*SIGH* Little by little

Yesterday morning we found out that our paperwork had not moved in 3 months. Some local friends made calls on our behalf and by the end of the day we got confirmation from two different source that the paperwork had moved. My reaction was "I'll believe it when I see it."

So today, Josh and local friend went to find the paperwork because if it had indeed moved, then he needed to provide information about us. Today at lunch Josh told me that in fact, the paperwork had NOT moved, BUT they found out exactly WHO had it and WHERE her office was. So Josh and friend went to see what her problem was. She simply said that "it takes time." Josh asked if it was because she wanted money but it wasn't. The friend seems to think she has a problem with us because we are Americans. The friend knew her immediate supervisor and he said there was no reason for her to sit on it but that he couldn't make her sign it because he couldn't influence her or something to that effect.

Soooooooooo, we went back to the embassy and gathered with our local friends with connections (minus one who is returning to town tonight). One friend knows a judge and will call him Monday and have the judge call this woman and try to pressure her to move already!

The out of town friend has knows a top guy who I have met with before. The best way to describe his role here would be like the Condie Rice of the US. He was pretty understanding of things when I met with him about a month ago so I'm hopeful about what he can do. I'll meet with the out of town friend on Monday and see if we can get in to see him.

Josh will be out of town 1/2 of the week so yet another friend will escort me to these offices to figure out what they want us to do. UGH! UGH! UGH!

As if that isn't enough I got a call from the health clinic. My lab results were back from a test I did earlier this week. The diagnosis? E coli - - - AGAIN! I got it when we first got here. I have no idea where I got it from. I don't feel too badly. I'm already on antibiotics and the test showed that the virus is reactive to it so I'll be ok. I go back Monday to confirm the antibiotics have worked.

THEN, I kept waiting for Andrew to come home. He never came. I thought his bus was running late. The school finally called me to tell me that all the kids in his class missed the bus. They said the next bus would run in 40 minutes. I needed to be somewhere so I told them I would come get them. I loaded up the girls, drove to the school, unloaded the girls, got through security (which is a pain b/c of the stroller) and when I got to the office they said they sent him on the bus anyway! So, I headed to the house but traffic was horrible! When I got to the house I realized there was no way I could tell if the bus had been by or not. None of my friends lived close by so calling them was not an option. I got upset thinking about how Andrew would have felt if he came home and couldn't get in. I called Josh and he said to stay put in case the bus came and he would go to the school to see if Andrew ended up back there. Meanwhile Leila's sleeping and Leah is screaming her head off. Josh called about 30 minutes later saying he was almost at the school but the principal had called to say Andrew was there.

We agreed to meet at a the American club for dinner. Josh said that when he arrived they implied at first that I simply wasn't home. Josh clarified that I had told them I was coming and it turned out about 4 people were trying to work out the entire mishap but were not communicating with each other. They then fell over themselves apologizing, etc. Andrew was fine. I was too once I realized that he was fine.

I finished off the day with a brownie with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup. :)

Oh and last night a dear friend showed up at my house with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. She said that she had heard that I was having a rough day. It was so sweet. Here is a picture:

We'll pick up on Monday and keep trying! Prayers are appreciated!
--Rachel