The Antidote

Christmas 2014

Dear Esneider,

I think you are so brave to come to a new country, with a new language and new family.  I can’t wait until you learn English even better so that we can fully know what you are thinking.  I can tell that you are a creative, imaginative, passionate person.  It still seems like a dream to have you with us.  We prayed and planned and wanted you for so long and now you are finally here, sharing our lives with us!

I can see already that you are going to become a noble man, working to please God in the same way you try so hard with us.  We are so glad to have you as part of our family.  Things may be a little different than you expected, but we can tell you this:  Matthew will be a good friend for you.  He is loyal, imaginative and noble.  You are very different from him in some ways, but that can be an asset on any team.  Our family is like a team that works together and encourages each other to be his best. 

Older sisters aren’t always home, but when they are, they can be a lot of fun!  Mom and Dad wish we could just have fun and  play more often, but God has given us the very important job of teaching you the lessons that He wants you to learn.  We will always try to do what God says in the Bible because we are ultimately accountable to him.  He loves you as we do.  He gives us families to show us a picture of his love for us.  When we learn to love and obey in a family, we can better love and obey God our father when we become adults.  We are so thankful for you.  I hope that you will soon know how much we love you and that you can trust us to do what is best for you.  We will continue to ask God to help us in parenting you. We thank God for bringing you into our family.  We are so proud of you and how well you are doing.   I love you, Mom

(translated for him by older sister and Google.  Wanted to make sure this one was accurate.)