Love You M

This past Monday the boys went to court. We were told to have M's

bags packed as there was a chance he would go with family.

 It was a long day at court, but in the end M was able to go home with

Grandma and Uncle who were both there, wanting him, trying to

care for him before he was removed, but because of his bio mom's 

mental condition she never gave them the opportunity. Now that 

(Lord willing) bio mom is in a place getting the proper help she needs,

Grandma and Uncle were ready and willing to step up and care for M.

 We will miss this goof. (Neiah probably most of all as he was

her #1 play buddy), but we are so THANKFUL that he is back

with his bio family that have been fighting for him, and wanting 

to take care of him. Prayers appreciated as they transition into 

this new normal.

Little K we get to hang out with for a while longer. His mom was 

there, and she would love to take him home, But she is very young,

has another baby already at home, and grandma is unable or unwilling

to financially provide for another grand baby. Little K is adoptable

and is now waiting to be matched with his forever family.

Prayers appreciated that he is matched quickly so proper bonding

can happen. 

Finding a New Groove

 This past week was a busy one. We are thankful for a low key

weekend where we can catch up on our rest. And it always helps

to have a resting buddy.

Little Boy... Big Couch.

 Fresh and clean.

This past week the boys and I spent our days

up at Kp helping to host the team there.

 The boys got to experience the big tree cookout for 

the first time.

 This team is such a blessing. Not only in their friendships and 

how we get our 'tanks' filled during our time with them, but they

also blessed us with bringing us formula and rice cereal for the boys,

and willing hands to help out with them whenever needed.

 The Amazing Iowa team that blessed us this past week.

This past weekend, we were also blessed with a visit from

Grandma Kris and Grandpa Neil. They were able to stay with us

over the weekend, and were such a huge help with Neiah and the

boys. We were so blessed by and Thankful for them!

A Little Catch Up...

Happy New Year.... In March.

I feel like we hit the ground running when we

got back from the states in March. I knew I was

coming back to the electrical situation that still

wasn't solved, But PRAISE JESUS! it now is.

I am HAPPY to say that En Gedi is now

'officially' done with the electrical passing 

of the house. 

In January all the electrical lines running 

from the outside of the house to the main 

road, had to be ripped out and replaced with

a 'heavier' wire that was able to carry the

load of the house, and get us a 'pass' on 

the electrical inspection. It was NOT a very fun 

2 weeks but I am thankful its now done.

In Feb. the JOC was here and we were blessed

by their visit and all the time and effort they put in

for us here in Jamaica and at En Gedi.

In Feb. I was also able to have a good talk with 

the head of CPFSA (formally CDA) at the

Mandeville office (where we work out of) to

make sure En Gedi was still ok and met all

the requirements with the recent restructuring 

of CDA (Child Development Agency) to CPFSA

(Child Protection & Family Services Agency).

Some of the questions I had for her she was unable

to answer. So I was able to set up a call with the 

head of child placement for CPFSA island wide to try and get 

answers to my questions. Ms Shirley was very

helpful and assured us that we are exactly where

we needed to be.

A few weeks later we got a call that 2 little boys

were in need of some care. We were happy to

be able to say Yes.

 We welcomed 1 month old Little K

He is a little smuggler who is not a fan of mornings.

Thankfully so far nights have not been

bad with him waking up just a few times

and going right back to bed. Please be prayerful

for him as they look to find him a forever family.

 And 5 month old Little M

This boy is perfection! He is so laid back,

I didn't hear him really cry the first 5 days he was

here. He only fusses when he is getting

hungry or tired. Other than that he just

sits and smiles at you, or talks with you,

and chews on his hands.

PRAISE JESUS! He is a rockstar sleeper

and thus far has been sleeping 12-13 hours

a night.

Please be prayerful for him as there is limited

documentation as of now I only know his first name.

I don't have a surname, a birth date. there is no 

immunization book/ for him. Prayers as he gets

placed with his forever family.

 Neiah fell right back into Big Sister mode

with great excitement. I think Little M

would be her favorite as he has now

become her sole student in her class she

teaches, and she now has someone to listen to 

her chat on and on, and he just follows her

around with his eyes and smiles:)

Our first Sabbath going to church with the boys.

