The blog for some time now has been largely focused on our adoptions...and as it seems to consume all of our brain cells and every spare waking moment...perhaps that is understandable.
But lest you forget that living in another culture brings with it many challenges, and thankfully, many humorous moments...allow us to entertain you with a new discovery we've made.
After living here nearly two years, we've come across several inappropriate English names. Among foreigners who work here, they are the stuff of legend...urban legends some might say... given the preposterous nature of some of them. For years foreigners who have taught English at the Universities have delighted themselves and other native English speakers with their "most outrageous" English names lists.
It is very, very common to meet several girls named "Happy" or "Love" or "Sunny" and of course, "Cherry" during a casual outing to the shopping mall. During our first year I told you about the young man I met, while I was in the stress-filled situation of sitting on the curb, with all our apartment furnishings, late at night, with sweat pooling on the pavement beneath me...his name?.... "Today."
I heard of our teammates who recently had a nice chat with a young man named "Chocolate." They are also developing a strong relationship with a young man who took his English name to a new level, devising it with his own mixture of letters..."Tlanx" Perhaps he would be better served by selecting a symbol to identify himself as did "the artist formerly known as Prince" some years ago, since no one here can determine HOW one is supposed to pronounce "Tlanx."
Our dear friend, the "Dutch Girl" who stayed with us here during our first month of living abroad, who previously taught here for a year, regaled us with some really doozies in her time...
She had students in her English conversation courses named: "Ice Cream" and the anatomically correct, but heinously inappropriate, "Ovary." (These were names given small children by their non-native speaking English teachers.)
The Dutch Girl often went to a local gym here where one of the personal trainers had selected a fine English name for himself..."Peter Pan"...she said that every time she saw him, or thought of it, she would laugh...and then laugh all the more at how funny it was that NO ONE understood WHY it was so funny!
We had a student who came to the school this year, his English name? "Bossy." I tried to delicately explain to his parents and himself that this was not the most flattering name in English...lest he have a serious personality issue...or be a milk-producing cow. With a few alternative suggestions, he chose, "Ethan" as his new and improved English name.
We have wondered through our time here..."where do all these wildly inappropriate English names come from?" Dear friends...we believe we've found it. We feel strongly about this hypothesis by virtue of the fact that the sheer number of misguided names discovered in one day, must prove that we're near the epicenter. Where, you ask?
Papa Johns Pizza.
Occasionally, when the desire for American-tasting food over takes the unsavory elements of heat, traffic, crowds, whining, struggling, and the semblance of sanity...we make the 45 minute trek to Papa John's Pizza. It's sort of an outpost for us...truly, though modified to fit the local market here, the closest thing we have to an American-styled restaurant (save McDonald's.)
And so we found ourselves there, yearning for a little Americana when Magpie (our 10 year old) began to notice the "names" on the wait staff there.
She whispered in my ear, "Momma, did you see her English name?" "No," I replied. "'Fruit,' her NAME on her name tag says, Fruit." We chuckled and reminded ourselves that we've seen some pretty crazy names in our time here.
Then the next server came to our table. His name? "Mars." Out of this world man.
This was starting to get fun.
Next up was "Thinking." Her name, the one that she selected or was given to her by the "American-styled pizza chain's" local manager so that people might see their authenticity as a western operation..."Thinking."
Our dishes were cleared away by another lovely girl. She smiled sweetly at us when she brought us the "to go" box..."Flying" was her handle.
But, heretofore, the worst English name I've seen worn on a name tag to date was saved for last...when a handsome young man named "Lice," received my funds for the entertaining, and delicious experience.
31 May 2010
30 May 2010
Encouraging News
Just a quick post tonight to let you know that we had a very encouraging Friday here.
Friday brought us excellent news from all four of the remaining "hurdles" to bringing the boys home on June 14th! We received verbal and written communication from the four government agencies (Missouri, New Hampshire, Guangzhou, and Beijing) that it appears we are on track to, in a MIRACULOUS fashion, make our June 14th deadline.
