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Note: I hate long posts but this is the last one of this massive story. Grab a cup of Guatemalan Roast Coffee and sit back for the conclusion of “The Mummau Story”
Get To La Aurora
“Umm Journal, it is 4:45am and I think Kristina has been sitting on the edge of our bed for almost an hour. To be honest I’ve been up for a bit too but my body isn’t cooperating yet…”
“Are you awake?” she asked as I was rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Mia was still sound asleep in her pink footie pajamas on the other bed, completely oblivious about the significance of the day ahead. In moments we would begin preparations for the shuttle ride to the airport, board an airplane, and by nights end we would finally end this 19 month journey by flying home to our family together. At least that was the plan. However, we learned that our plans are never quite the same as the story that comes afterward.
As we whispered our excitement back and forth to each other in the darkness, Mia began to stir. Her little black eyes glistened as the early morning light peeked through the shades. Preparations began to be in full swing to get us ready for the 10:00am shuttle which would carry us to La Aurora International Airport by 11:00 for our 1:30pm flight. We budgeted plenty of time in our morning to hopefully avoid disaster or at least give time to deal with it. A couple showers and a diaper change later and we were on our way to the lobby to sip coffee, eat bagels (with strawberry cream cheese), and pass the time until we left. I was watching the latest CNN report on the declining health of the Pope when our phone began to chirp.
“Cody…it is the lawyer” the broken accent was very familiar and sounded rather stressed. “How are things today with you? Do you think Kristina will go home soon? Have you heard from the embassy? We receive nothing yet.” He spoke in a tone that carried a hint of “I told you so” on it but also inquisitive if things actually did work out. As I told him of our upcoming departure, a small silence indicated his shock. We told him the shuttle would be leaving in less than an hour. He said he was ten minutes away with his family and he was coming to say good-bye (and to collect his final fee). As we spoke with him in the lobby, the hotel shuttle arrived and a few passengers got off. It was only minutes before it was loaded again and on the way back to the airport. A few more words with the lawyer and we were loading suitcases and bags and a ton of anticipation on to the bus. We were on our way.
The motor, the traffic, and the ambient noise of the city played like music in our souls. It sounded as though the streets themselves were bidding us farewell. As we rounded the Obelisco and headed toward the airport, a plane lifted from the ground and flew over the streets. Kristina took a deep breath as if to compose herself. We arrived without fanfare at the airport except for every single vendor asking us to by just one more relic of our stay in Guatemala. We pushed our way into the airport and toward the airline counter. 
Over 2 hours before the flight and we still managed to be about 20th in line. Nothing mattered though as we sat together on the floor and Mia in her stroller. It was a true experience filling out the customs forms and putting Mia down as traveling with us. We checked our passports, travel itineraries, wallets, and everything else about a hundred times before the line opened up. It was slow moving at first but finally it was our turn to check in…and go home.
Trouble Begins At Check-In
“Hi! can i see your travel documents please?” The agent took the passports and smiled at Mia. “Is this your first time flying little girl” he asked her. Mia smiled but retreated to my shoulder for a bit of safety. His eyes returned to mine and asked “will she be on your lap for the trip?”
“Yes I’m going to purchase…” I stopped mid-thought as the scowl on his face indicated something was wrong.
“Mrs. Mummau, you are flying home on a stand-by ticket am I right?” to which Kristina nodded. “I am so sorry but this flight has been over booked by quite a bit. The earliest you can fly out will be tomorrow morning.”
The look on his face indicated he knew how devastating this might be. He could never have understood how our throats tightened, thoughts, plans, dreams, disappointments began racing through our minds. To break the silence and present a solution, I spoke up.
“That’s OK, we can stay another night in Guatemala City. We’ll just go back to the hotel and come tomorrow.” The look on his face at that moment was even more pained.
“The type of ticket you flew in with, there won’t be another seat available until next Friday.” Not only that, but if we did wind up leaving separately, Mia was going to have to fly with me instead of Kristina. Her labored breathing told me Kristina was just moments away from sobs and I had to do something quickly.
I looked back at the agent and said “is there no way that Kristina will get on this plane or is there still a chance.” He told me that it was a long shot but there is always a chance. With a nod from Kristina I told him to go ahead and check me into the flight. He told us that the standbys must put their luggage in a location near the airline office and wait there until 1:00 to see if they would be on the flight. He said we were welcome to go get lunch and come back just before 1:00.
Walked around the counter and back toward the office, away from the direction we had been dreaming of since walking out of the embassy. Downstairs we stood in line at one of the many restaurants and ordered our food. Kristina stared off into the distance at the security checkpoint where people headed off to their gates.
