Tuesday, November 13nd

Post date: Jan 1, 2011 4:54:40 AM

Well, we are beginning our 5th week in Bogota and we're doing fine -- though ready to be home, of course. We are working on being patient and waiting for God's timing. Most days we are ok. On Saturday, we met some of the friends that we had met at the adoption hotel for lunch. The kids enjoyed that a lot -- especially since there was play equipment at the Pizza Hut where we met. We walked back to the hotel afterwards to pick up some things that we had left in the safe and in the room there. It was nice to visit and we enjoyed seeing the people there, but we feel even better about our decision to move here.

We enjoyed church on Sunday very much. All of the children seemed to enjoy their classes and there was a baptism, which was neat to see. We understood a little of the message and some of the songs -- though the words were harder to see than at the other church we had been attending. Next week we'll try for the front rows.

There was a couple at church that recently moved here from Canada. We enjoyed talking some English with them. The husband works for an oil company, so they are prime targets for kidnapping. The company provides a car and driver and security. The wife teaches at the school where we have visited twice.

We finally figured out some of our Spanish errors. We had been telling the children to stand up when we intended to tell them to stop. They both use the same Spanish word -- go figure. We also found a good word or two to tell them they are being silly -- very important to know as often as they act this way.

Yesterday was a holiday here -- we don't know which one. Of course that means nothing was happening in the courts -- again. They have had lots of holidays since we arrived, it seems. We took advantage of the day to try to walk to the big store nearby for some more groceries. There were lots of families out walking. They actually close parts of streets on Sundays and holidays for bicycles. So, the folks here know they're supposed to get out and exercise on holidays. It worked out well -- it's a respectable hike, but not too hard for the kids. We took a taxi back -- all 8 of us.

Today, all is back to normal. The church is busy with folks and our kids are keeping them all entertained whenever they go outside. We could get used to the weather here -- the temps are always mild. We have needed jackets some days -- but not very often. The rain seems to be lessening a little bit, too. Our clothes are drying on the line as we type. We are thinking of you all often. Thanks again for your prayers and email.