Arriving on Saturday!

Dear Family and Friends,

Kim took advantage of the free Vonage line at the Carter's home and an 800 number and called our travel agent (whose office is in Ohio).  His office was open... I was still asleep!  He has arranged flights for them on Saturday and they will arrive to LAX at 8:34PM (Lufthansa through Munich to Charlotte, US Airways to LAX). In Charlotte, NC they will go through customs and become US citizens.  Kim was born in North Carolina, though she doesn't remember it.   

Customs can take 2 hours.   She has 2 1/2 hours to get through customs.  Pray that customs will get them through quickly.  If customs doesn't get them through then they (airline or customs?) are required to put them up in a hotel for free and send them on the next day's flight.  Thank you for all your prayers on behalf of our family and for those who have and will be providing us meals.  It has been a great help to me.

On Thursday morning, the kids and I had a time of prayer and in the word together.  We now call it Table Talk Time, though it was around the couches in the family room.  We looked at 2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God has not given you a spirit of timidity, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  This verse was suitable to the uncertainty of the moment as we were completely expecting Kim, Kaitlyn and Brody to be there through the holidays.  We prayed together for them and endurance for all and that the Lord would bring them home as  soon as possible.  

Kim was working on a new place for them to stay.  I was working and studying, helping the kids in their studies, as well as, trying to find flights for Tiffany, contacting Congressmen and Senators, and following leads on places for Kim to stay as well.  Tiffany was preparing to leave on the 20th after finals to be with them in Kiev.  Kevin, Jason, Kelly and I were preparing ourselves for the separation during Christmas and we were discussing that.  Of course the Lord had another plan and we are so grateful to Him for showing us in this way that He is our Jehovah-jireh (Our Provider).  Our facilitator in Kiev thought it was an amazing miracle too.  She's never seen it happen.  No one could have orchestrated it in this way and to have the embassy and the DHS and CDC be willing to do it all by email just now  is truly a miracle in our minds (it was a 3 day turnaround!) .