A Bit of a Black Hole of Communication

We are in Colorado Springs. We will be home this Friday if all goes as planned. Since nothing on this trip has gone as planned don't hold your breath! After a night and part of a day in the Grand Canyon we gave up on "vacationing" and turned toward home.

Communication in northern Arizona between reservations (Navajo) and no cell phone is non-existent. I did find a Texas horn toad who agreed to bring you all a message but I think he lied!

We spent the night in Cameron and then today across the reservation, through Pagosa Springs (where we used to live), and into the snow and 36 degrees of the mountains to yet another hotel in Colorado Springs whose wireless Internet doesn't work. Anyway I'm in the lobby. There here are some adorable photos of Jessie on Facebook (on my wall from Lisa). Halima seems relieved to be going home. We can't get there fast enough. Pray for us all.

See you this weekend.

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Bitter Sweet Senario

Sorry I didn't write last night. We are at the Canyon (Grand that is) and we don't have Internet in our room. Jim and I are in the lobby of the main motel now and can get online. Halima is sleeping. It was a long and painful day for her. Lorrie let us know that Jessie didn't cry when we slipped out and Lisa and Andy kept her attention. Halima wanted it the easiest for Jessie. They boarded the plane and Jessie slept throughout the flight on their laps. We haven't heard how things are this morning as she meets the 6 other children but we will by tonight's entry.

Halima is as you might expect, very sad and withdrawn. Our hearts ache for our daughter and wish we could make this love of her daughter not be so painful to the mama. Tonight hopefully we will be able to SKYPE. I keep remembering when David left for college and I was so sad for so long until he came come for the holidays and I experienced being a family even though he didn't live with us any longer. It's not the same but perhaps the principle is. When they reconnect Halima will know she will always be her mama and always be in relationship with her no matter where she lives. I pray that is so.

Please pray for Halima that God will give her comfort and peace as she goes through this grieving process.

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A Tender Day

This morning Lisa and Andy flew into Phoenix and we all went to church. It was a wonderful mega-church the size of SECC called Christ Church of the Valley. After we went and had a lovely lunch at Lorie and Bruce's. We spent a quite afternoon reconnecting. Andy had only met Halima and Jessie on SKYPE. Lisa spent two weeks with them in Nairobi but it had been about a month since she had seen them. It was a touching reunion.

Halima and Lisa packed up Jessie's things, we had done Halima's yesterday so they are ready to go.
We went out to Mexican again. Enjoying the delicious southwestern cuisine while we can.

Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of their lives, a major turning point for both of them. It's good-bye to Phoenix tomorrow.

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Class News Letter For September 19, 2009

Praise

• Jim and Kathleen are in Phoenix with Halima and Jesse
• Dr. Larry Tyler (Sandy's cousin) back to teaching at Speed School

Prayer

• Lost & unspoken
• Jim, Kathleen, Halima, and Jesse
  
• Bill Smith surgery on the 16th(hip replacement)
  
• Floriene Byrd
• Emily Laden-H1N1 Flu-in critical condition
  
• Pauline (Payton's neighbor) severe infection
• Bill (Lee's brother) back in Oaklawn recuperating from shoulder replacement, infection, and 2 pins in hip
  

Announcements

• Class went to Cheddars for dinner
  
• Kathleen is posting their trip updates on our class blog

http://www.theupperroomabf.blogspot.com/

Terry Payton taught chapter 3 of James this week.

September birthdays and anniversaries
Greg Harler 9/14
Mary Payton 9/21
Jerry Harler 9/30
Linda & Mike Brumback 9/8

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Maternal Activities

Today we went shopping. Do you have any idea what American bathing suits look like to a former Muslim woman? Like something God will get you if you wore one! After much searching we found a modest one piece which we paired with a pair of sports shorts.

Halima is amazed at how fat and lazy Americans are! And agast at the restaurants and portions. Food, food, food....cars, cars, cars. African's have little food and no cars so lots of walking.

We met two Somali families that live in Halima's apartment complex.It is so neat hearing her speak Somali. Everyone is a refugee from all over the world. Most are from Thailand but just about every continent is represented. Zillions of children running about.

We ate at Aunt Chilada's and had great Mexican food. Very tired. Going to sleep. May God bless you all.

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Report from the Pippen Zoo

Most of you know that we have many animals. Though you might want an update on how they and their caretakers are doing.

Cody/Annie two five lb. dogs joined at the hip are staying with Mary and Terry who have a 7 lb dog named Savannah. All the dogs are trained to use wee wee pads. Now Cody being a boy will pee on any pad, he is not picky. Annie and Savannah being girls are very picky. Annie feels it is her roll in life to pee on every object on the floor that is rectangular in shape. Savannah feels it is beneath her dignity to pee on anything anyone else has peed on.

No Mary and Terry have been forced to write each dogs name of their own wee wee pad to avoid conflict. Mary is now teaching the dogs to read. Please pray for her.

Lovey/Grumman/Grace three 7 month old Birman kittens are staying with Karen who have many Birmans. Karen is a breeder and in a moment of insanity decided to breed all her girls at the same time. Now the kittens are out of their birthing boxes. Karen was last seen standing on her kitchen counter waving her litter scoop yelling, "bad kitty, bad kitty!" as 20 kittens stampede through her house with Lovey in the lead. Please pray for her.

Last is Trilly/Honeydew two Persian spays and Faith a Birman. They are at home with Susan coming over to visit them. She has the Bose playing classical music and is having precious moments with the Birman. Her full name is Faith-in-God so you don't need to pray for Susan.

Perhaps getting a Somali refugee and her baby and going cross country isn't so bad! More about Halima and Jessie tonight.

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Resting in the Home of Our Angel

Hallelujah! We have her after all this time and we are not going to let her go! We arrived late this afternoon and with screams and cheers we found Halima and Jessie. Jessie has grown so much in just 3 months and Halima is as beautiful as ever. We visited, went through her papers which all said Louisville, KY....so why are we in Phoenix??? Met a very sweet Somali lady and her parakeets.

Now we are at Lorie's. She's our angel and as wonderful as can be. So is her husband, Bruce. Yes angels do marry and have kids and grand kids. Bet you missed that in your bible study. Well I can attest that it is true.

Halima's apartment is full of stuff...lots of stuff...guess Catholic Charities likes to give the refugees stuff...like boxes of material scraps...two large boxes of material scraps. Now mind you Halima doesn't sew, doesn't have a sewing machine, or for that matter does even have a needle and thread, but she has two large boxes of scraps.

We are so blessed to be here with Halima and Jessie at last. We are resting in God's own angel he's sent to minister to us.

By the way Halima has had her texting phone for two days and has 176 texts on it already?? How do teenagers do this?

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