Nov. 17, 2008
Well, miracles DO happen! Our God IS a God of Miracles and one, or should I say several, happened for/ to us on this journey of a lifetime. We did indeed get our visas last Fri., though not without a glitch along the way. One of the boys' visas had him marked as a female! Luckily Pete caught it and we had to wait a couple more hours at the embassy while they ran the clearance again on this 2 1/2 yr. old and re-print the visa. Once we had it in hand we knew we were finally headed home. We caught a plane that night and arrived in Boston around 11 AM on Sat. the 15th. Not bad after all that, considering we were due in originally on Sat. the 22nd. It was incredibly emotional to see our girls all grown up waiting for us. What a release of emotions! What a wonderful feeling to have all 4 of our children together with us! We don't plan on leaving our home or our children in the next years to come. This trip truly made us appreciate the small things. The boys have settled in quite efficiently. I believe the transition has gone so well because they were already bonded and connected with Pete and I and because of our two amazing daughters who made them feel so welcomed. It snowed a little today and we were so excited! Can't wait to see how the boys react to snow. We thank everyone for the prayers and words of support. It was a painful experience being away from our girls so long and I would not recommend it to everyone, but it was truly life changing. We made some incredible friends along the way and I will write more later about them. Take care from now and Thank you's and Blessings from the Hanson Household in NH!
Heidi
Monday, November 17, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Interview, US Embassy Nairobi
Nov. 12, 2008
We are headed to our interview for the boys' visas tomorrow, Thurs. Nov. 13th. It has been a long road to get here and have learned a lot of what to and not to do, unfortunately after wasted time and money. Oh, well, we are safe and getting closer to the light, (NH and our girls!!!). Our prayer today is that the interview would go well, that they would receive paperwork still missing on Pete from NH immigration and that they would miraculously have the visas ready on Fri. so we may fly out and not have to wait and pay for another weekend here is Nairobi. The boys are doing quite well and learning what many words and phrases mean. They are particularly familiar with "NO, NO, NO!" and, "Do you need to go sit?!" They are doing well with "Please Mama", "Thank you Mama" and "Potty Please". Overall they are adjusting quite well and settling in with the comfort that we are here each time they wake up. They are incredibly busy and quite a joy to watch and to listen to. We look forward to introducing them to the rest of the family and settling them into their new home in NH. We are finally getting to the end of this long arduous trip. It truly is the experience of a lifetime and would not willing go through it again. It's not incredibly terrible, but there is some serious waiting in an area of the world that we are not real comfortable going out for a walk or anything like that to pass the time. So... this lovely guesthouse has truly been a safe haven and though there is a pool we are here in the wet season and it truly has been rainy, dark and cold with the exception of today. Pete was actually able to take the boys in the pool and they loved it! Well I am off for now, the internet costs by the min. here! Thank you all for prayers and support. We will be sure to add in more details upon returning to NH when we can use the internet freely.
Take care and God Bless from the Hansons in Nairobi
We are headed to our interview for the boys' visas tomorrow, Thurs. Nov. 13th. It has been a long road to get here and have learned a lot of what to and not to do, unfortunately after wasted time and money. Oh, well, we are safe and getting closer to the light, (NH and our girls!!!). Our prayer today is that the interview would go well, that they would receive paperwork still missing on Pete from NH immigration and that they would miraculously have the visas ready on Fri. so we may fly out and not have to wait and pay for another weekend here is Nairobi. The boys are doing quite well and learning what many words and phrases mean. They are particularly familiar with "NO, NO, NO!" and, "Do you need to go sit?!" They are doing well with "Please Mama", "Thank you Mama" and "Potty Please". Overall they are adjusting quite well and settling in with the comfort that we are here each time they wake up. They are incredibly busy and quite a joy to watch and to listen to. We look forward to introducing them to the rest of the family and settling them into their new home in NH. We are finally getting to the end of this long arduous trip. It truly is the experience of a lifetime and would not willing go through it again. It's not incredibly terrible, but there is some serious waiting in an area of the world that we are not real comfortable going out for a walk or anything like that to pass the time. So... this lovely guesthouse has truly been a safe haven and though there is a pool we are here in the wet season and it truly has been rainy, dark and cold with the exception of today. Pete was actually able to take the boys in the pool and they loved it! Well I am off for now, the internet costs by the min. here! Thank you all for prayers and support. We will be sure to add in more details upon returning to NH when we can use the internet freely.
Take care and God Bless from the Hansons in Nairobi
Monday, November 3, 2008
Farewell to Rwanda soon....