We want to make certain that everyone understands that by human reasoning and standards, this situation is impossible. We've been told as much several times. But, we believe in the One who says "all things are possible." He is delighting us with His faithfulness and stretching us beyond our imaginations as we wait on His deliverance for these boys.
On Friday morning, before we'd received any word from the four agencies, the wait had been dragging on and on without any indications of a resolve...early that morning, this passage from Psalms completely summed up where I found myself in my requests of Him:
Psalm 69:13 - But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
Please keep interceding with us...pray for protection and follow-through on all the remaining steps. How glad we will be to post pictures here, in just 15 days' time...of Graham and Silas in our arms!
Friday brought us excellent news from all four of the remaining "hurdles" to bringing the boys home on June 14th! We received verbal and written communication from the four government agencies (Missouri, New Hampshire, Guangzhou, and Beijing) that it appears we are on track to, in a MIRACULOUS fashion, make our June 14th deadline.
We want to make certain that everyone understands that by human reasoning and standards, this situation is impossible. We've been told as much several times. But, we believe in the One who says "all things are possible." He is delighting us with His faithfulness and stretching us beyond our imaginations as we wait on His deliverance for these boys.
On Friday morning, before we'd received any word from the four agencies, the wait had been dragging on and on without any indications of a resolve...early that morning, this passage from Psalms completely summed up where I found myself in my requests of Him:
Psalm 69:13 - But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
Please keep interceding with us...pray for protection and follow-through on all the remaining steps. How glad we will be to post pictures here, in just 15 days' time...of Graham and Silas in our arms!
25 May 2010
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!
...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!
13 May 2010
Movin' On...
Well I'm up in the middle of my night (it's 1:45 am my time) as I just got a call from our agency to say that the first major document for the boys (the one from our host country that I've been talking about) had arrived in their office! For those of you who are adoption folks, I'm referring to the LOA. This is the document that is sent out to CONFIRM that we STILL REALLY WANT TO ADOPT THESE BOYS. (So, not wanting to rush into anything, and concerned that we MIGHT have CHANGED OUR MINDS, our host country send out this precious document to MAKE SURE we're still on board)...this is part of the journey that makes me shake my head in wonder!
The agency called because, due to our rush, they're trying to fed ex and file the next major hurdle document with US Immigration TODAY, and they found they were missing some element of supplementary documentation required to file the application...(It's cool because now we working on getting these boys home during our day (while you're sleeping) and even during our night (when you're all in the office and I SHOULD BE SLEEPING!) Wow, can't wait till it slows down and we have "twin" two year olds at home!!!!!
But, since it was such excellent news...thought I'd delay my return to bed for long enough to tell you that another step on the path to June 14th (our proposed day to receive the boys) has been accomplished!
We give all praise to our Father for his favor.
Now, speedy handling of the next 3 big steps for Immigration paperwork on the US side is our prayer!
He is a miracle worker. (The author can now see beyond that mountain that just a few days ago blocked my sight beyond it.)
Keep praying dear friends!
The agency called because, due to our rush, they're trying to fed ex and file the next major hurdle document with US Immigration TODAY, and they found they were missing some element of supplementary documentation required to file the application...(It's cool because now we working on getting these boys home during our day (while you're sleeping) and even during our night (when you're all in the office and I SHOULD BE SLEEPING!) Wow, can't wait till it slows down and we have "twin" two year olds at home!!!!!
But, since it was such excellent news...thought I'd delay my return to bed for long enough to tell you that another step on the path to June 14th (our proposed day to receive the boys) has been accomplished!
We give all praise to our Father for his favor.
Now, speedy handling of the next 3 big steps for Immigration paperwork on the US side is our prayer!
He is a miracle worker. (The author can now see beyond that mountain that just a few days ago blocked my sight beyond it.)
Keep praying dear friends!
11 May 2010
Amazed
What 24 hours can do...
I stayed up late, late last night to begin reaching our agency and other key players when Monday began in the US. When I started to make my phone calls...things seemed a little "weird"... the answers I was getting about our situation (waiting for our major 1st document from our host country to get the "end game" rolling on the boys' adoptions)...well, they were not satisfying!
