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The day we left for Guatemala was very emotional for the both of us. So much came flooding to the front of our minds as we realized that the process was in full swing for us. While the intent of this trip originally was to work with our friend at his camp, we knew that much of our purpose for going was for the adoption. We both felt as if we would meet our Mia in the next few days. As we sat in the airport in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, we both began to write in our journals. Here is a glimpse at what was going through our hearts that day
Saturday, November 22, 2003
Cody - I am writing this beforehand as we will be flying to Guatemala on this day. No matter how many times I get on an airplane I can not help but to be nervous. It has nothing to do with 9/11/01 as I have felt this way since I was young. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I am afraid, but I just don’t enjoy the ride. Kristina loves to fly so she will be fine. I will be glad to arrive in the nice 78 degree weather of Guatemala City, Guatemala at around 8:30pm local time.
I guess the surprising feeling I am having is that I am not only excited just about going to Guatemala, but that most of my excitement comes from the idea of spending a whole week with the Diez family and from the thought of all that this trip involves. I am nervous about visiting orphanages and searching for Mia. While I am overwhelmingly excited, I also am feeling an tremendous responsibility weighing down on me. I know I must be on guard for Kristina’s emotional well-being through-out the trip as well as my own. We are praying that God leads us directly to our daughter. We dread the thought of “choosing”. We pray it is as though our daughter has been at a babysitters and we recognize her among the others immediately.
Both of our flights went well (Raleigh to Atlanta and Atlanta to Guatemala). We saw the lava from the “fire volcano” as we flew into the airport! Marcelo and Melanie were waiting for us when we arrived. When we arrived at the Diez’ house, we gave them all of their gifts and they seemed to love them. We talked until very late and then went to bed.
Krissy - Right now we are sitting in the airport waiting for our plane. We have a two hour wait before the plane gets here. Dad brought us to the airport & sat with us for an hour. Reistie, Dad, Susan, Dad Mummau, Steph, Mom Mummau have called us, and Matt. Everyone is so excited about us going to Guatemala. Cody & I are excited also. Mia, I know you will read this one day & I want you to know words cannot express the emotion I am feeling about coming to Guatemala to find you. The verse in the Bible, Luke 2:19, “But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” At this point I can relate to Mary. All these feelings, excitement, joy, anxiousness, I am pondering them in my heart.
It is almost to much for us even now to look back on the very words we wrote before we ever knew Mia. We continue to do so because it causes us to realize what a precious blessing she is.
We arrived in Guatemala and had a marvelous weekend. Marcelo took us to the camp where I would be speaking over the next week. He said that following the morning assembly on Monday we would meet with the social worker in Antigua. He said she was interested in talking with us about two babies that were in their care. Our hearts were bubbling.
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.
Reading through all of this is so moving. Thank you so much for writing and sharing.
Absolutely! It has been a pleasure (and a struggle) to recount these moments!