Pray Specifically!

After a short conversation today with Kim it became very apparent that specific prayers are in order as anything can change her return home with Kaitlyn and Broden from potentially 2 weeks from this coming Wednesday to a return even around Christmas and beyond.  That's right!  In my mind and in my heart I would sure be against that, but I would have to yield and so would all of the family if the Lord allowed it to happen.  However, I began to realize that my prayers are far too general and so I/we would ask you to pray for the following:

(these are in somewhat of a possible chronological order)

~ That the letter from the judge and court in Belgorod will be done accurately and correctly as any mistake will be another day of delay at least.

~ That the Lord will give Kim and Pam Greer, safe car rides from Belgorod to the little village of the kid's birth.  It would appear that they will travel in separate taxi cars to the villages near Odessa that the children were born in. One of the villages is nearer to Odessa than the other and they don't who has which and they won't know who has which until the day they  take off with their translator.  

~ That they will truly be able to get the birth certificates necessary (and any other things that we've not been told about yet!?)  quickly and correctly prepared (spelling, stamps, etc) as any mistake will cause more than one day in delay.  In addition, it would cost another trip by taxi and the cost is not only about $50 each way, but also a cost of the time the taxi driver sits and waits for them (potentially hours).  

~ That there will be no delay in getting the children out of the orphanage, hopefully Wednesday, and off in a taxi to Odessa.  Pray too for safety on a very reckless road.  My driver almost slid into a semi and another car on the way to the airport.  No, it wasn't even bad weather conditions like the ladies will be experiencing now, but he was going at high speed (at one point 160km/hour or 100mph) and began to skid when the semi and car suddenly weren't moving as fast as he anticipated!

~ That the Lord will provide them opportunity to submit for the children's passports the same day that they travel to Odessa.  Also, that it will become more clear what type of passports the children have (apparently there are several kinds) and what is required to get the correct one issued.  In other words, there is a possibility that the present passport would need a different passport issued in between the one that is required for them to travel to Kiev and then to the US!  So, potentially one new one would be issued so that it could then be destroyed or made invalid so that then the one that Kim really needs for them could then be issued!  Yikes and willikers! (2 words that describe quite a bit of angst and frustration :)

~ Praise Item... and now a word of encouragement - the Lord has provided Kim and the kids a place to stay in Odessa that seems very helpful and reasonably priced in order to save some costs.  They'll stay at a Bible Institute that a missionary from our ABWE mission is involved with.  It's north of the city, but it has a kitchenette, little markets and vendors nearby and buses that are good transportation and 40cents a trip.  

~ Pray too that Kim will be able to get to Kiev as quickly as possible from Odessa.  Why do I think this is important, besides the obvious of getting them home sooner?  Essentially anything can be a potential delay.  She has to get to the Adoptions Department of the embassy and get things rolling.  I must say that the interaction we've had with this department of the embassy has been first rate (they actually called us in Belgorod to follow up a call and concern we had, which was a big one and they knew about our situation in detail).  But, the simple matter is that Broden's visa request will be rejected due to HIV and a waiver is needed and that can take time.  It could take another 2 weeks or more!  Again the Embassy adoptions department has been first rate in their desire to expedite and informed us that though they must reject the visa, they will try and do all of it in a day! (ie: passport prep, visa, visa rejection and submitting of waiver) Also, they told us that since they know that HIV is scheduled to come off the waiver requirement list anyway (though it is still not official-bummer!), then they are going to try and FAX the needed documents to the CDC in Washington and their regional CDC office in Moscow in order to try and expedite things and GET THOSE SIGNATURES AND WAIVERS!  My oh My! (another earnest expression meaning roughly "I hope it works").  ;)  Please pray specifically it will even exceed our expectations for speediness. 

~ That the Lord will move in the hearts of authorities and those providing needed documents to work quickly, accurately and thoroughly.  Also, that there will not be anyone going on VACATIONS!  No I'm not against vacations, but pray that vacations would not cause delays for us and that those who would be needed to make this all happen will be available and not away or that their colleagues will also be sufficient to help us.  Pray this from Belgorod to Odessa to Kiev to home!  

~ Lastly, pray for Kim and the kids to be able to be home before Kevin's birthday 12/19 or even earlier than that, say 12/10 (that would be fantastic!)

Finally, I would like to ask you to pray for Kaitlyn as she is experiencing some visible sadness at leaving friends she has known since she was 4 years old and has been mostly quiet and reserved.  Even though it's better to be in a family and none of those kids can stay there forever, it is the only life and "family" they've known.  Brody on the other hand has been "chomping at the bit"!  This kid is visibly ready to go!  Kim's take on his attitude is essentially, "Yeah man!  I'm out a heeeerrreee!".  He tells Kim, "Mama!  I'm Broden!  Broden James Clark!".  Pray too for all of them in these last couple of days.  Their movements and places to interact and play are now more restricted to the rooms they are in (not too big), sometimes the game room  and an entrance hall upstairs (not too big either).  Plus Kim and the kids are there with Pam and their son, plus the Vanderburgs (3 people) and the 3 girls they are adopting.  Close encounters and getting old for all!