Believing

...Believing...

...that is the theme of our every waking hour now...and in Truth, this is how we are to ALWAYS live, moment by moment...in Faith

Several of you have written to us asking..."What's the paperwork update?"...

Just over a week ago, we began some in depth conversations with the crucial "paper departments" of our government.  We notified them about our situation, that we have these two boys, on the other side of town, who we've been tirelessly pursuing for eight months...that we have visas (to live and work here) that expire on June 18th and we have a mandatory trip out of the country at the end of next month.  We have largely met with a cold shoulder.  (It is crucial to say here that our point of contact person in this certain government agency has been supportive and done all that they could to forward our cause.)  But from the "supervisors" the "decision makers"...a cold shoulder.

Our "paperwork angel" at this point in the journey (reference above) was able to uncover a potentially devastating error on the part of the office that received our immigration applications for the boys.  Our paperwork angel, through activism, found out that apparently the submittal of TWO documents for TWO different boys had caused an error in the "system" that processes these documents first.   The system was looking for additional payments (although we have PAID every fee, fully, through that very office!)  It took THREE PRECIOUS working days for our paperwork angel to CONVINCE the office handling the applications, that there was in fact NO ERROR, and to process the documents as they were submitted.  In total, our file spent seven working days in this department!

These errors and delays have been the underlying issues throughout this whole process.

As of today, we expect these precious documents to be on their way (finally) to the processing office in Missouri (this is after the mail was "opened" in Texas and the "problem" with two applications came to light.)  Then, according to our paperwork angel, once it reaches Missouri it takes "several days" to go through various offices for different clerical functions, before it can be finalized and we can receive the crucial "provisional approval" for both boys' immigration.

Then they must be, the actual paper documents, sent on to New Hampshire, so that they can be SCANNED and sent electronically to the US Consulate that handles adoptions in Guangzhou.

Before we can receive the final paperwork necessary to "pick up our boys," from our host government here, we must have yet ANOTHER document produced from the Consulate in Guangzhou.

Typically, this process should take another 4-6 weeks.

We have 21 working days...actually 20...due to Memorial Day.

We are thrilled to report that we have received a WARM response and offer of aid from our congressman Rick Larsen's office!  I just spoke with the compassionate and helpful staffers in his office who will now be contacting the various offices we need help with to make inquiries of our case.  Our belief is that they will help us prevail on our request to have the relevant "pieces of paper" from Missouri and New Hampshire to be sent ELECTRONICALLY to us, instead of via USPS. 

The realities of it all are very daunting in the "humanly possible" realm.  But, we have great peace in knowing WHO we have entrusted with this matter.  We have known all along these adoptions were His work, and He has shown us countless miracles already...we are quietly believing that we are all soon to see more.

Please join with us as we press in closer to Him during this time, awaiting His move.  In order to make our plane with the boys, we must receive them in our arms on June 14th.  We are thanking Him, in faith, that He will take care of every last detail.

We are claiming these promises during this time:

"Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"  John 11:40

And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way."  Isaiah 57:14

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.   2 Corinth 9:8

God sets the lonely in families.  Psalm 68:6 (emphasis mine)

No one who's hope is in you will ever be put to shame.  Psalm 25:3a

This is a significant week, every working day matters of the next 20.  Thank you to each of you willing to intercede for us...we are waiting in joyful expectation!  Thank Him with us!