Learning about Pereira

The last couple of days we have been learning as much as we can about the region we'll traveling to in Colombia. I love the fact that orchids and lots of other flowers are found there. We've also read that there are many natural springs you can visit. The city is in the Andes mountains and has a tropical climate - very exciting! Another CHI family traveled to this area earlier this year, so we have been scouring their site for info. We were able to get pictures of the places they stayed and the places they visited. It's good to know that there is a zoo, parks, lots of pools & springs and a coffee plantation. They also said that the architecture is just as unique and beautiful as the landscape. I'm afraid I won't want to leave once we get down there, I cannot wait to see all of the beautiful flowers that we don't really have here.

I'm much more at ease knowing that we will not have to stay in the hotel the entire time we are in Colombia. We can take our children out and get pictures of their native country. What a relief and blessing. We will probably be staying in Bogata the last few days of trip (while things are finalized in the courts, etc.) We are really hoping that we get to spend some time with our friends from church who traveling to Bogata to meet their children. I'm really hoping and praying that we have a few days for our children to get to know each other a little.

Tonight was a real treat. We got to have a video call with some of our friends who left last week to get their children. We just talked to them last Sunday, but so much has happened since then that it seems like it's been a month. In the last week they have flown to a different country, met their children for the first time and are learning all about their new family. While we here, have learned about a regional assignment (that is a really BIG deal!) They are staying about 100 miles North of where we will be. They said they went 45 miles or so South today to a water park and that the sun was really intense - don't forget sunscreen. I know I need to take some, but think it's funny that I'll be taking it for me, not the children. I'm sure the children will be just fine without it :)

Picture of us and the Bonds, who just traveled earlier this week to meet their children.