Dominican Downtime

   God is so truly amazing! How He so careful crafts every little detail of our lives just amazes me! As I sit here writing this long overdue update I just am astounded by all God has done and that once again we are here with our son in this AMAZING country! Yes, the journey has been fraught with challenges, yes even this very morning I thought I was in danger of losing every hair left in my head! Thankfully to the most amazing hubs, Brianna was apparently in need of a nap and things have been MUCH more peaceful since she is sleeping!


We have been in-country for quite awhile now and have been blessed to be involved with several ministries here. The church at Iglesias Biblical del Jesus Cristo ( http://ibsj.org/) welcomed us with open arms and many great friendships have developed out of our time there! We are grateful to them for their support and understanding. While they have a great interpretive ministry we needed something a little bit different to fit our families needs and were pointed in the direction of another great ministry Iglesias de Convertidos a Cristo (http://iccsordos.org/) we have been attending there quite a bit and really feel at home there. We are praying about what God has in store throughout the rest of our time. We are now settled into our new home and spend lots of time doing household things, washing clothes, hanging clothes, washing dishes, cooking meals. I can easily say the thing I miss MOST is my dishwasher!


Things I already KNOW I will miss the most about the DR you may wonder?!?! Glad you asked... Avocados the size of LARGE softballs that taste absolutely divine! Chinolas: a fruit that might just be the most perfect blend of tangy and sweet in the WORLD! Carrots that actually make it WORTH peeling and taste AMAZING! And even better the fact that these things are discounted on certain days here! 36% when we go to Jumbo on Tuesdays! Meats are discounted on Thursdays and Fridays at La Sirena so it makes eating healthy more reasonable and desirable!


The kids LOVE the water and both have enjoyed the pool here much more than the beach to Brice and my dismay...haha. Alas the opportunities through play for bonding have been GREAT! Water, sand, and beach toys. Not to mention crafts...because I packed enough craft stuff to single handily start my own VBS! Fingerpainting, pipe cleaners, foam stickers, wiggle eyes, you name it! We have had a time! Last night we took inventory of what we had left and made a few games to work on sensory and matching activities for Elias and some writing/letter games for Brianna. Speaking of who...she has DELIBERATELY not spoken a word of Spanish while we have been here outside of the colors her Uncle taught here when he was here...then yesterday out of the blue I hear, "I want my agua." I was floored...apparently she is learning some Spanish even when I'm not looking!


 We are so grateful for this time to bond with our new son. Having no language in a ACTIVE 3 yr old body is quite the challenge, but seeing the growth just THRILLS my heart. He pointed to his sisters marker colored hands and signed "dirty",  he pointed when his sister was sleeping and signed, "sleeping".  He can say, "I want more to eat." "I want a drink." "I want orange juice or I want grape juice." He can even sign potty and does go potty quite frequently but not consistently. This boy has completely stolen my heart and makes the months and years, the trials and tears, and every little heartache along the way completely worth every bit of it! 


Prayers for wisdom. Language is increasing, but so are tantrums at times. He is understanding more boundaries and choosing to be a normal toddler and test the limits (think 2 yr old, not my favourite stage). It has been challenging and exhausting, but I am just grateful to have Brice here to partner with me through this process!


Well I must sign off...Brianna just woke up and Elias just went to sleep (watching signing time)...hopefully we will have MUCH happier kids this afternoon!


Hugs to all!

At Last

Bueno es Dios, Siempre fiel.


   Cannot believe how time has flown! Alas are blessed to finally be with our son! It has been a journey for sure. Dealing with no language, behaviors, and twin syndrome (which I had NO idea even existed previously). It has been a challenge to say the least, but my heart is full! The fact that I even have time to sit down and write a quick update is a huge blessing. I LOVE it here, but the past few days with sickness hitting again has made it a little daunting. Hopefully we will all be up and running again tmw as we start back to our P90X workout again and try to get in better shape while we are stuck in the city!


God has been so good to us and we are LOVING the friends, support, and community that HE has put in place here. It has been so nice having his brother here for Christmas. We appreciate your continued prayers as we await more info on the possibility of a reduction on our behalf and official court dates. Prayers that God would bless us in this language and as we seek to reach out to the deaf he places in our path! So thrilled to be apart of all he is doing here!


Hugs,
Brice and Jess.

 As we wait...albeit not always patiently we are pressing forward! Our current status hasn't changed much as we await more information. Our dossier has been translated and is in the hands of the government in the Dominican Republic awaiting approval. Our prayer, please join us, is that we would be approved rather quickly and still be able to travel this Nov. However; the way things are currently going in the Dominican Republic with the massive deportations (if you listen to K-Love then I know you have heard about it!) things are going slower than they apparently normally would so please keep us as well as this child in your prayers!


