Calling Colombia

Over the weekend we called my older two kids' foster mother in Colombia to wish her a Feliz Dia de Las Madres (Happy Mother's Day)! I actually made it through lengthy conversations using my spanish, and only about 3 times did the questions they were asking throw me off. I was proud of myself for making it through talking to 2 different ladies using my spanish skillset. What an accomplishment. At least when we were there I could do the charades to embellish what I was trying to speak. Quite different when it's only a phone call and you cannot rely on hand gestures or facial expressions. I made it through just fine. Not bad for a whole 40 minute conversation with passing the phone around from Fabian and Karen and myself.

Now my kiddos had an even bigger struggle with the spanish language. Seems they have lost so much of their spanish speaking abilities. Even only being gone from Colombia since late December, they've lost so much. Their look as they would listen to their Colombian foster mother was that of a deer in the headlights look. They were shocked that they could not understand so much of what she was saying to them, and I was completely taken back also. Fabian especially said, "Wow Mami, you speak Spanish real good!" Now by the last 10 minutes of the conversation Fabian was back to speaking and understanding Spanish, which was perfect timing because that was about the time when I got lost. Their foster mother had just returned home from church and the store and she was the one on the phone talking to me and it's no surprise that when Latin American women get excited, they speak fast! Now add a little shrill in there and you get the picture.

It was great speaking to the ladies who cared for my babies during their transitional time before they came to our family. They will forever be a part of our hearts and my love and gratitude pours out to them. May God continue to watch over these dear mothers; I'm speaking of the foster mothers and the caretakers in the orphanages who give so much love and nurturing to our babies in Colombia! Please Lord lift up these individuals in special ways and let them know they are loved! Think of how many orphans there are in Colombia, and then imagine how many people are there now in their torn lives to watch over them and help them through their past until they reach their forever families. It is my prayer, Father, I ask that you keep watch over the many good people of Colombia who so unselfishly give of their time and love!