Update.

Thought I'd let you in on the latest. I don't have the license yet, as there was a bit of confusion on the paperwork. They wanted a few more things. So we are back in a holding pattern. Average wait time to hear back from them is about a month, so hoping to know more by the end of next month.

In the meantime, I am having a blast with the kids from the Bible club!!! I'll post a few cute pictures to make you happy. :)

 Geovani was SO happy to be back after Christmas break. He kept clapping and smiling and even put his hand on the back of my neck while I was driving. He has never initiated physical contact so I was happy! :)

 Geovani cracks me up. He often eats his snack with his little pinky up in the air.

 Joshua watches us put seat belts on, and tries to do it himself. He is a smart one, and loves to imitate us.

Geovani was watching an Adventures in Odyssey movie. Apparently he liked it. :) He also likes the new bean bag chairs I picked up for the kids.

 Joshua likes the drumming noise the exercise ball makes.

 Omar working hard practicing his letters. He is always so focused and detail oriented.

 I had no idea he could draw so well!

 At home Joshua is tied to a chair and fed by his mother or another family member. He has learned to use his fork at my house. :) Though I will admit, some food always ends up on the floor. 

 Painting caterpillars!

They were both so proud to take them home to show off to their families. Except for Joshua. His was about half the size it was when he first started. ;) I thought they looked great!

So that is just a quick look at some of the fun stuff we get to do. I really love spending time with them, and by their eagerness to get to the car, and their big smiles, I know that they really love coming too! Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

It's done!

I'm almost too excited to write this post. So many things have brought me to this point, but here are a few highlights of the most recent events.

4 years, 9 1/2 months ago I moved to Guatemala with no long term plan in mind.
4 years, 3 months ago I received the call from God to start a children's home for kids with special needs.
1 year, 8 months ago I finished my 2 year training period at Reheboth Children's Home.
1 year 2 1/2 months ago I moved into the new house and started getting it ready for the girls.
10 months and 19 days ago I handed in the paperwork asking to be certified as a children's home.
1 hour and 45 minutes ago I received the phone call saying I have been APPROVED to open Treasures of God Children's Home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Praise God!!!!!

This has felt like a long, and often never-ending process, but I'm done! And I know God had the perfect timing for it.

Now I wait anywhere from 2 weeks to a month or so to receive the final paperwork. Then I'm open for business!!!! I am so excited!!! I can't wait to post the first picture of the precious little girl that will be the first family member.

Thank you for all your prayers and support! This will be a night of celebrating! Hopefully with chocolate cake. :)

Home Visits.

On Monday Keena and I went to Coban and bought presents and food to put in baskets for the boys in the Bible club.

 Assembling the baskets. Here it is tradition to give baskets full of food to others at Christmastime. Some of the food is essentials like rice, oil and Incaparina (a healthy protein drink mix) but we also included treats like sugar, marshmallows, Christmas cookies and pop. Things that some families can't afford, but would definitely enjoy during this holiday season.

 We also bought special gifts for each child. Geovani and Omar love soccer, so they each got a new, nice soccer ball. Joshua got a big Winnie the Pooh stuffie that I found at a great price.

Omar was thrilled with his new ball! It was on a string, and he hung it from his hand and just kept kicking at it the whole time we were there. We had to badger him into opening one of his other gifts. After inspecting his box of 64 crayons (he loves to colour!) he went right back to the soccer ball. So fun to watch! 

I was unable to get pictures at the two other houses. We went to Joshua's house first. They have big glass windows into the front room of their house. We knocked and could see Joshua sitting alone, tied to a chair, looking at the t.v. He didn't seem to recognize us but it has been a while since we were there. We went in and visited with his mom for a bit. I was sad. He was dirty, and seemed un-animated. As we left, he began to scream and strain against his mom to go with us. So I felt glad that he remembered us, but sad to leave him alone. 

At Geovani's house his sister was surprised to see us. Sadly Geovani wasn't there. He had travelled to the Capital with his mom to visit family. When I mentioned to his sister that we would be starting up the club again in January she seemed very happy. She said, "Every day, right?" I admit, I laughed a little, as it has only been a 2 day a week club. I asked if she thought Geovani would enjoy coming more often and she said he would. She seems to understand how happy he is there, and how he is progressing. 

