Pick Up Trip - Day 1

Pick Up Trip – Day 1

I’m not exactly sure how to even start.  Ever since we’d left Ghana six months ago I’ve been dreading the last 24 hours almost as much as I’ve been looking forward to the last 24 hours.  The thought of making that arduous flight over here with three kids was a fairly discouraging thought.  But that thought was always quickly erased by the thought of us arriving once again at the home to see bright smiling faces and the familiar sound of “Mommy” and “Daddy” by several dozen loving kids.

We left Boise around 10:00am Saturday morning and were met at the airport by Shandi and her dad, Shaun (which I’m very glad he came to see his daughter off since we required a little bit of his redneck engineering on a bag that we were told was ‘too big’ for the flight – nothing a little elbow grease and duct tape can fix!!).  You should have seen some of the looks from the other travelers and United workers when we started the assembly line of exactly-weighed bags from the Suburban to the check-in counter.  Twelve 50-pound bags littered the front of the line as we waited for the nervous old lady behind the counter to check us in, weigh our bags, and issue our tickets.  I’m pretty sure after she was done with us she needed a couple of smoke breaks!!

We went through security surprisingly quick.  It wasn’t until afterwards that I realized that some of that efficiency was surly caused by the security boss looking at us with our pack train of kids in tote and had sympathetic soul. 

While I was sitting in the waiting area for boarding I looked at our tickets to make sure we were sitting somewhat close to one another.  I wanted to make sure that at least Tyson and Brinley were next to Brandie and me for the fact that neither of them have flown before and were both a little apprehensive.  Imagine my surprise when I started checking the tickets – Jason Oswald 13D, Brandie Oswald 12D, Jason Oswald 13D, Shandi Gneiting 12C, Brody Oswald 13A, and Jason Oswald 13D…wait a minute – something’s off here.  Suddenly I was COMPLETELY convinced that the ‘sympathy’ of the TSA agent was more fear of the pack train than sympathy! 

We managed to board our plane and head to Denver from there catch our connecting flight to Chicago for a two-hour layover.  Brandie had talked with our dear friends the Livingstons who live in Chicago and mentioned to them our layover.  We were super thrilled when we landed to receive a text that Monica, Nestine, and Grace were at the airport waiting to see us.  We had a great visit with them for a little bit, but by this time the kids were starting their “I’m hungry” game so I took them all back through security while Brandie and Monica visited.

Out next stop was DC where we again had short one-hour layover.  We were pleasantly surprised when we saw our friend Kristi O’Leary and her kids sitting in the terminal.  Her flight on Delta had been canceled earlier that morning.  She was able to make a couple of changes and found herself on the same flight as us.  We were glad to see them and grateful for the chance to personally thank her for all the help she’s been to Brody on planning his Eagle Project.

As we landed in Accra and got off the plane I couldn’t help but to laugh out loud as I watched Brody, Shandi, Tyson, and Brinley – almost in exact order and time – contort their faces and breathe out an exasperated breath as the first wave of humid African heat slapped them in the face.  You can tell a person about this feeling, but it really doesn’t mean anything until they experience it for themselves.  Brody looked at me and said, “Oh my GOSH!”

We were grateful that all 12 of our bags arrived safely to Ghana and that we had no issues getting through immigration and customs.  We were even more grateful as we turned the last corner to see Pastor John and his army of young men waiting for us with smiling faces and open arms.  What a happy reunion we had with some dear friends.  I was so glad John was there and had taken care to arrange three cars to get us and all of our crap back to Teshie.  It would have been nearly a perfect trip if Kristi’s bags had arrived as safely as ours.  Luckily she’s a seasoned African traveler so the only thing they were really missing was some snacks for the kids.

It was interesting to see the immediate bond between big Richard and Tyson.  We waited outside in front of the airport for Kristi to figure out what was going on with her bags.  As we waited Tyson and Richard sat on the chairs and struck up a great conversation.  As we all went with the boys to try and arrange all the bags into the cars I had a little panic as we couldn’t find Tyson.  He’s our adventurous one so I was sure he’d walked over to check something out and we’d walked off without him.  Not so, I turned to see him and Richard walking across the street hand in hand.  Richard was guarding him like a hawk.  After we loaded all the cars we made seating arrangements but Tyson had already walked off with the boys.  He was going with them.  He – by himself – jumped into the third car alone with Richard, Job, and Marvin.  I was more than a little shocked.  Here we are in a new country around new people he had never met other than through a computer screen and yet he was immediately adopted as ‘little brother’.

We checked into our hotel and started the walk to the home to see the children.  I had thought through this moment a thousand times over the last couple of weeks.  Who would be the first one through the gate and who would be waiting?  How would the ‘white kids’ react to what they were seeing and the onrush of swarming children?  Would my timid Brinley freak out and hide?  Would all of the younger kids tackle the ever-kid-famous Brody to the ground and wrestle with him?  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect – I had my thoughts how it would play out, but just didn’t know.  I was almost giddy with anticipation for these new siblings to finally be able to see into the eyes of each other and reach the long awaited pinnacle of their nearly two years of waiting, praying, and hoping.

