We are back.

We got back from Haiti 5 days ago, and I would go back today if I could.  It was an amazing trip.  Not only were we able to see Jimmy, but we also were able to serve about 1000 people alongside the Haiti Medical Mission Team.  Neither of us are "medical" people so we serve as assistants and pharmacy techs.  Jimmy does some translating so we all get to work together. 
We were there from Friday morning until Wednesday morning.  We were able to make more connections with Jimmy and explain the lengthy adoption process more so he can understand why we have to wait.  He is very anxious to come home.  Leaving was so bittersweet, we were anxious to get back to Rylan and Kyndal; but our hearts were breaking to leave him again.   There were so many, many tears.  I cannot even begin to explain how it feels to leave him so broken and sad.  It goes against every maternal cell in my body.  Please pray for him as he endures the waiting. 
Here are a few pictures from our trip.  You will see Rob's mom, Kathie, in some of them.  It was very special for Jimmy to meet his Nana.

The morning we left.

At Tabitha's orphanage.  It is an orphanage down the road from CHCH, where Jimmy lives.  He is helping Sherry talk with the kids (patients) there.

Helping Nana.

That is Jimmy in the corner.  We were at the widows' home.

Jimmy and Alex hanging out waiting to help.  Alex goes to school with Jimmy and lives by the preaching school where we stay.

This is our ride while we are in Haiti.  Jimmy likes sitting up front.  He rarely gets to sit up there; so, he took advantage of the opportunity.

This is our "pharmacy" at the clinic we did at Blue Hill.  We saw around 300 this day. 

Rob's mom, Kathie, is in the blue. 

Jimmy was sitting by the provider to translate.

At the end of our busy day at the clinic, we were lucky to go to a nice restaurant at a hotel.  Restaurants like this are not on every corner.  It was a treat.

This was taken by the pool.

My handsome boy.

Before church.

At the clinic after church for the people in the feeding program.

Back at the preaching school, Jimmy was showing Nana how to play soccer barefooted.  She was not a fan and prefers shoes.

On Monday, we headed out to a remote clinic.  About an hour into our drive, we got a flat.  We had to wait about an hour and a half then we were on our way again.

We drove about two more hours then we had hike to the the top of the mountain to reach the church there.  It took over an hour and was quite strenuous.  It is really almost unbelievable that many hike that mountain to go to church.

At the church, we served as many as possible before we had to head back down.

Rob and Jimmy (next to Rob) helped April.

On Tuesday, we hiked up to the Citadel.  It is a fortress built on the highest point in Haiti.  If you ever have the opportunity you should go.  It was absolutely amazing.  It was so worth the exhausting hike up there.  Jimmy was of course one of the first to the top.  He greeted Rob and I as we reached the rest of the group.  He said, "Nice walk?"  Silly boy, he made both hikes in flip flops.



I didn't get anymore pictures after the Citadel.  Jimmy began to get sad this evening and didn't stop crying.  All our efforts went to comforting him.

Hanging Out

In just 10 days, I will be in Haiti "hanging" out with this awesome, great, fabulous kid.

I am soooooo excited.  Rob and I are going together this time. I love that we get to spend time with him together.  I hate leaving Rylan and Kyndal here but spending actually face to face, hand in hand time with him is so wonderful. I pray for the day we are all in the same room to come quickly. 

No news on the paperwork process.  We will only hear something when it leaves IBESR unless there is a problem.  Continue to pray for those examining our files.  Pray they move quickly and efficiently so we can move to the next step as soon as possible.  Thank you!

Wild Olive Tees

We are very excited about this new fundraiser.  Wild Olive Tees is working with us to help raise money to bring our Jimmy home.  Here is what you can do.  Go to the Wild Olive Tees website and shop in the fundraiser tees section.  There are 15 Women's tees and 6 children's tees to choose from.  When you are making a purchase, click on the coupon code button and enter our family code SCHLUP0910.  You must put this code in for us to get credit for your purchase.  In addition to using the code, you may choose to also put our name in the comment section of checkout.  So, get on to wildOlivetees.com and go shopping.  We thank you in advance!

We Are IN!

Yesterday, I posted about how badly we wanted for our dossier to get into IBESR.  I asked all of you to pray that it would get in quickly.  Well, little did I know it went in yesterday.  YAY!!!!  We are so happy to know it is at least in the Haitian government's hands.  Now, if it will stay on the top of the stack and travel through expediently.  Please pray for God to push our dossier (as well as our friends' the Hoovers and the Pirtles) through quick, quick, quick.  We all want our boys home with us.  Thank you for your faithfulness.

Fundraiser update:  We have now sold pieces 23-28.  Thank you Amanda and Jami.  I appreciate you guys soooooo much.  The rainbow of color is so pretty.  Let's continue to light up those blocks.

The "IN" Crowd

We are currently waiting for our dossier to enter IBESR.  IBESR stands for "Institut du BienEtre Social et de Recherches".  What is that?  It is french for the the equivalent of the department of family and children's services, and are responsible for approving each international adoption and ensuring that the adoptive family meets criteria, that the child is eligible for adoption, and that the adoption itself is legitimate, according to Haiti's adoption legislation of 1974.
We are very anxious to get "in" to the IBESR.  It would mean progress and that something is happening.  Once it enters IBESR, it does not mean we are almost done.  It is really just the beginning of the process in Haiti.  We ask that you pray for our dossier to go in as soon as possible and that EVERYTHING is exactly how it should be.  We are praying hard that the process moves with lightening speed.  God's timing is perfect...I just need to be reminded of that on occasion. 
When our dossier leaves IBESR is when our next payment is due.  We need $2500 at that point.  Please consider blessing us by buying a piece of our puzzle quilt.  When we sell all the pieces we will have the money we need for this step.  Thank you for the consideration.

Let's add some color.

Thank you to Pam Abbs for buying #18.  Now we need to add a little color to row three.  Every piece bought bring us closer to meeting our goal and bringing Jimmy home. 

Puzzle Progress

We want to say a BIG THANK YOU to those who bought the first seventeen pieces of our puzzle. Amanda Morton, Stephen Anderson, Marylyn Caraway, Cheatham Family, and Susan Caron...we are blessed by your support.

Just one more block and the first two rows are complete.  

 Wanna see #18 in color?   Just $25 and you can!