Final Goodbyes

When I talked to Mila by Skype last week I asked her what she wanted from Albania. She asked for only two things: Pizza and to see her favorite Sister who had transferred from the north of Albania to the coastal city of Durres. That seemed like a more than reasonable request, so today we did both. 

I am again so very thankful for these women who have dedicated their lives to Christ by loving children like mine. This particular Sister was apart of our dance fest back in July. When I told her today that I had video of her getting jiggy with it, she laughed and playfully gasped "don't tell my mother superior!"  That is my kinda nun! 

Half way through our visit our adoption friends helped our Sassy Polish Sister Friend skype Mila one last time. I don't know who was more giddy, Mila or the Sisters. It was a giant giggle fest and so good for all of them to have their final goodbye together. <3

Since we were blocks from the beach we took a quick trip to the Adriatic Sea to dip our toes in:

This evening was my goodbye to our dear friends from Elbasan. Nertila and Marjan have been such a blessing to us as a family and special friends to my heart. While I don't know that we'll have inhabit the same space again on this side of Heaven, I am so very thankful for the gift of technology to keep us connected a half world apart. 

"Korea"

In one of our final conversations before we left Albania in July, our missionary friend mentioned taking us to 'korea' during our return visit and quickly moved onto other details. I stopped her mid sentence, already overwhelmed with the current state of affairs I blurted out "how the heck does Korea fit into this mess?!"  Laughter came through the other side: "No KRUJE (crewe-ye)"  Turns out it's a traditional village saved by the Albanian hero Skanderbeg, not once but three times from the invading Ottoman Empire.  I suppose that makes more sense. So today, we went to "Korea", Albania:

We puttered around the Ethnographik Museum about traditional life in Kruje:

 Everyone had a helper:

Olive Press:

  Traditional wedding dress:

 Men's gathering place:

Photo by Isaac!

Annie working on her traditional Qifteli

Mila got to help make a traditional rug!

The weather was beautiful. The views were incredible. The history amazing. And to watch both my kids laughing together in the car on the way home was absolute music to my heart. 

The End and the Beginning

Today we experienced both ends of Mila's life in her home country...

The End: Mila's visa was approved to enter the USA, her new country, which means our adoption and all the paperwork that it entails is DONE. The USA agreed to let me bring a a child in. Then we asked Albania if I could bring a child out. Then I had to ask Albania for Mila and tell the USA that Albania said yes. Then the USA said I could bring Mila in IF the Albanian courts gave their approval (we all know how that went). Last week the Albanian courts said yes, so we got her new Albanian birth certificate with my name on it and her Albanian passport. This week we presented those two items to the US Embassy to prove that Albania said yes now would the USA allow me to bring this newly adopted child into the USA to become a citizen...today they said yes and approved her Visa to enter the borders of the land that I love. It is finished.  

The Beginning:  Mila spent the first two years of her life within the walls of the abandoned babies unit of the maternity hospital in Tirane. This was a very unusual occurrence as most babies only spend weeks to months in the care of the 8 bed unit until permanent placement with a family or orphanage can be found. Complicating factors left Mila in limbo for 24 months with no where to be nurtured except the baby unit. Today we returned to where Mila's life started and celebrated with the women who cared for and loved her for 24 months.  We fellowshipped together and they shared stories of Mila's early life--her infant personality, favorite toys and her first steps.  It was good for me to get more pieces of Mila's puzzle, but I think particularly special for these women to see the fruit of their laboring hearts. Their love and care saved a life.

Her crib for two years:

The woman who named Kamila. She poured her heart into my girl, even coming to the baby orphanage and institution in Shkodra on her days off to visit her. 

The two women who gave my girl her name: Kamila Naomi. 

Bonus feature:  Mila was introduced to her first piece of personal technology. She got to play some English learning games this morning with her brother (HUGE moment of sibling bonding) and listen to Albanian worship music this evening with Gramma. 

We are wrapping up our time here in Albania: Friday we will visit a traditional village and Saturday visit with our Albanian friends...then we are on a plane HOME.