As we made our way around the final corner I was so tickled to see two of the older boys standing on the second story balcony.  They were like well-trained hawks looking for prey.  When they saw us make our way around the corner they started yelling to notify the troops of our arrival.  So much for making a sneak attack!  Brandie and Brinley took off running for the gate to hid in wait for the first kids through the gate.  I was trailing in the back – trying to wrestle with my bag that was NOT wanting to give me my camera…in the end I won, but not without the sacrifice of seeing Brandie and Brinley engulfed in the crowd.  I wish I had been able to catch that on film.  I made it though the gate just in time to see Brinley run toward Agbesi and scoop him off the ground in a great big bear hug.  I spun around to see Tyson hugging Mighty and Brody being lovingly groped by several of the other little kids.  My heart nearly jumped through my throat as I witnessed yet another reason why the Savior has commanded us to be like little children…unconditional love.

Brinley and Mighty were instantaneously joined at the hip…giggling, holding hands, chasing each other around the courtyard, and sharing Brin’s iPod to see pictures she’d taken and listen to her music.  Tyson, with his ‘not scared’ attitude was an instant hit.  He took off playing and making friends with all the boys.  At one point of the afternoon I turned around to see just him and Peter sitting under the tree talking quietly about something – the jump up and chase each other around giggling.  My heart swelled with emotion as I watched these three kids (B, B, and T) immerse themselves in the moment.  No judgment, no fear, no pre-conceived ideas – just jump in and start loving.  Honestly, I’ve never been more proud as a father than for the couple hours watching these kids just be kids and love other kids.  I was taught sermon after sermon as I sat and watched the closest glimpse of heaven I’ve ever seen personally.

At one point Agbesi brought me a neatly folded note.  I asked him if he’d written it for me – he said, “No, Peter did.”  I opened the note to the opening, “Daddy Jason, I love you.  I’m glad you came back.”  All of the same feelings and love I’d had for this special boy on the first trip came charging back to me.  I folded the letter up and safely placed it in my pocket.  I looked over my shoulder to see Peter sheepishly looking at the ground and then at me from the corner of his eye.  As I smiled he came running over.  My next mission in life is to find this sweet boy a home!!  He only wants a family and fully deserves one.

At the start of the day I had in my mind that Brody would be the biggest hit at the home.  He’s always been a favorite of little kids and has no problems getting down on their level to play with them.  It’s one of the things I admire most about him – that even though he’s now a big ‘tough’ teenager – he hasn’t lost his love for making kids smile.  After the first day I was completely wrong.  Brody was more of the wall flower – I think because he didn’t sleep much on the flight since his daddy-long-legs were jammed into the back of the guy in front of him the whole flight!  It was Brin and Tyson who were the most involved.  I was shocked at Brin as she walked from kid to kid asking their name and wanting to learn something about them. 

As the kids played I found myself thinking about a different thought than I ever have before.  I thought about how difficult for Mighty and Agbesi it will be to leave these friends.  I thought about some of the new kids in the home who still don’t understand English and walk around with a lost look in their eyes.  I’m sure trying to still reconcile in their minds, why?  Why they’re in this place and not with their familiar family.

Next, we had to get something to eat.  I couldn’t wait for this!  I was finally going to have a little bit of morbid fun watching some of the kids with the new cuisine…but no, of course, 7 of the 9 people of the tame ordered “chicken and fried rice” – the safe ‘scaredy-cat route”.  Richard and I ordered banku with tilapia.  Oh my, was it tasty!  Tyson was sitting next to his new favorite friend Richard and in usual Tyson form was peppering poor Richard with a litany of rapid-fire questions.  Do you eat the bones?  What about pepe – is it really hot?  Do you like it?  Does it burn?  Do you even eat the eyeballs?  What is that water in the bowl for?  Honestly, despite giggling a little – I really did feel bad for Richard…but he took it all in stride.

At the end of the meal I had eaten to nearly overflowing.  All that remained on my plate was the fish head and bones.  Tyson kept asking – Dad, you gonna eat the eye? – to which I kept answering – No.  I finally said, “Why don’t you eat it Tyson?”  Imagine my shock when he said, “OK, I’ll try it.”  WHAT??  This is the kid that I can’t get to eat mushrooms or onions and he’s going to eat a flipping fish eyeball?  No way…I couldn’t believe it…but I wasn’t about to be the one to deflate his ego, so I dug out the eye and handed it to him.  I will never, EVER forget the look on his face as he chewed up the slimy little sucker and worked like a rented mule to coax it down his throat.  In the end, the little turkey ate it and I’ll forever have something to replay and have a good giggle.  I call that a win-win!

I almost forgot - we experienced our first blackout as we were on our way to the resturant.  It’s one of the most eerie feelings in the world to be in complete darkness in a busy metro area.

I have so, so much more I could write about.  I sit here and can almost play step by step the day through my mind.  So many neat things happened, so many prayers of gratitude flowed through my mind, and in the end – it was another amazing day in this journey that our Father in heaven has chosen us for.  However, since it’s exactly 4:09am (I’ve been typing and pondering for over an hour) and I can feel the onset of carpal tunnel setting in – I’m going to call it a night…wait, morning….whatever!  All in all – we arrived safely, had no major injuries, and no emotional meltdowns (until just before bed) so I’m chalking it up to a good day.

Oh, and by the way – I’m usually never at a lack of words when typing…but as I sit here in the dimly lit room (boys only – the girls are in the next room) I can not conjure up the words to describe what I’m thinking, feeling, and seeing as I sit here watching these three boys sleeping next to each other.  God really does have a tender way of sharing His love at the most unexpected times.

Until tomorrow…