Friday, August 27, 2010

No pictures

Busted. Tomorrow is a new day and hopefully we will get through it without making a judge or an orphanage director angry. Today - not so great in that department. I have had my precious camera with me every day. I have been beyond careful to only take pictures that are allowed. Today Aaron wandered around to the back of one of the buildings and I had left my rather expensive camera back with our stuff. After about 10 minutes back there looking at the tractors and horses with our dear sweet boy, who was in a very good mood today and who was very glad to have us with him, I decided to go get the camera. When I got back with it I proceeded to take pictures of Aaron and Rob, the drying apples on the ground, the tractor (Aaron also took pictures of the tractor - he loves pushing the button), flowers and a horse and wagon. No people - no buildings - nothing on the 'no pictures' list. How can you get in trouble for flowers?? Some of the workers became very nervous over my seemingly suspect behavior and called the director who went through the roof. She called Luda, who called me, and I had to go show the camera with my pictures to the director and one of the men on staff. He speaks a tiny bit of English and fortunately likes us. He agreed that what I had taken was okay and the director mellowed. Tonight she smiled at us as if nothing had happened but honestly, it knocked the breath out of us. We are not in our world. We are leaving the camera at home. I can take a million pictures of Aaron when he is safe in our arms. Until then, my favorite hobby will have to be shelved.


On a much happier note - we think we may have seen the two boys listed for adoption on the RR website under older boys. No promises but maybe... It is very hard to tell but we think they are both in Aaron's group. Aaron mingles with the boys when they have snacktime and both of the boys were at his table. After eating, he left the shed but looked back and noticed that one of those precious boys had escaped from that shed and had run into the other shed. Aaron immediately turned back and began to call out to the workers in his language that the boy had escaped. We didn't know what he was saying but they did. One of the workers went running out of the shed and captured the escaping little guy. Aaron stood there to make sure all was well before he led us away. It warmed our hearts to see the care and concern Aaron has towards the 'least of these.' They are so tiny and helpless. Someone please consider bringing those boys home.

Aaron was much happier with us today. By this afternoon, he greeted us with his old smile. He seems to have mostly forgiven us for leaving him after just four visits, and I don't think we really could have expected better. His poor little jaw is swollen and bruised from yesterday's bad fall (NOT on our watch, although we understand how difficult it is to prevent his falls). He has an inch-long cut on his jaw that most doctors probably would have stitched closed, but the nurses have treated it with some sort of green merthiolate and it is already closing. Add one more to his already long list of scars. We each get only one body this side of heaven, and it has to last us out. He already has too many scars.

Now Rob has something pointless he wants to add...

(Rob writing) Perhaps this overly serious blog will benefit from a few of my silly observations and amateurish wisecracks.

Some of the airports we’ve seen have installed “smoking zones,” glass-enclosed booths large enough to hold several cigarette smokers at a time. In theory, I suppose, these provide smokers with a place to indulge themselves while protecting the public from the annoyances and dangers of second-hand smoke.

The malodorous reek emanating from these booths is hardly to be believed. No matter what ventilation their designers have provided, I have no doubt that the atmosphere inside them is no better than that inside the smokestack of a coal furnace. A smoker would have to need a cigarette very badly indeed to willingly step into one of these things. Yet they do step into them, by the dozens, all day every day.

As for second hand smoke, it is so concentrated around these booths that I could almost feel the tumors forming on my alveoli as I approached them. I think maybe we’ve over-engineered the public smoking problem here.

I imagine the following scenario: Captain Kirk and his crew approach one of these smoking booths aboard the Starship Enterprise. “Standard orbit, Mr. Sulu,” Kirk orders. “Report, Mr. Spock. Is the atmosphere in there breathable?”
“Negative, Captain,” replies Spock. “Atmosphere is approximately 95 per cent carbon dioxide, with trace amounts of poisonous gases and high concentrations of soot and other particulate matter. No known life form can survive inside."
“Acknowledged, Mr. Spock. Beam down one red-shirted crewman, record his death throes, then proceed to our next assignment. I’ll be in my quarters, smoking a cigarette.”

12 comments:

  1. Yes, I remeber seeing those smoking booths at the airport. I agree, it's probably not very pleasant inside. :P

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  2. Oh and bummer about the camera! At least it didn't get taken from you!!

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  3. Sorry about the "no pictures" thing Julia. It's probably wise of you to leave it behind. I know what Rob means about those smoke rooms-they are just nasty!! Loved the Spock-Kirk analogy too!
    You guys hang in there!
    Love,
    Sam

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  4. Smoking area...Very funny....sound sooo much like that Eastern European country!!!! It doesn't always have to make a lot of sense.

