Es Tevi Mīlu. Я люблю тебя.

It has been quite a ride in 2013.

But this journey actually began in 2011.  It was in that year that we were introduced to New Horizons.  Our friend Jana was hosting a young teenage girl from Ukraine - Nelya,  We connected with this young woman on a heart and soul level.  This serendipitous collision of lives and stories fanned an ember aglow in us that we did not even realize existed.  This was our purpose - our mission - our destiny.

Nelya and Jana

Me and Nelya

Nelya 2011

2012

We tried to keep in touch with Nelya but the communication was intermittent at best.  We finally tracked her down on Ukrainian social media and sent her messages once again.  She responded.  On New Year's Day, Nelya and I had quite the chat as we both were on-line at the same time.  I must tell you that it takes a great deal of skill to navigate the "copy and paste" routine between Google translate and the message board and back again!  What a joy to speak with her today and learn that she is happy, she is reunited with her brother and sister and she is attending school.  She says that she misses us and wants to come back for a visit.  She eagerly types that she loves us and we just eagerly type back that we love her also.

And that was just the beginning of the journey!

Peter and Daniela

Last night - pillow fight

This year was the next leg of the odyssey.  We dove into the deep end of the pool and decided to host a teenage girl from Latvia. As many of you know, the experience was far from smooth.  There were plenty of bumps along the way in hosting Daniela.  But the bumps were necessary for her and for us - we all needed to navigate the on-ramp that was riddled with pot holes before we could get up to cruising speed on the highway.  The truth is, we learned a lot about ourselves and our faith.  Not the esoteric faith awash in sunlight through stained-glass windows; the rough and tumble, where the rubber meets the road kind of faith.   This was a testing of the basic tenet of Jesus's teaching - unconditional love - in a real and tangible way.   This was applying the "love others" idea in a real, messy, complicated situation.

Cooking with Eileen

Daniela at Amusement Park

Fun at the Adams' Pool

The end result is that Daniela is member of our family.  She is a part of this crazy, unconventional, mixed up family here in Bethlehem, PA.  We chat with Daniela periodically through social media; she keeps us up to date on her situation in general terms; every once in a while she lets her walls down and lets us get a glimpse of just how wonderful she can be; we get the privilege of seeing the real Daniela!  We can be present when she smiles, when she laughs, when she is frustrated, when she is lonely and that is worth more than all the gold in the world.  The feeling of being a part of her life is more any words would ever, ever convey. How do I know this?  Just before Christmas I got a message from Daniela.  She said "Paldies. Es tevi mīlu." (Thanks, I love you).  Still gets me choked up.


Now in 2014, we endeavor to expand our family even more - this time on a permanent basis.  We have filed the necessary papers with the US government and have completed our home study.  This adventure is only just beginning and we are overjoyed and excited for what God has in store for us.