(sorry this is late, the computer broke on Saturday and just came back on!) Less than a month now, I can't believe how fast time flies! let me just say, I think we have been without power more in the past week than we have been with it. The storms knocked it out for a few days. It got stolen on Sat. and came back on Monday. Then it got stolen again and took a day and a half to come on. We have gotten to the point where we don't expect it! I will not miss this part of SA at all. MANY things happened this week. I will start with the best, the adoptions! Keagan and Eric's parents came on Monday. We were all in anticipation as we waited for them. Keagan's arrived first and you could tell they just fit. They were so cute..in complete shock. They have been waiting 3 years for their child and they got a call 5 days before they were to come here saying it was finally time. There was barely time for physical preparations, so emotional ones were unheard of. The mom was literally in a state of shock. Keagan was shy at first, he didn't know what to think about them. But after a day of playing with him, he wanted nothing else to do with us! I found myself in tears a lot that day. When I watched the families play I was so thankful that these boys got to experience that love. There is a light about TLC on adoption days, its truly amazing. It is so special because the kids who get adopted are finally the center of someone's life, not just 1 in 36. The thought of this brought tears, both happy and sad. Happy that those few children get the experience, but sad that the others don't. I was helping the creepies with lunch and Keagan's parents were in with him. They were feeding him and playing with him, and it was beautiful. Rupert started fussing after he ate so I put him in my lap, facing me,so we could talk. He laid on my chest and turned his head to watch Keagan. I don't know what he was thinking, but it almost seemed like he was longing for that. I lost it. I want so badly for all of these children to have the love of a family, but stupid circumstances keep some of them from getting it. The kids are so blessed here, but something about taking your child home, showing him off, spoiling him, and caring for him is different than a group setting. All I could say is "Rupert you are so loved." The tears just kept flooding so I had to just leave. The day was bitter sweet and I am so excited for the new lives these boys are venturing into! Ironically, other parents were at TLC also on adoption day. Only these were the real parents who are somehow still connected with their child who is here. Some stories are sweet, some make you want to pull your hair out. There are a few parents, Rupert's in particular, who won't let go. They don't want their child, but they won't sign papers for them to be adopted. This causes problems as the child gets older because after age three there is nowhere for them to go. It really makes me mad to see this happen. Rupert hates his parents, any time they come he screams continuously. It was really hard because he just clung to me as we sat there. I felt bad for the parents because they probably feel stupid, but I felt worse making Rupert go to them. I don't know what will happen in this situation, but I pray something does quickly! We got three new babies this week. Zareh came a few hours after he was born. His story is quite sad. His name, appropriately, means tears. Thea said when she was at the hospital to fetch him, his 19 year old mother was sobbing as she signed the papers. She loved her baby and wanted him so badly, but had no means to take care of him. The selflessness of this young girl is incredible. I wonder where she is now, how she is feeling? I can't imagine that. Her story truly breaks your heart. I don't know if she was raped, I would say probably so, but we will never know that. All I know is she is heartbroken. The other two girls were simply just abandoned. They are three months old and came here from the hospital in HORRIBLE shape. The babies are not taken care of in hospitals here. I don't think either of them have had a bath since they were born. They had on the hospital bracelets and clothes from the day they were born, which had cut so deep into their skin we could barely cut them off. They left black bruises on their little ankles. The clothes were so small the didn't even button. This isn't so surprising, seeing as these babies came from the hospital that just got in serious trouble for keeping babies in cardboard boxes. They ran out of cribs and it was their only option. Although, just last year they won an award for going under budget...you work out the math. There are approximately 100 babies born there a day, and 6 nurses and 1 doctor. It really doesn't surprise me that the treatment is horrible, what do you expect? Those living conditions make you sick, but seeing a product of it makes you more sick. I gave Rochelle her first bath last night and the water was so dirty. That just shouldn't happen with a newborn! Appalling! (Week 9- both girls are thriving FAST. They are smiling and actually enjoy being held! Its so cute and wonderful!) I just finished 11 working days in a row. My days off just happened to fall really far apart. This makes for a LONG week!! At least our hours are down to 11 a day, so it's not so tiring! I started nights Monday. It's been ok except we have been without power for at least 4 hours a night. It got stolen once and they turn it off randomly every other night! It is horrible in the early morning hours because you are so tired and no lights don't help!! I have been asked about adoption procedures to the US and this is what I know: It is legal to adopt special needs children to the states. This can include anything from HIV to fetal alcohol to a hearing disability. Pretty much anything they say is special needs. It is a pretty quick process, sometimes taking only about year, but sometimes of course it takes longer. If you want to adopt specifically from south Africa or tlc even you find your local adoption agencies and see which one works with south Africa. I am not sure if you have to use your county adoption agency, but I think its best. When you find the agency, they will contact social workers here and see if they will work with TLC. I hope this isn't too confusing. It is easier to say than to write! There are requirements, like income...although, You can be a single parent and adopt in the US. I don't know the other requirements, but the agencies will. Also, with special needs adoption you can specify a child. Say with me being here I fall in love with an HIV child, I could specifically adopt that child because it is so unlikely they wont get adopted. This isn't an option with healthy children. Saturday was the big SA vs. England rugby game and I went to Shaun's ( a friend I met here) house to watch it. It's like the superbowl or something...pretty cool. GO SPRING BOKS!! We kicked England's butt. The country went crazy. People were 'hooting' their horns in cars everywhere. People were in the streets going crazy! It was so fun!! I went to a proper African Market on Sunday!! I got a few things, some handmade crafts and a drum! It is awesome! I am learning how to play. I had a good 6 hour lesson on Sunday after we got home! Hopefully I will be somewhat skilled when I get home! Have a wonderful week and sorry this email was so long, there is so much I always want to say and end up having to shorten it every time. I wanted to write this scripture out, but then the email would be really long, but Please read Ezekiel 16:4-14...It is what I read the day the new babies came and truly explains the beginnings of their lives! | 