At Omar's house, his mom was sure to tell me that Omar would often ask about club and ask when he could go back! Then I met his Grandma, and she told me the exact same thing! 

I was happy to see such positive reactions from the family. I experienced such negative reactions at the beginning from other families who didn't want their children to attend. These families are all happy when their children can get out and learn new things, and gain a bit of independence. 

I look forward to starting up again in January, and I think we will increase the number of days. It will be nice to have them all back here playing soccer and drawing and snacking and laughing and building blocks and dancing to music and enjoying their time with us. 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Joshua, Keena, Omar, Naomi and Geovani!!!

Visitors.

I have been blessed to have many visitors over the last month and a half. It has helped keep my impatience at bay!

 Erin and Jennifer are fellow missionary friends. Erin is based out of Haiti, and Jennifer is in another Guatemalan town. We went up to Tikal, to see the ruins.

 Bob and Georgette asked me years ago if they could adopt me as their missionary daughter. I happily accepted. :) They have come to visit me twice in the last year, and each time Bob does some much needed work and modifications on the house.

 The pastoral care team from CTEN (Commission to Every Nation), as well as the Canadian CTEN directors, came to visit. It was great to spend some down time with them, just enjoying each others company.

Since I couldn't go home for Christmas, my little sister came down to visit and we did Christmas together! It is always nice to have family and friends come down to visit. Though only my mom has come (annually), my sister twice, and one other friend has been to visit me. Hint, hint, all those who promised to come down! ;)

So close!

I wrote the title of this post 5 weeks ago.

And at the time, I believed that I was. And 8 months ago I believed that I would have children by the end of August. Or by the end of September. Or by Christmas. I truly didn't believe I'd be without girls this Christmas. 

And I am sad. And frustrated. And impatient. 

I have been really good at not getting angry. I knew that being impatient wouldn't help. I knew this process would take time. And so I waited. Now it has come down to the small details at the end, and with the slow down around the holidays, it seems to have triggered my impatience. 

We are waiting to hear about one more document. If that passes, it will be about one month more of signatures and processing paperwork.

Please pray diligently with me. I'll be the first to admit that I have not been praying daily for this Home and the certification. 

I spoke with my Canadian team a couple of nights ago, and my friend drafted these prayer requests to send out to my home church. I'll share them with you to pray for.

• Please pray for breakthrough. May Jesus move mightily and may the enemy be thwarted from trying to stall the certification process.
• Please pray for Peace. May God fill Naomi's (me!) soul with the knowledge of His love and care while she waits.
• Please pray for comfort. May the Holy Spirit fill the absence of friends and family for Naomi during the Christmas season.

Thank you all for your prayers. God bless.

Friday Praise and Prayer.

I'm still here! So sorry I haven't been keeping up on the posts. This post was actually started on Friday, so I'm not changing the name. :)

Today's praise:

• I attended the first mandatory workshop put on by CNA and it wasn't as horrifically boring as I thought it would be. :) My friend and social worker Kimy went with me and we went the day before because it started so early in the a.m. the next day. We took advantage of the pool, then ate food in the park that night. It was fun!

Lesly (in the middle) is the social worker of another local Children's Home. 

• My mom and another friend bought me an iPad mini as a "just because they love me" present. I was able to download some Spanish songs to use with the boys in the Club. I tried to put the video here, but it didn't work. I will upload it to the facebook group, so you can check it out here.
• Last time I took my receipts in to the accountant, she told me I was doing a good job! Good thing she isn't here during the week when I'm freaking out because I counted receipts 4 times, and literally got 4 different numbers. And not just a little different. Q800. difference between the 4 different counts. About $100. No fears! I figured it out! Mostly. ;)

Today's prayer:

• Paperwork with CNA. I was in contact with them at the end of last week so things are moving. Slowly.
• The search for nannies to work when the girls come.
• Safety.

Have a great week all!