September is our Fundraiser MONTH! We have a motorcycle ride on September 5th and then an incredibly exciting Both Hands Project Sept 19th where we have to chance to serve a widow while also helping raise funds for our Adoption! I have NEVER been so thrilled about a project! If you would be willing to send out letters and join us on this project please just email me! My email is jesspruyn@gmail.com
 Thanks to a grant from Lifesong up to $3000 will be matched making it possible for us to raise more than $6000 to help with the remaining $20,000 of our total $40,000 adoption! Please consider how you can help by either joining the project or donating: http://www.bothhands.org/project/pruyn-5390


Watch the video here: vimeo.com/49870537   Consider joining our team contact me and help this sweet widow!




We are blessed to be one of the 5/5/5 families this month! Please consider donating! This is a wonderful organization that helps bring special needs children into Forever families!http://reecesrainbow.org/category/sponsorafamily/555-family


Or donate via reeces rainbow:
http://reecesrainbow.org/89456/sponsorpruyn


Please share our links with all you know and consider donating your time if not your dime! We truly feel that this child is meant to be ours and we are grateful for all the support we have received thus far, but we have so far to go and SO many details to work out! We are taking this day by day, trusting in faith that God opened this door and we are just walking His road...


Please take a moment to read through our information and share with your friends! If you have any questions feel free to join our email list at: ourdeafadoption@gmail.com


Facebook Ourdeafadoption page as well as our blog ourdeaflife.BlogSpot.com


Jess

Adoption update

We are blessed to currently have our dossier in country being translated,  our i800 approved, and waiting on more recent paperwork for a few things. We have also been recently approved for a both hands project as we seek to raise the remaining $21,786.16 needed to bring our boy home! Keep you eyes open as we will be in touch about our both hands project!  Thank you!

Jessie

Exhausted and Pressing On!

 It's amazing how much God just really reaches down to let us know He is still in control. The last few weeks have been nothing short of brutal. Fundraising, Planning, preparing to rent out our home, try to get some things packed, and research options for once we are there! I like to plan and for such a long commitment it is nothing short of excruciating to try and get everything together.


 Called insurance and discussed rental insurance, as well as reducing driving insurance on the cars while we are gone. Trying to figure out what to do with our pets, where Brianna and I will stay if we have to return early, making sure all our things are put away and only things left for renters, hosting a Yard Sale to raise money for our adoption as well as filling our grants and trusting that God is gonna supply the money!


On the upside I have been blessed to volunteer at CSS again this year with Brianna and looking into so many adopted children who have finally found their forever home I cannot help but press onward. Brice and I took a long step back last weekend and prayerfully sought God on what we were to do. Knowing that switching countries would allow such a shorter time in country and save us SO much money personally, but then it would mean a delay..backtracking and ultimately not getting the child God so clearly has placed in our paths. We just need a lot of prayers right now as we still haven't seen a picture and while we hope to by the end of the summer. I, Jessie, am just really at a place where I am struggling right now. Todays Bible Study lesson was amazing. Beth Moore referenced Paul and all the hindrances that he experienced that were to help him grow, not telling him to quit. Sometimes in the Adoption process it gets so overwhelming that you feel like just giving up! I have been at that place since last Thursday after our call to the agency, but now comes the real test. Walking by faith not by sight....we press on...trusting God will work this all out together for HIS glory.


Keep us in your prayers as we begin preparing for several more fundraisers in AUG/SEPT. The bulk of our funds are due by SEPT. So prayers are greatly appreciated. Also we just found yet another hurdle that God is gonna have to work through...so please prayers continually!


If you feel like donating we have a matching grant thanks to SIGNS for HOPE!

Trusting

  This is where things get really down to crunch time and all our eggs feel like they are in the same basket! We are scheduled for our UCIS appointment granting us approval to make this child our son! Then we are scheduled to call the agency and discuss more in depth in-country stay/stuff....So scary depending on God to provide what we need through grants or more fundraising as we move forward!


Please if you haven't done so already take a moment to share our story, this blog, our facebook group Our Deaf Adoption. If you have collected a laundry jar then please make arrangements to drop them off with us! We have $3700 due before too much longer along with the needed $20,000 for in-country and $2887.50 due for agencies travel fee.


    Please just pray that God would continue to provide as He has thus far! Pray also as we continue finishing our house and seek the final inspection, we will have to be able to rent it out for several months or take out a loan to cover at home expenses (if we even can). So many details....prayers are greatly appreciated! Pray for SUN SUN SUN so that we can have a successful yard sale next week!


Jessie

Update

This morning as I began my bible study I ran across a verse that really made me stop and think about Adoption. While Paul, Silas, and Timothy might have had a slightly different meaning I can't help but look at 1 Thessalonians 2:8 and think about our boy! "We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives,   because you had become dear to us."
  Praying for our boy this morning and that God is preparing Him as well as us for the difficult journey ahead!

Update: great news on that only a few minor edits needed on our psych eval, we most likely won't have to pay for a repeat visit!

We have sent in several grants and are in process of registering for our required pre- travel training in July!

We also got our UCIS letter they received our application to make this boy our son!  Waiting on biometrics!

Prayers we get a file and info soon!