November 3, 2008
We hope to have the boys' passports by this afternoon! We'll see.... Everything is so incredibly different here in Rwanda, such as a price is not really the price, on ANYTHING! You must always barter back and forth and have a general idea of what the item is worth or you could end up paying way too much. It's good to be living with our missionary friends who have been here almost 3 years now. It's quite an experience even to make a photocopy. Today I needed a black and white copy and the machine was broken. For black and white copy it costs 150 francs, but since the machine was broken they charged me 500 francs to make the copy on the color copy machine! Ok, the catch is my copy was done in black in white since that is what I asked for, it just had to be done on the color machine and therefore they said I had to pay 500 francs. What an experience to learn how other people live. We took the boys to the orphanage to say "Good Bye" today. That went well and we learned a little more about our boys. I do have more pictures to put on the BLog and I will do my best to add them bigger at the bottom of the blog, but those will come later. Power and internet tend to go out several times a day here. We will be heading out to Nairobi on Wed. to start the visa process on Thurs. Any and all who would like to e-mail their local senator's office to ask them to e-mail U.S. Embassy in Nairobi to ask them to expedite our boys' visa process would be greatly appreciated. We miss our girls terribly and want to get home as soon as we can. We are enjoying seeing a different country and new cultures, but would prefer at this time to get home to be with our beautiful daughters.
Asia Grace and friends, how was storybook character day? Maybe you could reply to our comment section and let us know what characters you were since we missed the big day?
We have not booked a guesthouse yet for Nairobi, but hope to by the end of the day.
Bye for now,
Heidi
We hope to have the boys' passports by this afternoon! We'll see.... Everything is so incredibly different here in Rwanda, such as a price is not really the price, on ANYTHING! You must always barter back and forth and have a general idea of what the item is worth or you could end up paying way too much. It's good to be living with our missionary friends who have been here almost 3 years now. It's quite an experience even to make a photocopy. Today I needed a black and white copy and the machine was broken. For black and white copy it costs 150 francs, but since the machine was broken they charged me 500 francs to make the copy on the color copy machine! Ok, the catch is my copy was done in black in white since that is what I asked for, it just had to be done on the color machine and therefore they said I had to pay 500 francs. What an experience to learn how other people live. We took the boys to the orphanage to say "Good Bye" today. That went well and we learned a little more about our boys. I do have more pictures to put on the BLog and I will do my best to add them bigger at the bottom of the blog, but those will come later. Power and internet tend to go out several times a day here. We will be heading out to Nairobi on Wed. to start the visa process on Thurs. Any and all who would like to e-mail their local senator's office to ask them to e-mail U.S. Embassy in Nairobi to ask them to expedite our boys' visa process would be greatly appreciated. We miss our girls terribly and want to get home as soon as we can. We are enjoying seeing a different country and new cultures, but would prefer at this time to get home to be with our beautiful daughters.
Asia Grace and friends, how was storybook character day? Maybe you could reply to our comment section and let us know what characters you were since we missed the big day?
We have not booked a guesthouse yet for Nairobi, but hope to by the end of the day.
Bye for now,
Heidi
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
We are in AFRICA! Safe and sound and being amazed at everything. Met our boys yesterday the 29th and took them out for yogurt drinks. They are adorable and friendly. We are waiting on the minister's office to sign the "Travel Doc." we need to start the rest of our paperwork.
Hi Girls, we miss you and love you soooo.... much! Our meeting with the boys was just as I dreamed. We waited in an upstairs room and as the boys approached I crouched down to their level and spread my arms wide open. Benedict was first, of course, and walked right to me and right BY ME! He went straight to Pete and snuggled right in on him and held onto Pete's arm. It was so cute and quite funny. Louis (pronounced, Louie) was a little more timid, though he did snuggle in on me and let me pick him up. We learned an important phrase called, "short call" which is to use the bathroom facilities, since, YES, they are potty trained for the most part. They enjoyed riding in the "auto car" and eating chips and having yogurt drinks. I even got a giggle and a few smiles by the time we brought them back to the orphanage. Louis held on tight and raised his legs as high as he could when I went to set him down. The nuns laughed and said it was obvious he wanted to stay with us. They were happy about this. WE are unable to keep them overnight until we receive our "Travel Doc." from the Minister's office, which we are finding is going to be quite a difficult task! We actually met Veronique on the street yesterday Tina, though, so far that was not too helpful. We will try again today with the boys and a big back of chocolates. We plan to have the boys with us for the day today. They are such a joy! Prayers to help the Minister see that we need to get moving on this to get back home are much appreciated at this time. Our travel was mostly uneventful, thank the Lord. This is such a beautiful country and only wish you could all experience it at least once in your lifetime.
We HAVE been trying to communicate with e-mail, text, blog for the past day and a half! I guess we just got lucky at this very moment with this one. All our love, especially to our two beautiful girls! Asia Grace, How are Edward and Lilly? Oh, ya, and Bill and Judy too! ha ha Hi to the CCC from Rwanda.
