6 family members? Check! Our Trip Back.
Well we are home! Our trip went incredibly smooth. Silas has now spent two nights in the crib and is getting used to American cuisine (Reese's Puffs!)
We went in Thursday to the US Embassy in Kampala to pick up Silas' visa. We were nervous. Mindy was nervous because how poorly things have gone there in the past. I was nervous because I knew that even though they told us to come "pick up the visa" that that was no guarantee. We waited just a bit and were called into the little room that looked like a teller's office. She handed us all of the paperwork and we couldn't believe our eyes. There it all was. We grabbed it and she told us we could go. Mindy asked about payment. Apparently they had forgotten to charge us, so it was free!
Just kidding. We had to come back, again, on Friday to pay for it. So we did.
Our last night in Kampala with the Thomas' was on a Thursday night. We didn't need to pack because our flight was leaving at 11:30pm Friday. So we just kind of hung out. Throughout our time with the Thomas' they had been discussing a few recent break-ins in their area. They mentioned that they both had uneasy feelings and believed that they would be broken into as well.
Now, if you have never really been outside of the US (like me) than let me set it up a little. Most people in Kampala live in a "compound." That means that they have a house that is laden with bars on all the doors and windows. It's hard to break into the house. But the house is located inside a compound. That means that there is a cement wall with an iron gate that goes around the perimeter. Most compounds are protected by razor wire and barb wire and large walls. Most people also employ a night guard and a day guard. The guards have some type of weapon. The Thomas' also have two large dogs.
Did I feel safe? NO!
That night I took our passports, visa, paperwork, and most of our cash and hid them. I felt a little foolish, but I did it anyways. It was hard to go to bed that night. I kept looking at the window wondering if there is someone on the other side. We found out after we had already flown out, that the compound was broken into by two guys with machetes that very night! The guard and dogs scared them off and no one even knew about it! It's cool to say that we survived an attack in a foreign country! (Of course, in reality we never even knew about it.)n
We had a lazy day on Friday at the market. Mindy and Tarah picked out jewelry from several different vendors. I walked around and looked at all the wood and stone carvings. I bought 8 small animal figurines carved out of soap stone and painted black. I negotiated a little and Tarah told me I got a good price. I paid about $35 and later at the airport I think it would have cost me over $150 to purchase the same animals. It was fun to be at the market, but it was hot.
That night Wayne and Tarah took us out to a restaurant right by the airport. It was very nice and it was a bittersweet feeling. We had really connected with the Thomas' and we have no idea when we will ever see them again. They were so wonderful to take us in and take care of us. They are great Christian people and a testament to God's providence.
It was also bittersweet because Silas' was leaving everything that he knew. He was leaving the orphanage, the city, and the country.
We got to the airport in Entebbe, Uganda. I was nervous at each airport just waiting for someone to say "he can't leave the country" or something like that. The first man to help us was wonderful. He told us, "You can go, but you have to make me one promise. You have to come back and get me next time." Then we made our way through immigration and dealt with a seriously unhappy woman who stamped Silas' visa very hard and scowled at us the entire time. I am sure that was just the first of the people who don't understand adoption. I'll bet we will get used to it soon.
The feeling was surreal as the airplane took off and Silas was with us! He slept almost all of the first 8 hour flight. He travelled like a champ.
Our next stop was Amsterdam and we had a few hour layover. We bought McDonald's and got on the internet. You know McDonald's in a foreign country is terrible. It's not really McDonald's to me. (We are going to McDonald's tonight and Silas will get his first happy meal! Then we will start to make him eat healthier) At Amsterdam we all took naps and boarded our next plane bound for the US!
If you want to be treated well on an airplane - travel with a baby. You get in first. They give you extra stuff and attention. It's awesome.
Silas slept most of the next 8 hour flight as well. And we arrived in Detroit, USA! We were on American soil with Silas! It did not feel real.
After an international flight everyone has to go through immigration. We were at the back of the plane so we thought it would take a long time to get through. The lines were already filled solid when the lady asked us "Are you citizens or foreign?" "Both" we replied showing her Silas. Without hesitation she grabbed another employee and they walked us to our own lane right in front of everyone else.
The woman asked for the paperwork and I nervously handed her the package. She looked at us and said, "Oh you are so lucky to be adopted. I am happy for you guys! I'll bet you never thought you would get to this point." I started to cry. I had been fearing this moment and this beautiful woman connected with us instead of judging us. She completed all the necessary forms and we made our way onto the next concourse.
We arrived at our gate a few hours before take-off to our final destination of Chicago. We had to grab some food. We got beans and rice from Popeye's for Silas. He ate the whole thing. Mindy and I grabbed Taco Bell (the most American food in the world). I had a Doritos taco. It was fine.
We boarded the plane for a 40 minute flight to Chicago. We touched down in Illinois, grabbed our bags and took the train to our car. And there we were. Me, Mindy, and Silas in our van. It was the moment that we had been longing for. We strapped him into the car seat.
He fussed for a long time. He had never been strapped into anything. He was not happy! Luckily I wasn't tired and it didn't bother me. Just kidding. It was terrible :)
We arrived in Tolono at Mindy's folks house about 7:15 Saturday night. Mindy's whole family was there. It was Will's 7th birthday! That was a lot of celebration.
