Here are some more pictures of Samuel! 

The Waiting Game

Friends,
The process of putting the Samuel tapes on DVDs is moving along well. Currently, we are putting together a "best of" DVD. Please let us know if you would like a copy. We don't have unlimited resources, but we do want all y'all to be a part of this process as much as possible.

As far as we know, Sammy is doing ok. Nepal is currently seeing some internal respit from the fighting. The rebels have agreed to a 3-month cease-fire, which is an answer to prayer for us. There is still some question marks regarding our paperwork, my Swedish birth certificate for instance. It looks a little different than what they normally see, but pray and hope that the people there use common sense and what's good for Sammy and us.

More pictures are coming.

Blessings,
Andreas

Aftermath

Dear friends,
It's been a crazy week. Laurie and I are fine, but very hot. Our power has been out since Monday, but we are doing well considering. Among all the thoughts and emotions we are very thankful that our paperwork for Samuel is already done and in Nepal. Obviously, the New Orleans immigration office will be closed for a long time.
I am sure that you have the same questions we do, and wonder how "civilized" people in the richest country in the world can behave like they do in New Orleans. Most of us here in the States are not very surprised, however. New Orleans is not exactly known for its well-behaved citizens. Its decadent behavior and its high crime rate is now on public display. The selfishness of some people is unexplainable, and we need to remember what C.S Lewis said once, that pain is God's megaphone to us, helping us realize that we need a savior and we are not self-sufficient.
Anyway, we are doing well and will be in touch more later on,

With Love,
Andreas

Storm warning

Friends and family,
Just a quick note to let everybody know that so far...Monday morning...we are fine. Hurricane Katrina is heading our way, but it doesn't seem to be that bad for Jackson. Of course, I might be changing this outlook as we get further into the day.
No news on Samuel yet, but his room is coming along just fine. We are currently trying to paint the continents of the world on the globe on the wall that we finished this weekend. It will be very cool.

Take care and pray for God's will and presence
Andreas

This is his nanny holding him. She was very nice. 

#5 

#4 

#3 

#2 

Here are some pictures of Samy, finally. What do you think??? 

Welcome home to me

Friends and family,
So, it's been a few days and it still isn't quite real to be back in Jackson, Mississippi. It's very real to be back home with Laurie, as you can imagine, but the trip to Nepal didn't leave many areas of my life unaffected. It was a spiritually profound trip, combined with the tumultous experience of seeing our son for the first time.
Samuel was adorable. His mental health seems to be excellent. He is active, mobile, and talks baby talk some. He is alert and loving, and he bonds easily. We had a great time, and will hopefully be able to send some DVDs out to those of you who want one soon. Pictures will be posted here as soon as life gets back to (some sort of) normal again.
His physical health is not as good. His immune system is pretty weak, thus he keeps getting infections and stuff. This hinders his growth, and his ear infections might slow his speech learning curve. But according to the doctor there it's all fixable with some tender love and care (and plenty of good nutrition).
Well, we'll see when we can go back to get Sammy. Hopefully before too long, and probably somewhere between October and December. The trip is simply aweful, and only getting Sammy would convince me to take it again.
With love
Andreas

Hemma igen

Friends,
I am finally home in Jackson again. The trip was as awful as you can imagine, not to mention the food that made me sick from HongKong to Los Angeles. Not a pleasant thing.
Sammy was incredible and I will always cherish those days. Now we wait and see what happens. Thank you for your prayers and for your concern. It has been a crazy three weeks, and soon school starts again. Strange indeed. More later, including new pictures.
Love
Andreas

I have held Sammy!

Friends,
I'm in Kathmandu, Nepal! I have visited and been with Sammy on two occasions now. He is absolutely adorable! He knows who I am now, and we play and stuff. I have held him, loved him, squeezed him, fed him, and today I get to take him out of the orphanage to the hotel for several hours. how exciting!
I'll write more when I get home. But I'm ok, Sammy is ok, and this is quite tthe adventure!
Love,
Andreas

Finally! Trip 1

Friends,
It's been a while since this blog was updated. I was in Sweden for my brother's wedding, a marvelous trip, and just got back to Jackson on Sunday. The amazing thing is that I leve tomorrow, Tuesday, for Nepal! We finally got the go-ahead for the first trip to go and see little Sammy. It's an overwhelming feeling to think that Thursday my son will be in my arms. I know, he will scream bloody murder, but I will smile from ear-to-ear. Laurie won't be able to go, unfortunatly, so keep her in your prayers as she struggles with being left at home again. Also, please pray for safe travels for me. It takes two days to travel and 10 airports, so obviously I'll be a little groggy.
But, can you imagine...Sammy is going to meet his dad in just three days!!
More info, and hopefully pictures, to come.

With love,

God is greater than Immigration!

Dear friends,
Overwhelming success!
The Immigration office told us over the phone on tuesday last week (12th) that our adoption approval would take much more time, maybe as much as several months. Obviously defeated, we prayed, as we know you have been doing as well. We left for the weekend, and when we came home we saw a letter from the Immigration department. We had been approved on the 14th for one child! On my birthday!

So now, we're looking at going to Nepal beginning of August for the first trip. Depending on what the Nepal authorities say, we can be cleared to go either the first or the second week of August. If it is the first week, Laurie will go as I will be in Sweden. If later, then I will go. Pray for discernment and wisdom as we decide what to do, as well as for patience in waiting for God's perfect timing.

Now for the sad news. Well, not sad but frustrating. Our adoption agency told us that the process time in Nepal, which starts when we get there on the first trip, is now four months! That means November/December... Hmmm. More patience needed. But we are learning to trust God. As always, believing in coincidences and chance/luck would require much more faith than we have.

Ending on an up note. Sammy is gaining weight and is back to 8 kilos, which is really good. We suspect that the infections made him lose some of his weight from before. More news on his health as we get them, as well as pictures.

Thank you for your support, love, and prayers. You know, prayers often seem like "ceiling talk" or fantasies. This process of adoption, as so many other examples, say otherwise, don't they?

We love you!