The big PLAN - hoping and praying

What's the plan? you might be saying to yourself. How are you going to unite this child who is currently in the Philippines with you who are obviously no where near south east Asia? Good questions. This is what we are thinking at this point........... subject to airline strikes and natural disasters.

We are going to fly to Singapore, the sweet hubby, myself and our littlest in early Oct. Probably around Oct 4. That will give us enough time to get our sea legs under us in a new country before needing to be mentally sharp for meeting Sweetpea. The day before Sweetpea is due to arrive in Singapore from the Philippines we will meet with her original family and have them sign the legal paperwork giving us guardianship over her. We will also discuss how the transition from them to us will happen the following day and what she needs to hear them say in order for her to have the best chance at making that break from her original family. This will be a little tricky and we are still researching this facet.

Sweetpea is due to arrive into Singapore under the supervision of her Filapina caretaker on Oct. 7. We plan to go to the airport with the family and be there when she arrives so that we can observe the initial interaction between the child and the parents. We are hoping to see some response of attachment from the child at this reunion, that will be a great indicator of hope. It will also mean that the initial separating will be hard but hopeful. If there has been attachment then there is hope for other attachments, if there is no sign of attachment that could mean bigger issues.

After the airport we hope to travel back to the family home with Sweetpea and be able to have a discussion with her and all the adults involved of what is happening. My heart breaks at this point because I just cannot fathom how a 6 year old is going to comprehend that she has been set out of her original family, to be placed into another family, at what must seem like whim to her.

Hopefully after this introduction and meeting we will take Sweetpea back to the hotel with us and begin to get to know her, and her us. This is where we think the youngest's presence will play a considerable role. She will be a comfort to Sweetpea in knowing that she is not alone with strange adults. Our littlest will also serve as a great role model of how things are done in our family i.e. how we snuggle, how we share, how we eat, and how we are loved unconditionally. Also the fact that they are so close in age it will give them a head start in getting to know one another and work on getting along before we add the older 2 into the mix.

We will stay a few days in Singapore mostly staying close to the hotel, hopefully swimming and playing, napping and eating --- setting up some basic family parameters that will help Sweetpea find safety with us and understand our role as her "new parents". We did not want to "grab and go" and take a child we barely knew on a 26 hour plane ride home when we have not a clue how to comfort her or how to minister to her needs. We need a little bonding time first before we make the great leap home, even though all we will want to do is dash at that point.

A big deterrent to staying in Singapore is the cost. EVERYTHING is soooooooo expensive. There is no getting by on the cheap there. We have looked into all the places we know to get a good deal and there is nothing suitable. Part of the issue is that we need something that will give us suitable space to have 2 kids and also have rest when we can, because we know the stress of it all is going to be exhausting. We aren't kidding ourselves and thinking we can bunk out at a backpackers dive for a week with 2 kids, one going over the falls in an emotional barrel, they'll kick us out for sure!

SO it's a balancing act of staying long enough so that Sweepea's needs are met and we are good to make the long trip home and yet not too long that it breaks the bank. We think a week will be just right, a day or 2 give or take.

We just can't wait to get her home with us and to get back on our territory where we are firmly grounded. We know that's when the real work begins. Everything leading up to that point seems very fragile and tentative. I will love to be able to post that we are safely home.

• Pray that as we make our plans we listen and follow God's leading concerning what is best for those involved.
• Pray for the original parents, that their hearts would be open to the gospel.
• Pray that no matter how emotional the process gets that we will present the gospel in love in everything we do and say. We want to minister to their broken hearts as well.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit is preparing Sweetpea for this big change that is going to happen soon in her life.
• Pray that we will find the right place to stay that perfectly fits all our needs and our desire to effectively minister to both of our daughters as we stay there.