On June 14 - 24 2007, Todd and I went on a Guatemalan Mission Trip with 14 other people from the Village Church (click “Our Guatemala Trip” for pictures). We knew it was going to be a great experience, but we did not know how GOOD or GREAT it was going to be! The trip was incredible! There is nothing like serving others and doing God’s Will.

On the mission trip we spent five amazing days with 76 incredible orphans at the Fundacion Salvacion in HueHuetenango, Guatemala. When we pulled up to the orphanage we stopped our van in front of the huge blue metal doors. We got out and rang the buzzer and a few seconds later we heard the latch and the doors opened. As we drove into the courtyard of the orphanage all the kids looked and began to run toward us. Instantly, Johanna ran into my arms and at that moment I knew she was the one. The Lord instantly put her in my heart and my life was changed forever! I didn’t hold her long, she was ready to swing and play with the other kids. Watching her from a far, I smiled. All my fears about being at an orphanage for the first time disappeared.

The next day Johanna and I would look at each other and smile but she never would come to me. On the 3rd day I decided to stay back and not take the older girls shopping and on that very afternoon she came to me and we played all day! She sat in my lap and we played with buttons and a Ziploc bag and got to know eachother. She asked for agua and I gave her 4 cups full. After the agua she wanted to be pushed in a red swing. As she was in the swing Todd walked by and I said this is the one. Immediately he smiled and pushed her in the swing. He was in love too!

Later that evening after dinner I went and spoke to Jose from Buckner about the adoption process. He was very honest about his views on adoption and shared that many children had parents at the orphanage and were not adoptable. I said thank you and as I walked off he asked if Todd and I would like to talk to Sandra, the director of the orphanage, while the kids watched a movie. He would act as a translator for us.

So while the movie started Jose came and got Todd and I…Joshua Cottongim also came with us. Sandra was delightful! She laughed and talked about our names…I was so glad my name is Nora because it is so easy to say in Spanish. Todd became Toddeo! Sandra told us how she wasn’t always for adoption, but thought it was a good thing after the children started calling people Mommy and Daddy. Then she asked what child we were interested in and Todd says…Nora, what was her name? I said with a big smile Johanna. Sandra smiled and thought this would be a great adoption. She was for it! Praise the Lord! She said Johanna was abandoned as a baby and did not have any family. Now it was a reality. She told us to pray about it and then to let her know the next morning.

After the meeting Todd went off to look at her…she was in the nursery sleeping. I sat on top of the playground with Evy, Sharon, and Jessica thinking/planning with a nervous heart. It was now time to tuck the children into bed. Todd and I tucked and prayed over the boys and then we went to see Johanna. We stood there watching her sleep. Todd and I prayed over her.

When we got back to the Mission House it was very hard to sleep. Todd and I prayed and then I asked Todd “what do you think?” and he said let’s do it.

So the next day we gave our contact information and Roberto from Buckner made calls to Buckner in Dallas, Texas. On this day I watched her sleep on Joshua’s chest most of the day, just watching in awe. Later that day I got to hold her again.

On the last day I couldn’t stop crying. I felt as if I was leaving my heart. The minute we got to the orphanage I saw her and immediately picked her up and she asked for agua. I sat her in the van and she drank my entire water bottle. We also gave her a bunny that Evy gave us to give to her. She held it most of the day. For some reason I had to do something so Todd held her and while he had her she had to go to the bano. Thank heavens Evy was there because she took her. About this time the kids began performing their farewell play that they had been practicing. Johanna, Todd, and myself sat together. Then it was time for Johanna’s part in the play. We watched as Johanna went out with the other toddlers and performed her little routine. When her song was over…she looked all around like a child looks for her parents and ran to Todd. It brought tears to many eyes. At the end of the play the gifts from the Village were handed out. It was so awesome to open her gifts up with her. She loved her pony, necklace, and sunglasses.

Then she was taken back to the nursery. Crying I went back there to see her. I watched from a distance again. She was so happy and dancing! I really began to cry uncontrollably. Then a helper who worked in the nursery sensed my pain. She took hold of my arm and walked me over to the toddlers. She had me kneel down and motioned the toddlers to surround me. They laid hands on me and the helper whispered into the ear of one little boy and he prayed in Spanish for me. Tears were running down my face after the prayer and each one of the toddlers hugged me. Johanna was the last one to hug me and she just looked at me.

Todd held me and we walked away.

I wake up each morning thinking of her and ways to get our baby home.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Love,
Nora