“When you get to Atlanta, you are going to have to feed her” she started. Her voice quivered as she continued. “You know which ones to feed her don’t you?” A tear trickled down her left cheek. “By the time you guys get on the airplane in Atlanta she will need her blankie.” Tears are running down both cheeks by now but her gaze has never left the security checkpoint. “Stay at my Mom and Dad’s tonight as they can be a support for you.” Her eyes move back to me and then to Mia.
“GOD THIS IS NOT FAIR!” she screamed under her breath (that’s a feat you have to see to believe.) “I’m in no way mad at you Cody but it hurts more than anything I’ve ever experienced to know that Mia will cross into the United States, she will become an American, she will meet Mom and Dad, all while I am still here in Guatemala.” Her conversation trails off as the sobs overtake her ability to talk.
“Kristina, it doesn’t mean much” I said through my own tears “but I recognize and acknowledge that it should be you walking her across the border. You have given far more than anyone I have known could have. This isn’t the way we would have written the ending but it in no way takes away from what you have done.” The words sounded so hollow and insufficient for the hurt she felt but I knew she needed something from me. “We will be OK and you will be with us tomorrow.”
Phone calls to the United States left people in tears. We tried to be encouraging and positive but the anguish was unmistakable in our voices. My mom once again logged on the Guatemala Adoption Forum and posted the news that yet another wrinkle had made its way into our journey home. So many people who had walked with us responded with such compassion. People tried to find so many ways to help but with just half of an hour left it was too late.
Back at the airline office, we sat on the cold tile floor and nibbled on leftover chips and sipped our coke. One by one other stand-by passengers were arriving and waiting. Small talk did little to ease the anxiety felt by all of us. Peeking through the door to the check-in counter, I saw the line was almost gone. Barely able to contain myself I walked out and looked around to see if anyone may give early indication of our situation. No such luck for me. I leaned against the pole and began making mental preparations for the trip ahead with this child I loved so much but honestly did not know very well.
I saw the agent who helped us poke his head through the door and then walk back. The stand-by passengers in the back began to collect their things and move toward the check-In line again. Kristina found my gaze and the tears in her eyes spoke the words…she was going home. As we came together, she said that the agent waited to tell the whole group until he told her personally.
“I am honored to be the one to tell you that your family will be going home together today!” he said with a smile.
The tears did not cease flowing from either of us as we hurried through security and down to the gate. Instead the purpose of those tears changed drastically. Having gone from one extreme of sadness to euphoria in minutes about wiped us out. Desperately dialing, we again made calls home to share the good news. Against the rules, I made the last call to my mom as we taxied to the end of the runway.
“Mom! We are on our way home! This is the last call that will ever be made on this cell phone…Mom?” She already knew we were on our way it seemed. Someone from the same airline had been following the story and when they saw our situation, they followed the passenger list until the plane departed. Mom received an email as we prepared for take-off. She made a “Be safe” and “I love you” through her Grammy tears. Then we were off.
Within moments of take-off, Kristina’s eyes began to get heavy. With the volcanoes just barely out of sight, both Mia and Kristina were sound asleep. The emotions of the morning had been too much for the three of us. Three hours in the air seemed like just a few minutes as it seemed so soon when the pilot announced our descent into Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta.
Atlanta
Finally off of the plane, Kristina, Mia and I made our way toward the immigration line. A few people in line asked us about our adoption but for the most part we were in our own world. The man called us forward, checked our documents, then said words Kristina had dreamed of for months.
“Welcome Home!” He looked at Mia and said “Welcome to the United States!”
We were taken to a little room where another adoptive family waited quietly. We turned in our mysterious little brown packet. After about 10 minutes, the official returned with our passports and told us to expect her Certificate of Citizenship in about 45 days. That was it. We were off!
There it was. As we walked, the sign that said “Welcome to the United States of America.” 
We stopped and took pictures (at the first moment where an agent wouldn’t seize our camera). And then moved on. Walking around the corner to our gate we realized something was wrong as it showed a different city and time than Greensboro, NC. We were told they switched aircraft and gates. We moved on to the new gate where we realized the situation had gotten worse.
Trouble in Atlanta?
There was a line at the counter that stretched about 40-50 people long and more and more people kept arriving. As I prepared to get in line, an announcement came on.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we apologize for the inconvenience. We have switched to a smaller aircraft which requires all passengers to check in here to receive new seating assignments. This is now a full flight and there will be no stand-by passengers accepted for this reason. All of those wishing to fly stand-by can check with the later flight or can rebook for the morning. Thank you and again we are sorry for the inconvenience.”
