Saturday Post -- 25/06/16

"We've got this."

"We're going it alone. We don't need your help. We spend too much money on you anyway. We want our independence back."

Such will, possibly, be my parting words on Tuesday morning to Amanda (you didn't think I was talking about something else, did you?) as Sam and I set off on something of an adventure.

Back in April, you may remember, Mother was very much left holding the baby as Father set off for a Stateside family wedding (though reinforcements were on their way). This time, the shoe is on the other foot, with the key difference that his lordship will also be travelling.

Those who have visited us here before will be aware that the timing of internal flights is not always ideal; overnight stays in one of the hub cities here are often called for. Such was the case for my Mum, who despite being due to arrive in Santa Cruz at around 8am this coming Wednesday, would be running it far too close for the day's only Trinidad flight (you don't exactly sail through customs and immigration here). And so it was incumbent upon one of us to go and meet her there, with a view to taking the Thursday morning flight back to Trinidad.

But a day in Santa Cruz, we realised, meant 24 hours less with her new grandson. "But it doesn't have to!," I reasoned. A few taps of the keyboard and clicks of the mouse later, I'd bought two airline seats to Santa Cruz, Sam's costing a mere £4 (considerably more now, of course!). What could possibly go wrong?

We have, of course, driven to Santa Cruz with Sam in the past, but any travel that involves a departure terminal is potentially problematic, as child services have offices there to ensure that no young person is being transported against their will. With that in mind, we got in touch with our lawyer over the past week to check that our documentation was in place; we are fine, though the court issued us with an updated version of the foster care ruling issued in December.

Back when I booked the flights, it all seemed considerably simpler. "He's such an easy baby," I reasoned to myself, "so wedded to his routines, and anyway, I'll have an extra pair of hands once Mum arrives." All true then; not so much now. Sam's last minor bout with illness appears increasingly to have been something of a Rubicon. Now that the snot has dried, a toddler has emerged from the pile of used tissues. This is evidenced by a propensity to unleash his lion impersonation at any given moment, to view being laid down in his crib as an invitation to use its bars to immediately propel himself to his feet again, and (making its debut this week) to give vent to righteous indignation upon his servants taking leave of him.

Also known as 'bedtime'.

Whatever happens, it promises to be an adventure and a half (oh, and we don't even know yet if he likes flying). But whether playing hide-and-seek, performing amateur acrobatics, or sitting together in the driver's seat (take that, Brussels!), Sam and I enjoy few things more than the pleasure of each other's company, so the boys will make it work, Mum. And, above all, it will surely be worth it for Grandma.

Prayer

• Pray for Craig and Sam as they travel this week.
• Keep praying for the adoption, and a prompt resolution.
• Pray for the implications of the referendum. In the long-run, this heterogenous family unit may now be facing even more complications when it comes to travelling back to the UK (Amanda previously lived and worked there sans-visa, on her Irish passport). More immediately, a big chunk of Fundación Totaí's support comes to us in sterling, and we all know what's happened there. By the way, if you live in the UK and are interested in supporting the work of FT, you'll find more information here. 

Praise

• Amanda has had a minor dose of sickness -- possibly food-poisoning -- over the last couple of days, but is gradually getting her strength back.
• The missions conference last week was very well executed, and well attended by our own church. It was fascinating, from an outsider's perspective, to understand the role of animistic thought in forming the worldview and behaviour of so many supposedly urbane Trinitarios (a few weeks ago, Amanda went out to get salt at night, for example, and was refused at several different shops; we learned that it is considered bad luck here!). The big take-away was how important one's worldview is in shaping one's whole identity; pray that these lessons would be helpful to us as a church.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda