Day 6 - DSDW, Friends and Fish

This morning, along with several other western families (from the US, Germany, Norway and who knows where else) we went to the DSDW, which is the Thai goverment office for children.  We passed a couple orphanages on the way to the building that made my heart sink.  The interview at the DSDW was really just a formality.  These cute little Thai grandmas sat across a table from us and quizzed us about our lives and our ability to care for Caleb.  That's another story in itself I'll have to share later.  We waited for-e-ver for paperwork in a not-so-kid-friendly steaming hot hallway with a screaming child that kept wanting to leave and go back to his home.  And that pretty much sums up our day.  A screaming child (with a deafening squeal) continually bringing us our bags, shoes, whatever just to get us to take him back home :(  So tonight I am more drained in every way than I thought possible, but by God's grace there is this little flicker of hope.  The biggest blessing of the day by far was meeting this German couple in the elevator at our hotel this morning, also on their way to the DSDW.  We connected with them and found out they also share the same faith and love for Jesus.  They have been with their hearing impaired son for a week now, so he's more adjusted and the happiest, most tender little guy.  They invited us to walk with them to Bangkok's "central park" (5 min from our hotel).  Caleb allowed me to carry him in the ergo carrier (THANK YOU Lindsy and Jordan - such a great idea!), but again kept trying to leave and go "home".  For us, though, just finding friends here we could talk things through with was priceless and exactly what I needed to help me get a grip and find some encouragement when desperately needed.  We bought some coconut ice cream from a street vendor then fed the fish.  But I'm not quite sure these were normal fish. They were freaky big fish and there were so many of them I think there were more fish that water for them to swim in.  Maybe they were those Asian Carp that are invading Lake Michigan...creepy.  Anyway, that was an experience and Caleb really liked it.  Then we went back to the hotel, endured more screaming and went up to our  new German friends' room to eat dinner together.  Caleb was so exhausted from his traumatic day that he fell asleep no problem and even let Greg hold him!  I don't have an energy to write much more...just sticking to the details of the day is about all I've got right now.  Please keep praying!! Thanks so much!