Aaron Meets His Family!

We have wonderful news for everyone who has been keeping up with the Nalles' journey to bring Aaron home. But first, an explanation:

Rob, Julia and Elijah have made it safely to Aaron's region, but they are without internet access. The town is primitive. There are no restaurants and no hotels in the area, but the three of them and their facilitator were offered two rooms in an elderly woman's home. Ben and I used Skype to call Julia's phone earlier this morning and she excitedly informed us about their first encounter with Aaron (we made sure to take down all of her thoughts and observations). Until the family can re-access the internet on TUESDAY, we will be updating the blog on their behalf.

(I'm Spencer, a cousin of Ben's. My father and Rob are brothers. I wish that Julia could be bringing you all this news, and I know she does, too, but I'm happy to serve her and the rest of her family as they go through the final stages of the adoption process.)

On to that good news!

The institute where Aaron currently lives is VERY NICE, which Julia said was, "A real answer to prayer." The nurses care about the children, and have reacted positively to the adoption. Aaron was fearful and a little upset at the prospect of seeing his new family, but after he was coaxed into meeting them, he warmed up quickly, to Rob in particular.

Aaron has the bluest eyes and the most beautiful laugh. Julia says, "Pictures are on the way." He isn't as skinny as she had anticipated; he is happy and healthy, tall, very solid, and strong. He loves to talk, and although he doesn't know much, he's very smart. He smiles constantly. All he wants to do is play. Although he's one of the youngest children at the institute, the nurses say he's very bossy! "He's going to run our lives," Julia said, laughing.

Families usually get five or ten meager minutes with their adoptees, but Rob, Julia and Elijah got two hours with Aaron! At one point during their visit they had to step out for a short time, and when they returned, Aaron came running up to them with a smile on his face. Praise God. They played ball together and Aaron sat quietly on Rob's lap as his new dad read him a book.

Aaron has almost no use of his hands, but he has adapted and is one of the highest functioning kids at the institute. His abdomen and his legs are very strong. He walks on his toes, which Julia says are as dextrous as our fingers. He can kick a ball farther than you would believe. He's especially curious; during their visit, Aaron would get very excited every time a truck drove by, hidden from sight by a fence. Julia says he's going to "go nuts" once he's out in the world.

On this blog, comments must be moderated and approved before they appear underneath each entry. This morning, Ben read over a dozen new comments to his mother over the phone, and she interjected with laughter and amens. Please know that your messages provide precious encouragement to this family, and that if they don't show up right away, that means Julia will soon hear them.

Please remain in prayer for the Nalles, and for Aaron, who will soon be one of them!