This plaque on Casa Hai's wall says: "On this day, we inaugurate this Home, born of a partnership with the municipal government of Curitiba and the Association ABI HAI. Here, victimized and abandoned children trade their at-risk situation for the possibility of reconstructing their lives with care, dignity and respect."
We're wrapping up our time in Curitiba. It's been just about five weeks and we have begun to feel at home here, but it's soon time to say goodbye to Curitiba and begin our new life all together at home in New Haven. Today was a day to say goodbye to our friends at Casa Hai, our children's orphanage. Noemia, the director, invited us to a Christmas Picnic in the park and it seemed like just the place to give some final hugs, say some final words and spend a last few hours with some very special people.
In the afternoon we went back to the Federal Police building for attempt number two at requesting and retrieving passports for our children. We went at 1pm, waited 90 minutes, said hello to a lovely woman in a cubicle and then left. She asked us to come back at 4:30 to pick up the passports. And now we have them! Photos, signatures, parents' names and everything. Plenty of blank pages for a lifetime of adventures.
Tomorrow is our last day in Curitiba, and I think we'll spend it swimming and packing... until the evening when we plan to go out to a Churrascaria for dinner. We're taking Lino out to thank him for all his help and to wish him a happy birthday (a day late). Early Saturday morning we'll head to the airport for our flight to Rio. Our friends Ester and Leonel are already preparing their house to receive our whole gang.
For as many glitches, snaggles, hiccups, problems, delays and frustrations as the adoption process has had for us... I think God has matched each of them with an equal number of blessings, surprises, joys, smiles, giggles, hugs and kisses.
As we close our time here, we're starting to imagine what normal life might look like for us back home. Hard to guess. But we know it will come one day at a time and we know we'll continue to be surrounded with God's grace and many supportive friends. Look out, New Haven, here we come!
7 comments:
Can't wait to see you ALL! It sort of seems like you just left, but it also seems like you've been gone SO LONG. The Lord bless you and keep you, until we see you again... soon!
Oh, going home... What a wonderful, blissful, but challenging idea, all at the same time.
Are the kids excited about seeing snow?
Did you know that when you Google Casa Hai Orphanage Curitiba, Brazil, the first thing that comes up is Perfect Provision (about the Christmas party)?
Can't wait to have our own big Christmas party!
Amor,
Vovo
New Haven is SOOOOO ready for the Fullton Family!! :)
John C. Daniels Magnet School of International Communication eagerly awaits it's 4 new students! The staff and children can't wait to meet them!
Robin
Dear Adoptees,
My name is Alba Chliakhtine and both myself and husband adopted Matthew and Camila and had the opportunity to see Mayara, Bryan Lucas and Luana at the Casa Hi. As a matter of fact we have fun pictures from them when we were visiting them.
I wish you all the success. Camila and Matthew have been with us living in Australia now. Adoptions has its challenges but they will settle in like they are now.
God Bless you all as I am very happy these four finally found a family.
Alba
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