There appeared to be a problem with money. Not that we won't have the money eventually, but that our agency wanted money now, to allow us to begin this "end game" of papers. We simply don't have the money to send them. But, remarkably, we were calm and had confidence that He knew this need was here and that He would provide.
There appeared to be a problem with some documents that needed to be sent off today (missing elements, etc.)
There appeared to be a problem with continuing to work with our local guide, and friend here locally (who has been a guide in our province for over 12 years.)
There appeared to be a problem with our scheduling of the trip we MUST take down south to get the boys' visas...it seemed impossible for Daddy to travel with us...so, we were settling into the reality that I would travel with all the kids by myself.
And then there was that pesky problem of the big clock that is counting down...we are wheels up on July 1...to achieve this...we simply MUST have the boys no later than June 14th. That is in five weeks. (Current statistics that I've seen show a minimum of 9 weeks for this process.)
After looking face to face at all these problems, I got down on my knees.
I confessed to Him that what we are facing, ALL the paperwork hurdles, the 4 different government agencies that MUST grant us unmerited FAVOR...that it was a mountain before me that I simply could not see around. We continue to have EVERY faith in Him, that He can move the mountains...but for us...well, at least for your author...the view of at the bottom of the mountain is growing tiresome.
So I asked Him to change my perspective, to see this mountain from His vantage point. Then, in my mind's eye I was looking down on the enormity of our earth and seeing that my "mountain" was indistinguishable from all the other highlights of the topography. I asked Him to help me maintain that perspective...to have His eyes to see it.
This came after a few days of beautiful reminders from the Word about how we should face these matters that require simple "faith," and as a result, offer no crutch of "sight." I read over the weekend again about the story of Jairus' daughter in the book of Luke...that when the servant came to find Jairus and the Master together, traveling to his house to see his sick daughter, that the servant reported that they need not come...that she was already dead. The Master's response? "DO NOT BE AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE."
In the past I've read this as a gentle, kind word to Jairus...because the Master knew that He was going to go to that house and raise that child from the dead. And how incredible was that...as she was dead...dead...now that's a big mountain to overcome.
But THIS TIME, I read it for me as a COMMAND, as a rebuke...DO NOT BE AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE. Each time those fearful thoughts emerged about the time frames/paperwork...I would hear that command again...and that I must make war against those thoughts.
Daddy had been so insightful too when I'd shared some "worry" thoughts over the weekend...he said that he'd been reading about the constant challenges the Master was given, particularly when he healed people and forgave their sins. The Master's response to his critics, "which is more difficult, that I say 'your sins are forgiven' or that I tell you to get up from your mat and walk?" Daddy said that the Master was so amazing, because he did BOTH. And, that just as we had two overriding issues (paperwork timing & money) that the Master was going to provide the remedy for both!
Then this morning, I found myself at a favorite passage I've not read in years..."I am the L*rd, the G*d of all mankind. Is anything to difficult for me?" Jer 32:27.
By the end of this day we had seen "movement" on many major fronts, from the one who is in control:
1) We received word that the host government had issued the 1st crucial documents to start the clock on our "end game" of paperwork just this afternoon! We should have it in our hands to sign within two days. We were at a virtual stand-still until we receive this.
2) We found out that grant money, that we did not expect to arrive for at least two weeks to our agency, MIRACULOUSLY arrived at our agency TODAY (we would have been at a standstill without these funds and the agency was unwilling to release their part of the final papers without some form of payment.) On the very day that we hear that the crucial document is on its way...we have money enough to keep the process moving.
3) We found out that our friend and guide here locally is the VERY PERSON that our agency contracts with to handle everything in our province!
4) We got a hold of the documents we needed to send out today to "be ready" for the flurry of activities next.
