What A Day Can Bring
This morning while I was struggling to draw a mouse, Kentegee, on the phone like usual, asked me if I would like another little girl. It isn’t as if she prepared me or anything, she was just on the phone and asked me as if she wanted to know if I needed more vegetables or something! I did have the presence of mind to ask more questions, and to say that I would talk to Roy FIRST before giving them an answer!I found out that a man who attends our church has a little girl, who’s mother left them a long time ago. He has to travel for work a lot, and Meme is left home alone with no one to love or care for her. Apparently, he has been watching us for some time, and finally came to the conclusion that we were the ones to give his daughter to. He told us over and over that by giving her to us, he is giving her to God. Another thing that made him decide to give her to us now is that he is being kicked out of his home because he cannot buy the land that the house is sitting on, so he will be going back to Burma. He had it all planned out, and apparently had been asking questions because he told me right away that he would put it all in writing, and that he would not interfere in any way with how we raise his daughter. He may come to visit once in a while, but that is all. (he must have known how hard it was with Hannah’s father)So, last evening we went over, got all her vital statistics, and signed all the papers, and then it was time to go. I don’t know if they had said their last goodbyes before we came, but there was no outward emotion from either father or child. Meme did look a little uncertain, but that was all I could detect. I found it really sad to drive away with her. I could never leave a child like that, and yet I understand the desperation that he faced with her. He is confident that he is doing the right thing.Hannah is a very social little girl, and when Meme walked in, Hannah was sure that she had come to see her! She took charge of the situation, greeting Meme with a big hug, and introducing her to her favorite toys. She was a little less certain when I gave her AND Meme a cracker. In the past, all crackers where hers exclusively. She didn’t know what to make of this new phenomenon.My poor house is bursting at the seams now. I need to go to town today and buy more blankets, and all the necessities for this new little one. Roy and I were down to one small blanket between the two of us already, and so adding another child reduced us to shivers. I ended up having Meme sleep with Kentegee since I have no more room. We really need to get that kitchen built so that I can make more bedrooms in my house! My house seemed huge when I first moved in, but it is actually about the same as my home in Montana, which is around 1100 square feet. With 9 people living here,10 at the moment since Andrew is visiting, we have quite the housefull. Roy says that we are not really crowded, since we do have approximately 10 square feet per person!Meme is 8 years old, and in the first grade in school. She already attends the same school that Pawkuhmooeydee goes to, so that part will be easy. She speaks Burmese and a little Karen, but no English at all! We started teaching her the ABC’s last night.It always takes a while for a a child to adjust, so we are taking our time, just getting to know her gradually. I asked her if she wanted to come with me to town, and she shook her head no vigorously! She feels safer at the moment with those who can speak her language!So once again, please keep us in your prayers. We did not think that we were ready for any new responsibilities, but God seems to have different plans.