Not knowing what to expect I looked at Kristina prepared for anything. “No big deal” she said “we’ll get a room and fly home in the morning. We are in the States and we are together. I’ll walk home if I have to.” I remained in line to rebook for the morning while Kristina and Mia called her parents to let them know we would not be coming home tonight. The further the line moved, the more irritated the passengers seemed. The most irate were stand-by passengers who now had to make alternative plans. The airline staff were courteous and professional even when the customers would curse and rage at the injustice of it all. When it was my turn, I explained our situation to the agent. She said the cost for me to move my ticket would be $25.00 but she would need to process it after the plane departed.
As we sat and watched the passengers board the plane, Mia played and we started calling hotels to see if there was room. Finally, an agent closed the door to the jet-way and I returned to the desk. The agent thanked me for my patience and began looking at flights for the next day.
“Sir, it might be a later flight than I thought because the early flights are booking up quickly.” She didn’t go any further as her phone rang. “Yes everyone is aboard” she said quietly. “I don’t know what happened but we counted the passenger list twice.” She paused for a moment as the caller spoke and then she continued “Well that’s who we have. The plane will have to go out with 2 empty seats…”
Just then Mia walked behind the counter saying “DADADADADA”
“Wait…HOLD THE PLANE” she shouted into the plane. She put her hand over the receiver and looked intently at me. “Get your family, your going home.” She got back on the phone “I have two coming now.”
“Go Go Go” I said to Kristina as I grabbed the stroller and folded it up. Kristina picked up Mia and we ran to the door. The agent met us there and ran with us to the plane. There a man grabbed the stroller from me.
“Congratulations” he shouted as he descended the stairs from the jet-way. As we entered the plane, the Atlanta staff cheered. The two seats…in first class.
Greensboro, NC
OK try and imagine our conversation on that plane flight. We are on the way home and NO ONE KNOWS IT! We tried to call on the in-flight phones but they were disables. The flight was a short 45 minute jump between Georgia and North Carolina. We called Kristina’s family as soon as we arrived in Greensboro.
“Did you find a hotel?” her mom said.
“Actually, we’re in Greensboro!” Kristina said. Laughter rang through their house as we described the last 2 hours to them. To our surprise, my youth group, youth leaders, and others from our church had been at the airport most of the night waiting for us. They had just left 10 minutes before and were now sitting in Krispy Kreme nearby. One phone call and they came rushing back in to get us.
When we finally arrived at our home at 12:30am on April 2, 2006, Kristina’s family was their waiting for us. As tired as we were, we spent the next hour watching Mia play with her cousin and explore her new room and her new house. The moment was so unreal we decided to go to sleep and see where we woke up the next morning.
We haven’t woken up yet!
There are about a hundred P.S.’s I could tag to this story. However, the most amazing is this. Mia is a big sister. About a month after returning home, Kristina told me we were pregnant. On January 17th of 2006 she gave birth to Carter Boaz. At the time of this article, Carter is 25 lb. 8 month old baby. Mia is barely 26lbs. She is home, she is big sister, she is wonderful.
Thanks for taking time to read our story…what’s yours?
The Mummau Series
1. Choosing To Adopt
2. Why International? Why Guatemala?
3. The Call From Guatemala
4. The Process Begins
5. A Prelude To Mia
6. How Can You “Choose” A Child – Leaving Others Behind?
7. Peer Into The Heart – Journal Entries
8. Meeting Maria – Finding Mia
9. Leaving Our Daughter…is that…no way!
10. Rivers of Waiting
11. Mistakes, Intentions, and Naivety – How Hope Began To Die
12. Alone in Guatemala and Waiting
13. Time Marches On – Goodbye Mia for Now
14. Joyful Gringos in Quetzaltenango
15. Mia Mia
16. Abuela Comes To The Rescue
17. Doctors, Couriers, and Delays
18. Even So, You Won’t Believe This
19. The Summer of Frustration Ends
20. Fall Approaches with Broken Hearts…Teeth
21. 1600 Miles from Tecpan (pt.1)
22. 1600 Miles from Tecpan (pt.2)
23. Kristina Comes Home
24. Mia’s First Steps
25. December’s Momentum
26. An Angel In The Embassy? I
27. An Angel in the Embassy? II
28. A Christmas to Remember…and Forget
29. Daddy’s 2nd Visit
30. Clash at The Embassy
31. We’re In The PGN! OK Let Us Out!
32. Accomodations
33. The Pencil – Never Give Up
34. Exiting the PGN…sort of
35. Exiting the PGN…yet again
36. Daddy Has Enough
37. The Countdown Begins
38. Easter Brings Hope
39. Sit With Me in San Cristobal
40. T-Minus a few things and counting
41. My New Favorite Color
42. Hope Becomes Reality-The Embassy Interview
43. Mia Mummau Goes Home
More blogs about Guatemala Adoption.
