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It was the day before my brother’s birthday. I clearly remembered that as we piled into Marcelo’s car on that warm Tuesday afternoon. Kristina and I had been in Guatemala since the weekend but Monday, November 24, 2003 finally came and it was time to go meet with the social worker at the orphanage in Antigua. We were having an incredible time with the kids at the Word of Life camp but today our minds and hearts were intent on the meeting we were about to have.
We arrived at Mi Hogar Manchen in Antigua Guatemala around mid-day. Marcelo rang the bell on the wooden door of the large red building. After a moment a young girl was heard talking as she approached the door and unlock it. She welcomed us in to what appeared to be a former Spanish homestead during the colonial period here in Central America. It had been turned into an orphanage by the Catholic Church and was now run by Bienstar Social or the government’s social services.
We met the social worker who seemed very kind and warm. Though we could not communicate with her, our friend Marcelo did an excellent job of translating the details. Two babies had been brought to the orphanage because they were abandoned in remote regions of the country with no orphanages that had infant care. She looked at us and asked if we would be interested in adopting one or both of these little girls. We indicated that we were interested and so she told us more.
Both babies had been left and found at hospitals near where they were born. The parents had left no information about themselves. A classified notice had to be run in the paper to see if anyone would claim them and take custody of them. This ad must be run for 3 months and then they would be classified as orphans. The 1st girl’s name was Maria Rene and the 2nd girl’s name was Luz Clarita which means “clear light”. Both Krissy and I liked that second name. We were led to the nursery where over 15 children and babies were. Many of the babies were in their cribs at the time. Some were in walkers while even more were on a small carpeted play area. We were told that both babies she told us about were being bathed and so we played and talked with the other babies in the room.
One of the babies we met had a severely burned face. He looked at us with such longing for any affection. Kristina and I spent some time with him playing and talking to him. One little boy was so awesome and touched my heart dearly. His name was Jose Angel. I held him for almost the whole time as he searched my face and hair with his hands, all the while lending to me his precious smile. Meanwhile, the ladies brought a baby to Krissy to hold and feed. They said that this was one of the babies the social worker spoke of. This was Maria Rene. Kristina sat and fed her and talked so softly to her. This baby was so good and did not seem at all like she was prone to crying. She laid in Krissy’s arms cooing and smiling at her. I could see Kristina searching this baby’s face and praying for wisdom. As she put her in the crib to sleep, I walked over to see how she might react to my ugly mug. She grabbed my pinky fingers and smiled at me!! My heart melted when I looked at her.
Marcelo asked the lady if she could please run the notice in the paper and please start the process for us and this baby. Within minutes, she took a picture and said the process has begun! As we left the orphanage, Kristina and I both said good-bye to Maria Rene in hopes that very soon she would be our little Mia. I noticed Kristina calmly composing herself as she didn’t want to be emotional just yet.
You want pictures of that first meeting? Well we had to wait until Friday to get any pictures. What happened between Tuesday and Friday is a post unto itself. Stay tuned for the details and the first ever pictures with Baby Maria Rene…our Mia.
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.