5) And as an added, amazing, cherry-on-top blessing from our Father who LOVES to delight His children...at the suggestion of our Principal, we are able to re-arrange our work schedules so that Daddy will travel with all of us for our 6 day trip to the South in the country here to get they boys' visas! We were not even going to ASK for this favor, we assumed it was impossible given our small school. But, just to delight us, He softened the Principal's heart and SHE made the way so that we could be together as a family during those crucial first days with the boys!
All this in one day.
He is doing it...He is making the way...we know Who we have put our faith in and we KNOW that He is able to accomplish all these things (and the new problems that will come tomorrow,) because it is He who "sets the lonely in families."
...that we might decrease and that He might increase...
The only thing we can say is...Praise Him.
I stayed up late, late last night to begin reaching our agency and other key players when Monday began in the US. When I started to make my phone calls...things seemed a little "weird"... the answers I was getting about our situation (waiting for our major 1st document from our host country to get the "end game" rolling on the boys' adoptions)...well, they were not satisfying!
There appeared to be a problem with money. Not that we won't have the money eventually, but that our agency wanted money now, to allow us to begin this "end game" of papers. We simply don't have the money to send them. But, remarkably, we were calm and had confidence that He knew this need was here and that He would provide.
There appeared to be a problem with some documents that needed to be sent off today (missing elements, etc.)
There appeared to be a problem with continuing to work with our local guide, and friend here locally (who has been a guide in our province for over 12 years.)
There appeared to be a problem with our scheduling of the trip we MUST take down south to get the boys' visas...it seemed impossible for Daddy to travel with us...so, we were settling into the reality that I would travel with all the kids by myself.
And then there was that pesky problem of the big clock that is counting down...we are wheels up on July 1...to achieve this...we simply MUST have the boys no later than June 14th. That is in five weeks. (Current statistics that I've seen show a minimum of 9 weeks for this process.)
After looking face to face at all these problems, I got down on my knees.
I confessed to Him that what we are facing, ALL the paperwork hurdles, the 4 different government agencies that MUST grant us unmerited FAVOR...that it was a mountain before me that I simply could not see around. We continue to have EVERY faith in Him, that He can move the mountains...but for us...well, at least for your author...the view of at the bottom of the mountain is growing tiresome.
So I asked Him to change my perspective, to see this mountain from His vantage point. Then, in my mind's eye I was looking down on the enormity of our earth and seeing that my "mountain" was indistinguishable from all the other highlights of the topography. I asked Him to help me maintain that perspective...to have His eyes to see it.
This came after a few days of beautiful reminders from the Word about how we should face these matters that require simple "faith," and as a result, offer no crutch of "sight." I read over the weekend again about the story of Jairus' daughter in the book of Luke...that when the servant came to find Jairus and the Master together, traveling to his house to see his sick daughter, that the servant reported that they need not come...that she was already dead. The Master's response? "DO NOT BE AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE."
In the past I've read this as a gentle, kind word to Jairus...because the Master knew that He was going to go to that house and raise that child from the dead. And how incredible was that...as she was dead...dead...now that's a big mountain to overcome.
But THIS TIME, I read it for me as a COMMAND, as a rebuke...DO NOT BE AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE. Each time those fearful thoughts emerged about the time frames/paperwork...I would hear that command again...and that I must make war against those thoughts.
Daddy had been so insightful too when I'd shared some "worry" thoughts over the weekend...he said that he'd been reading about the constant challenges the Master was given, particularly when he healed people and forgave their sins. The Master's response to his critics, "which is more difficult, that I say 'your sins are forgiven' or that I tell you to get up from your mat and walk?" Daddy said that the Master was so amazing, because he did BOTH. And, that just as we had two overriding issues (paperwork timing & money) that the Master was going to provide the remedy for both!
Then this morning, I found myself at a favorite passage I've not read in years..."I am the L*rd, the G*d of all mankind. Is anything to difficult for me?" Jer 32:27.
By the end of this day we had seen "movement" on many major fronts, from the one who is in control:
1) We received word that the host government had issued the 1st crucial documents to start the clock on our "end game" of paperwork just this afternoon! We should have it in our hands to sign within two days. We were at a virtual stand-still until we receive this.