    I'm sorry about the camera thing. It says a lot though, doesn't it?

    As for Aaron, I am so glad that he is turning the corner. Yay...God has a reason for the wait...besides, he needs time for the swelling to go down and the bruises to heal!

    Blessings.

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  5. Ok, Nalles, teary as I catch up on the last few days of your blog. Loved Rob's comments on the smoking booths on this last one...we saw them too and could not believe the insanity of such a "lounge/phonebooth" atmosphere! Our family keeps praying for you & Aaron. Oh, how sweet that journey HOME will be. -Kirsten:)

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  6. Glad today was a better day for you and Aaron. He has already adopted you as his family; now the courts need to do the same!

    Not surprised about the judge's inability to understand why you want to adopt Aaron; in many countries, these kids are truly "expendable" and for someone to expressly wish to add them to their family seems beyond reason. You will be a testimony to this judge as to the love and faithfulness of others who will come in your wake to adopt "the lost boys" from this orphanage. God is faithful and will support you through it all.

    The camera thing is also common. Facility directors do not want to get in trouble with the authorities for allowing foreigners undue "access" even though you clearly were not taking pictures beyond Aaron and his environment. Adoption is such a difficult concept for many people; they do not realize how our kids will want to see where they lived and who they played with years into the future. If you feel it is best to hold off pictures for now, do so. But once the ink is dry on your court decree, take as many pictures as you can. Aaron will want to know everything about his past one day and your memory will grow dim without the pictures.

    We continue to pray for wisdom, insight and courage for your judge to speedily rule in favor of your adoption petition. We pray strength, patience and faithfulness for you and Rob and as you wait for your positive verdict. We pray for peace and safety for Benjamin and Elijah, and for Aaron, too, as he continues to grow to love you as his forever Mama and Papa!

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  7. Glad today was a better day for you and Aaron. He has already adopted you as his family; now the courts need to do the same!

    Not surprised about the judge's inability to understand why you want to adopt Aaron; in many countries, these kids are truly "expendable" and for someone to expressly wish to add them to their family seems beyond reason. You will be a testimony to this judge as to the love and faithfulness of others who will come in your wake to adopt "the lost boys" from this orphanage. God is faithful and will support you through it all.

    The camera thing is also common. Facility directors do not want to get in trouble with the authorities for allowing foreigners undue "access" even though you clearly were not taking pictures beyond Aaron and his environment. Adoption is such a difficult concept for many people; they do not realize how our kids will want to see where they lived and who they played with years into the future. If you feel it is best to hold off pictures for now, do so. But once the ink is dry on your court decree, take as many pictures as you can. Aaron will want to know everything about his past one day and your memory will grow dim without the pictures.

    We continue to pray for wisdom, insight and courage for your judge to speedily rule in favor of your adoption petition. We pray strength, patience and faithfulness for you and Rob and as you wait for your positive verdict. We pray for peace and safety for Benjamin and Elijah, and for Aaron, too, as he continues to grow to love you as his forever Mama and Papa!

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  8. OMG! Rob you are hilarious! Please add pointless Rob section to all future posts! Hang in there are be sure to check you prayer site for a wonderful song sung for Aaron by the Ristow boys.

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  9. So glad to know Aaron is warmingup again to you. Praying for you...

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  10. Julia,
    It was great talking to you yesterday! Sorry to hear about how everything has been going but praying often for the situation and that God will use you all and that this will be a great ministry opportunity to share with these people, the court, the institution, the love of Christ and the blessing that children truly are. Praying the walls will come crashing down and that they can see the light and understand. Praying for your next court date to go smoothly and that the Lord will just speak through you all completely!

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  11. Wow. I had nightmares that my camera would be confiscated! And, I was actually instructed to take photos of a couple of children of interest for our facilitator. You are wise to wait for photos. Love that you are reconnecting with your sweet boy. Tell me, is the weather a bit nicer this time around? Also, I'd love to see some photos of the village if nothing else.

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  12. Praying for you! The camera thing makes me also wonder what could be hiding back there that they don't want discovered. But then, I watch too many murder mysteries. What am I saying? You can never watch too many! :)

    I like the addition of the Rob posts. It is a bit like 'good cop/bad cop' lol.

    Hang in there, you two. God has a plan of that I'm sure!

    Hugs...
    Lu

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