On Our Way

I am sitting in the waiting area of the Niamey airport. Fifteen minutes ago I lived 10 minutes of sheer panic while I was told that we couldn't leave. A security guard wanted a letter from Niger's version of CPS, which we didn't have. I had every other document from Niger, but we didn't know about that one. I had a LINK friend with us that tried to reach our lawyer and anyone else he could at 10pm. Nothing. The tears started flowing. Lord, may he have grace on us. Thank you Jesus. The man had grace. I still don't know what our LINK friend said or if he said anything, but the security guard stuck with us through every check, luggage point, scan, etc. I still can't believe what almost transpired.

It had already been an emotional day with lots of goodbyes and a packet from Leila's birth mother that was completely unexpected. She had it delivered via Pastor Rufai (head of her orphanage), and it contained 2 pictures of herself, her Facebook name and her email. She is a strikingly beautiful woman. And this was the perfect parting gift because I want to honor her birth mother and had told her friend I met on the airplane last year that I would really like a picture of her. I haven't shown them to Leila yet, but I will when the time is right. She asked the Pastor if she could speak with Leila today, but he said it probably wasn't a good idea. I am thankful for that. But isn't God good to give her that? I know Leila will appreciate it one day.

There was some laughter in today, too. Leila wanted to pack the dishes we'd been using, and then she inquired about the fridge/freezer we'd been using (this girl loves ice cold drinks). I said we weren't taking it, but we had a bigger one than that at her home. Her eyes got wide, and she said, "Bigger?!" Then I told her we had 5 toilets in her house. She couldn't even believe that. 

In Niger, I wear skirts or loose pants the whole time out of respect for the culture. Leila saw me in yoga pants this evening and asked with wide eyes if I was wearing that to the airport. I said yes, but with a skirt over it that I would take off after we left Niger. She shook her head no. This daughter of mine is going to have wide eyes for a while!

Rachel and Halima. Two gems that work at The LINK and have loved on Leila a lot.

Emmanuel, Jacoby, Ella and Leila. Jacoby and Ella are 5 and 7, respectively. Emmanuel is 7 and Leila is 10. 

The Woods family and us!

America, here we come!