It’s been a while since I last updated the blog with news from Marlon’s world.  There are a number of reasons, but one of which is that I think God is trying to teach me patience.  This month’s virtue for our Children’s Ministry at Bethlehem Church has been PATIENCE.  Each Sunday in May our children (and adults) have been learning about patience.  It seems that I’ve got some lessons to learn in that area too.

I must confess that I have been getting a little impatient with the process of getting Marlon’s medical/hearing treatment.  I know that he is not their only patient, but I’m ready to run, but at this point we need to focus on walking.  I know that getting hearing aids and adjusting them takes time, but in reality we don’t have much time!  Marlon has a one-time entry visa to the U.S. and he’s scheduled to go back to Honduras with me on June 9th (3 weeks from today).

My biggest concern right now is getting him another visa so he can return to continue this journey.  So those of you who read this blog and believe in the power of prayer please pray that the U.S. government and the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras with give him an extended multiple entry visa.  Also pray that his mother will be agreeable to that as well.  Even though he has lived in an orphanage since he was 3 years old, his mother still has “parental” rights.

Back to the story of his hearing.  We are  now waiting on the hearing aid company to send the hearing aids.  They are trying to determine the best model for him and we also need to pick out things the color of his aids.  It’s my understanding that those decisions were going to be made today and that we would get the aids very soon.  The other thing is the nasal surgery and possible removal of his tonsils and adenoids.  June 3rd is the date scheduled for that procedure.  I’ll keep everyone posted on that as we get closer.

On the home front, he has adjusted to life in NC extremely well.  At times I wonder what’s going through is mind.  I don’t know what I’d be thinking if I were him.  He is a good kid and gets along well with our children.  There have been a few “sibling rivalries,” but for the most part he is doing much better than I ever expected.

He has become very close to me and likes to sit beside me when I’m working and sit on my belly if I’m laying on the couch.  He loves my affirmation and approval.  At times I feel like I’ve got  a new puppy!  He follows me everywhere and even hung his head out of the car window last week.  I would have been concerned if his tongue was hanging from his mouth!  I think he just wants a Daddy!

He loves playing video games, soccer, coloring and can even be seen brushing the hair of Mariah’s baby dolls. As you can see from the picture above that he’s like most kids . . . he can’t get enough silly bands!  He’s very competitive and loves to come in and tell me how many goals he scored against David in backyard soccer.  Yet on the other hand, he wants to cry and moan when David and Daniel beat him in video games.  We still have some things we’re working on with him, but in the end I’m glad God had our paths cross.  I know God has something special for this kid!