Love,
Heidi
Hi Girls, we miss you and love you soooo.... much! Our meeting with the boys was just as I dreamed. We waited in an upstairs room and as the boys approached I crouched down to their level and spread my arms wide open. Benedict was first, of course, and walked right to me and right BY ME! He went straight to Pete and snuggled right in on him and held onto Pete's arm. It was so cute and quite funny. Louis (pronounced, Louie) was a little more timid, though he did snuggle in on me and let me pick him up. We learned an important phrase called, "short call" which is to use the bathroom facilities, since, YES, they are potty trained for the most part. They enjoyed riding in the "auto car" and eating chips and having yogurt drinks. I even got a giggle and a few smiles by the time we brought them back to the orphanage. Louis held on tight and raised his legs as high as he could when I went to set him down. The nuns laughed and said it was obvious he wanted to stay with us. They were happy about this. WE are unable to keep them overnight until we receive our "Travel Doc." from the Minister's office, which we are finding is going to be quite a difficult task! We actually met Veronique on the street yesterday Tina, though, so far that was not too helpful. We will try again today with the boys and a big back of chocolates. We plan to have the boys with us for the day today. They are such a joy! Prayers to help the Minister see that we need to get moving on this to get back home are much appreciated at this time. Our travel was mostly uneventful, thank the Lord. This is such a beautiful country and only wish you could all experience it at least once in your lifetime.
We HAVE been trying to communicate with e-mail, text, blog for the past day and a half! I guess we just got lucky at this very moment with this one. All our love, especially to our two beautiful girls! Asia Grace, How are Edward and Lilly? Oh, ya, and Bill and Judy too! ha ha Hi to the CCC from Rwanda.
Love,
Heidi
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
The adoption is OFFICIAL!!!
The adoption took place this AM and we are now the proud parents of FOUR children!!! Praise the Lord! The boys now need their Rwandan passports to leave their country and visas to enter the US. Both of those items need to be done by Pete and I when we arrive next week. We are so incredibly excited right now! Asia Grace just informed me tonight that though she will miss us, she is the oldest (of her and Macie) and that she is getting older so it won't be so bad while we're gone. "The only thing is", she said, "that we won't be here for her actual birthday as she turns 8 yrs. old", "But", she said, "you will be bringing home my birhtday presents, my two brothers" and then she smiled and hugged me. What an amazing moment to be a mommy! I love my girls, they are just, well, the BEST! They are going to be great big sisters and we are so proud of them. Asia's teachers, Bill and Judy, have been absolutely wonderful as well. Offering to support Asia Grace and all who are tending to her while we are gone. It is so reassuring to know so many people, who mean so much to our girls, have been offering help in tremendous ways. God continues to overwhelm us with his plan and many blessings each day.
We are getting to the last few details of packing and planning and have begun restless nights of sleep as we get closer to our departure date. Asia Grace even informed me she is beginning to dream about the boys, something that started for me this last week as well. We thank the "Insider" for getting the word out for us last week as well.
We will be in touch hopefully at least one more time before we take off for Africa and then as often as technology, time and logistics allow for those of you who are interested in following our progress. Thank you again for the prayers everyone!
Heidi
We are getting to the last few details of packing and planning and have begun restless nights of sleep as we get closer to our departure date. Asia Grace even informed me she is beginning to dream about the boys, something that started for me this last week as well. We thank the "Insider" for getting the word out for us last week as well.
We will be in touch hopefully at least one more time before we take off for Africa and then as often as technology, time and logistics allow for those of you who are interested in following our progress. Thank you again for the prayers everyone!
Heidi
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Oct. 14, 2008
To those of you who read our article in the Concord Monitor Insider today and are wondering how to send anything to "Global Benefit". You may send it to our address at #358 Lower Ridge Rd., Loudon, NH o3307 and we will get it to Global Benefit or you may mail it directly to "Global Benefit" at #40 Willow Grass lane, Gilmanton IW, NH 03837 or visit them at www.globalbenefit.org We are thrilled to bring awareness to Global Benefit and all that they are doing to fight poverty in the world, currently focused on Rwanda.
Thank you in advance for all you support in our mission.
We hope to be posting the adoption date of our boys soon!
Good night and God Bless!
Heidi
To those of you who read our article in the Concord Monitor Insider today and are wondering how to send anything to "Global Benefit". You may send it to our address at #358 Lower Ridge Rd., Loudon, NH o3307 and we will get it to Global Benefit or you may mail it directly to "Global Benefit" at #40 Willow Grass lane, Gilmanton IW, NH 03837 or visit them at www.globalbenefit.org We are thrilled to bring awareness to Global Benefit and all that they are doing to fight poverty in the world, currently focused on Rwanda.
Thank you in advance for all you support in our mission.
We hope to be posting the adoption date of our boys soon!
Good night and God Bless!
Heidi
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