2) We found out that grant money, that we did not expect to arrive for at least two weeks to our agency, MIRACULOUSLY arrived at our agency TODAY (we would have been at a standstill without these funds and the agency was unwilling to release their part of the final papers without some form of payment.) On the very day that we hear that the crucial document is on its way...we have money enough to keep the process moving.
3) We found out that our friend and guide here locally is the VERY PERSON that our agency contracts with to handle everything in our province!
4) We got a hold of the documents we needed to send out today to "be ready" for the flurry of activities next.
5) And as an added, amazing, cherry-on-top blessing from our Father who LOVES to delight His children...at the suggestion of our Principal, we are able to re-arrange our work schedules so that Daddy will travel with all of us for our 6 day trip to the South in the country here to get they boys' visas! We were not even going to ASK for this favor, we assumed it was impossible given our small school. But, just to delight us, He softened the Principal's heart and SHE made the way so that we could be together as a family during those crucial first days with the boys!
All this in one day.
He is doing it...He is making the way...we know Who we have put our faith in and we KNOW that He is able to accomplish all these things (and the new problems that will come tomorrow,) because it is He who "sets the lonely in families."
...that we might decrease and that He might increase...
The only thing we can say is...Praise Him.
His Heart
08 May 2010
He is Doing It!
So sorry to leave you with the cliffhanger...
Many of you have been emailing me this week saying "what's happening?!"
I can report that, He is doing it!
The last time I posted, we lacked thousands of dollars to complete the adoptions, had lost paperwork, had purchased plane tickets on faith, and were waiting to see what He would do next.
So, in just seven days He has:
1) found paperwork that had been "missing" for over 7 weeks
2) moved one of our crucial 4 big pieces of paper through the US government so that as of this morning we've received an crucial approval for our second son (I-800A)
3) provided thousands of dollars for us via an anonymous donor
4) provided a grant for us from a precious organization
5) reduced the total remaining financial need to under $10,000!
6) given us numerous opportunties to share about Him with many who have never seen Him move like this! (I so hope to share the details of some of these conversations with you when we return for our brief furlough in July-August!)
We are in awe of His mighty, miracle working power on display! He cares for the fatherless...and He is not limited in any capacity on His ability to provide for our every need!
Now we wait for crucial paperwork to arrive from our host country here that begins the final flurry to get the boys' home. (Please pray with us that it will be on our agency's desk on Monday!) We still have 3 more major hurdles with paperworkm with three different government agencies, in three different cities...and, the boys have to be home with us here within five weeks...or there will not be time enough to travel to the South and receive their immigrant visas to the US.
What is impossible for man is possible for God.
He is doing it! Rejoice with us!
Many of you have been emailing me this week saying "what's happening?!"
I can report that, He is doing it!
The last time I posted, we lacked thousands of dollars to complete the adoptions, had lost paperwork, had purchased plane tickets on faith, and were waiting to see what He would do next.
So, in just seven days He has:
1) found paperwork that had been "missing" for over 7 weeks
2) moved one of our crucial 4 big pieces of paper through the US government so that as of this morning we've received an crucial approval for our second son (I-800A)
3) provided thousands of dollars for us via an anonymous donor
4) provided a grant for us from a precious organization
5) reduced the total remaining financial need to under $10,000!
6) given us numerous opportunties to share about Him with many who have never seen Him move like this! (I so hope to share the details of some of these conversations with you when we return for our brief furlough in July-August!)
We are in awe of His mighty, miracle working power on display! He cares for the fatherless...and He is not limited in any capacity on His ability to provide for our every need!
Now we wait for crucial paperwork to arrive from our host country here that begins the final flurry to get the boys' home. (Please pray with us that it will be on our agency's desk on Monday!) We still have 3 more major hurdles with paperworkm with three different government agencies, in three different cities...and, the boys have to be home with us here within five weeks...or there will not be time enough to travel to the South and receive their immigrant visas to the US.
What is impossible for man is possible for God.
He is doing it! Rejoice with us!
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