It Takes on a Whole New Meaning When Your Kids are There (El Salvador’s Flooding Disaster, November 9, 2009)
Posted by KimNov 9
I tuned into BBC News this evening, since I figured I could catch up on world news while finishing up some mindless work I needed to do. And there it was – video of flooding in El Salvador. We see it all the time: drought in Ethiopia, typhoons in Indonesia. It’s easy to become numb to the natural and human-inflicted disasters of our world. Till something becomes personal for some reason.
And for me the name ”El Salvador” catches my attention. Because we have two kids there. We don’t know who they are yet. They don’ t know we’re coming.
Scores killed in El Salvador storm aftermath – 09 Nov 09 (YouTube News Video)
Were their parents among the dozens killed by the rushing waters and mud? Is that how we’re going to be united? Or are they already orphans, with no Mamá or Papá to cuddle them and tell them they’re safe, even as President Funes declares a national disaster?
I wish I could claim that my heart was broken for the victims of every conflict or disaster about which I hear. Maybe someday I’ll get there. No doubt nights like tonight are the start.
“Lord, keep the children safe – mine and all the others.”
Buenas noches, hijos míos. Dios esté con ustedes. ¡Ya voy!
3 comments
Comment by Aimee on November 12, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Hello!
I am very excited to find your blog! We have just started the adoption process for El Salvador. My daughter (soon to be 3yo) was born in Guatemala, but is Salvadoran. We brought her home in 2008.
I would love to know which agency you are with and how long you expect to wait. I know the process is very long and complicated. Just nice to find someone else going through it.
Comment by Kim on November 13, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Hi Aimee,
Glad to meet you! We’ve been in process for a little over a year (with Kentucky Adoption Services), and I’ve kind of set my expectations that it’ll be 2 more before we complete. It seems like that’s about normal for E.S.
Nothing like the pace we had in Guatemala – came home with the twins just over 8 months after our dossier arrived!
But since we do want to be able to take our kids back to their birth countries, and our boys were from a region near the E.S. border, it’s right where we’re supposed to be.
Pingback by El Salvador Service Trip :American Mamacita on December 24, 2009 at 7:01 am
[...] Yes, we’ll all be going when our adoption finalizes. But in the meantime, I’m also heading there this winter to help out with whatever I can in the wake of the storms that hit this Fall. [...]