx statue...still impressive. You can't take pictures in the Egyptian Museum, but they must have had 100 statues like this just scattered around- not to mention all the jewelry, thrones, and rooms and rooms of mummies....

The step pyramid- my favorite one, I think, because of the history. Right next door you could still walk through the room where they embalmed the king and see part of the ceiling with cracks to let in light to the alabaster floor. Beautiful!!

One of three churches we saw today- this one is called the hanging church. It's a Coptic church and we got to hear the kids practicing their lessons- they have church on Fridays (to balance the Muslims, I think) and Sunday. We also saw a synagogue and the church over the site believed to have been the home of the Holy Family while they lived in Egypt. You couldn't take pictures in those, though. The Coptics LOVE the Virgin Mary- there were lines of people to kiss her picture. I don't get it, but they were very emotional over Mary's picture....

I must have 100 pictures of the city because I just couldn't believe how dirty it was. We actively looked for a trash can and couldn't find one- people just drop their trash as they walk and it all ends up piled in the river. No wonder you can't drink the water!! Cars, people, animals and trash were everywhere!

And now we head home- to the land of free restrooms (with soap!!) and pork products!

It's been amazing, but I'm ready to see my kids and Branden and sleep in my own bed!!

Egypt- Day 1

We started off at the Great Pyramids of Giza! There are 3 pyramids and the Sphinx. We got to climb down into the smallest pyramid- still huge! It was really neat to see the different rooms and the angles of the tunnels. You weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but this is us after we came out-Aunt Rachel made it all the way down and up that tiny tunnel without freaking out! What a big girl.....

Then we got to ride the camels!! I thought it would just be one at a time around a circle path, but no! We caravanned it all over that area- about a 15 minute ride! Getting up and down is a little interesting- you lean all the way back then all the way forward just to stay perpendicular to the ground. SO glad we got to do this. I figured the camels would be just for the tourists, but we saw people riding them around the parking lots and even on the side of the road once.

This is a model of the giant boat they found in the pyramid that the pharoah would use to travel through the underworld- a little like the ancient Greeks and Romans believed. I just like the picture of my dad looking like a goober!

This is our security guard Wallid (like wally+d) taking a picture of a lady in our group. By the end of the day, we were calling each other family. He's so fun! First off, how cool that we get our own security guard?! He keeps the pickpockets away and keeps a look out for really bad guys. But mostly he helped us negotiate prices at the bazar! He helped us practice our Arabic and we helped with his English- one of the people I'm really going to miss!

And here's the Sphinx. So strange- you take an exit from downtown Cairo and it's right there- beside the 3 pyramids. We actually stopped at a gas station/ cafe that had a gorgeous view of this. Right downtown! Crazy. There are people everywhere trying to sell stuff- pens, scarves, mini pyramids, you name it- they are selling it! And they will really negotiate. We wanted these head coverings and the price started at $5 a piece. We said 3 for $10. Wallis stepped in and said it was worth 3 for $5. So we walked off- the girl chased us down and, after some more negotiating we got them for $6 (Rachel felt bad for the girl, so threw in the extra $1!) It can really be a lot of fun!!

Traffic

It's very similar to Vietnam traffic- except it all moves so much faster!! I've never seen anything like it- vans hauling 10 camels will swerve to miss a moped carrying 6 people and have to stop suddenly to avoid the woman and child walking with a stack of water bottles on her head. All at 60 MPH! Makes the drive very interesting!! Never figured out where all those people in the bottom picture were trying to go- but they were frantically trying to get there!!

Final day in Israel

This was actually one of the last pictures of the day, but I want to start by showing the Bedoin camp we passed- we saw several. Hard to believe they can make a living like that- but there were some nice cars parked in front of those sheds at some camps!

This is our visit to the Garden Tomb- the other likely site of Calvary and the empty tomb. This is the famous 'skull' photo- interesting, but not what grabs my attention. The geography fits pretty well for this site- or it did 2000 years ago. I don't think we are meant to know where it happened. Just like the Ark of the Covenant and other relics- it's too easy for people to begin to worship the relic/site and take their eyes off the Savior. So God, in His wisdom, hides them or leaves questions as to the exact location. We are meant to live by faith, yes?


This is what my mother came for- to see the empty tomb- if it's not the real one- it's a very real-feeling one. To stand there, in that spot.... to go in and see....nothing! We had communion beside the tomb and sang hymns- I will never forget it as long as I live.




And the reason for the peace and joy in my heart- and my knowledge that I'll see my Nana and Mamaw one day....

Really emotional day- We started at the Wailing Wall where we got to see a bar mitzvah- pretty cool, actually. All the moms and women relatives were standing up in chairs to watch over the fence. Then up to the Dome of the Rock. This is located where the Jewish section would have been in the temple. Amazing to stand where Jews- including Jesus- had come to worship for so long. Lots of prayer/study groups scattered around.


From there we walked to the Pools of Bethesda (Emily- the hospital you were born in was named after this ancient place of healing!). Stood on the place where Jesus healed the paralyzed man....

Then we started the Via Dolorosa. This is my foot on the spot where Jesus was flogged.....how do you describe those emotions? All He did.....for me....We made our way up to one of the 2 likely sites for Calvary and the empty tomb. The pictures really only show the church area- only a little of Calvary's rock show and none of the tomb. But being there changed me....


This is the Mount of Olives. There are 2000 year old trees in this orchard- and the path Jesus took between Bethany and Jerusalem fits so we know this is the right place. We broke up into family groups and prayed/worshiped. Our group read John's account of the prayer Jesus prayed in the garden....again, how do you describe something like that? To read the words prayed in the place where they were prayed....humbling. We also read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. My amazing brother read these verses to both of my grandmothers in the final hours on this earth. We somehow made it through the reading.


After all that emotion, we had to cut loose! So that night some of us walked down to ben Yahuda street- full of shops and, that night, a student protest. We are only sort of sure what this sign says, but we were happy to join the party. My dad, sister, and I spent a lovely half hour in a tiny shop run by a special Jewish man. He spent a lot of timer explaining the complicated feelings toward the Palestinians how he is preparing for the Messiah. We talked about how we were waiting for Messiah to come a second time- led to a wonderful, conversation. This man clearly is devoted to God- just misses the boat with Jesus. We also met a sweet Texan working in the hotel's store. We asked why she moved to Israel- she said she liked the states better. "But," she said, "I am a Jew. And God gave my people this land. Who am I to say I'd rather be somewhere else." Really inspiring to see the devotion.