Praise Jesus for a great church family 

that jumped in and helped with the boys

so I can still interpret for church.

I am thankful to say I have been contacting

and have found some ladies to run along side us

and help with the boys. Prayers for us all

as we get this all figured out. This is so new for

all of us and a big learning curve for me. Please

be prayerful as we could use some more 'helpers'

especially at night to take care of the boys so I can

get some sleep.

Thanks

Blessings

Erin

Looking Back...

And Praising God!

Tonight as I was sitting unpacking boxes

full of clothes that just arrived on the sea

container, I couldn't help but think where

we were at this point last year.

Last year, about this time, we just got

our 3rd placement and our first little girl.

We had a few things for her clothes wise,

but I remember the day after I got her going

into town to try and find some clothes for her.

This was a challenge because the clothes could

be found, but the clothes within my budget (what

I would liked to have spent) were cheaply made. 

I was fearful to buy those because I knew they

would not hold up being washed regularly. On the

other hand there were good quality (carter or other

brands I knew) clothes too, but I couldn't justify

spending $15 for one of those onesies.

And now just one year later, we have been so blessed

by peoples generosity (Praise Jesus for clearance racks!)

and we now have tubs full of a variety of sizes, and 

styles for each gender.

Its such a blessing being able to welcome littles

in, knowing we have everything we need

to properly care for their physical needs. 

Meet Little A

Yesterday around noon I got a call asking if we could

take in a 1 month old for a few weeks. I told them

we would love to, and then I was informed she was

at court now but I would get a call when court was

over. I tried to get as much ready, without making

it obvious to Neiah when she would get home from

school just in case the baby didn't come I didn't want

her to be disappointed.

At 4:30 I still hadn't gotten a call so 

I called CDA again to check in and see if

we for sure would be getting a baby that night, or

if plans had changed. I was told they had not and

at 5 we were called to come collect Little A from 

the CDA office.

Neiah was BEYOND excited that Jesus had

sent us a baby to care for. She ran right into CDA 

and I thought she was going to take the baby right

out of the social workers hands :)

 Neiah once more smoothly transitioned into the role

of big sister, holding, reading to, and singing to Little A

Little A arrived with a nasty chest cold, but Praise

Jesus thanks to the help of oils, and a humidifier,

she had a peaceful night sleep.

 Brita didn't know what to think of Little A. She

just continued to walk circles around her and every

once in a while would bark at her. :)

 We had Little A less then 24 hours, but Neiah

soaked in every possible min. she could loving on her.

So Thankful for a few hours to love on this little girl.

An added blessing to getting to love on Little A. Was when we

picked her up at CDA last night we got her from Mrs Henry (the head of

the CDA office in MV). She was the one who also picked her

up today to take her to Kingston. When she came (Along with

Ms Lyons who is now working with the kids in the court system and knows

 when kids get removed and are in need of placement.) both her and Ms

Lyons were able to go through En Gedi for the first time and were

so excited to see the new place, and how we are now better

able to accommodate babies. And also Mrs Henry could not believe

how much better (sick wise) Little A looked and sounded in just 

a short time with us.

Praise God for his healing over little A, and for continually providing 

steps forward for us.

Please be praying for Little A as she transitions into her

long term placement.

Thanks.

Little Things

We were blessed by a donation from some local 

Jamaicans who have heard about En Gedi. They 

have some boys who are older now. As they 

were cleaning out, and getting rid of things they no

longer needed they thought of us, and blessed us

with some boxes of baby things.

So thankful for peoples continual kindness to

us here at En Gedi.

This past week, Friday actually, we were finally

able to get someone from CDA over to En Gedi.

She asked to come early afternoon, but then got called

out of the office for the rest of the day. She told me, when she 

called me at 5 that night, (they close at 4:30 on Fridays, I think)

that she had originally called to cancel the visit, but if I was 

okay with it, she would be willing to come then and keep

her scheduled visit to En Gedi. We gladly welcomed her

(Neiah of course is open to any visitors we can get to come)

and she spent the next hour plus talking through things with us.

What a blessing that she was willing to give up part of her Friday

night visiting with us here at En Gedi instead of simply going

home after what I am sure was already a full week.

I am so thankful for these continual little things that

keep up focused and remind us that God is still

right here running along side us.

Blessings