We finally arrived home in Cowden about 10:00pm on Saturday night. Silas went down in his crib in Will's room. Unbelievable. We are all home.
Some things in life are only possible by the grace and power of God. This is one of those stories.
Now, the next chapter...
We went in Thursday to the US Embassy in Kampala to pick up Silas' visa. We were nervous. Mindy was nervous because how poorly things have gone there in the past. I was nervous because I knew that even though they told us to come "pick up the visa" that that was no guarantee. We waited just a bit and were called into the little room that looked like a teller's office. She handed us all of the paperwork and we couldn't believe our eyes. There it all was. We grabbed it and she told us we could go. Mindy asked about payment. Apparently they had forgotten to charge us, so it was free!
Just kidding. We had to come back, again, on Friday to pay for it. So we did.
Our last night in Kampala with the Thomas' was on a Thursday night. We didn't need to pack because our flight was leaving at 11:30pm Friday. So we just kind of hung out. Throughout our time with the Thomas' they had been discussing a few recent break-ins in their area. They mentioned that they both had uneasy feelings and believed that they would be broken into as well.
Now, if you have never really been outside of the US (like me) than let me set it up a little. Most people in Kampala live in a "compound." That means that they have a house that is laden with bars on all the doors and windows. It's hard to break into the house. But the house is located inside a compound. That means that there is a cement wall with an iron gate that goes around the perimeter. Most compounds are protected by razor wire and barb wire and large walls. Most people also employ a night guard and a day guard. The guards have some type of weapon. The Thomas' also have two large dogs.
Did I feel safe? NO!
 |
| View from Thomas' house |
We had a lazy day on Friday at the market. Mindy and Tarah picked out jewelry from several different vendors. I walked around and looked at all the wood and stone carvings. I bought 8 small animal figurines carved out of soap stone and painted black. I negotiated a little and Tarah told me I got a good price. I paid about $35 and later at the airport I think it would have cost me over $150 to purchase the same animals. It was fun to be at the market, but it was hot.
That night Wayne and Tarah took us out to a restaurant right by the airport. It was very nice and it was a bittersweet feeling. We had really connected with the Thomas' and we have no idea when we will ever see them again. They were so wonderful to take us in and take care of us. They are great Christian people and a testament to God's providence.It was also bittersweet because Silas' was leaving everything that he knew. He was leaving the orphanage, the city, and the country.
We got to the airport in Entebbe, Uganda. I was nervous at each airport just waiting for someone to say "he can't leave the country" or something like that. The first man to help us was wonderful. He told us, "You can go, but you have to make me one promise. You have to come back and get me next time." Then we made our way through immigration and dealt with a seriously unhappy woman who stamped Silas' visa very hard and scowled at us the entire time. I am sure that was just the first of the people who don't understand adoption. I'll bet we will get used to it soon.
The feeling was surreal as the airplane took off and Silas was with us! He slept almost all of the first 8 hour flight. He travelled like a champ.
Our next stop was Amsterdam and we had a few hour layover. We bought McDonald's and got on the internet. You know McDonald's in a foreign country is terrible. It's not really McDonald's to me. (We are going to McDonald's tonight and Silas will get his first happy meal! Then we will start to make him eat healthier) At Amsterdam we all took naps and boarded our next plane bound for the US!If you want to be treated well on an airplane - travel with a baby. You get in first. They give you extra stuff and attention. It's awesome.
Silas slept most of the next 8 hour flight as well. And we arrived in Detroit, USA! We were on American soil with Silas! It did not feel real.
After an international flight everyone has to go through immigration. We were at the back of the plane so we thought it would take a long time to get through. The lines were already filled solid when the lady asked us "Are you citizens or foreign?" "Both" we replied showing her Silas. Without hesitation she grabbed another employee and they walked us to our own lane right in front of everyone else.
The woman asked for the paperwork and I nervously handed her the package. She looked at us and said, "Oh you are so lucky to be adopted. I am happy for you guys! I'll bet you never thought you would get to this point." I started to cry. I had been fearing this moment and this beautiful woman connected with us instead of judging us. She completed all the necessary forms and we made our way onto the next concourse.
We arrived at our gate a few hours before take-off to our final destination of Chicago. We had to grab some food. We got beans and rice from Popeye's for Silas. He ate the whole thing. Mindy and I grabbed Taco Bell (the most American food in the world). I had a Doritos taco. It was fine.
We boarded the plane for a 40 minute flight to Chicago. We touched down in Illinois, grabbed our bags and took the train to our car. And there we were. Me, Mindy, and Silas in our van. It was the moment that we had been longing for. We strapped him into the car seat.He fussed for a long time. He had never been strapped into anything. He was not happy! Luckily I wasn't tired and it didn't bother me. Just kidding. It was terrible :)
We arrived in Tolono at Mindy's folks house about 7:15 Saturday night. Mindy's whole family was there. It was Will's 7th birthday! That was a lot of celebration.
We finally arrived home in Cowden about 10:00pm on Saturday night. Silas went down in his crib in Will's room. Unbelievable. We are all home.
Some things in life are only possible by the grace and power of God. This is one of those stories.
Now, the next chapter...
Comments