The Reality of it all...

Dear Friends and Family,

I just spent time on the phone with Kim and it was a really hard day for her.  The reality of it all is that there are no guarantees and every time we gain one thing, there is yet another which delays progress.  The documents in question did arrive, but the medical staff informed her that a special test that is necessary won't be in till next Tuesday, at the earliest!  This test is needed before they can do her interview and it can't be performed until they have enough of other patient's blood tests to warrant doing them all at the same time.  It reminds me of the time in Czech when we were waiting on Fed Ex in Prague to bring us plane tickets and they told us on the phone that we can't bring it to you overnight until we have enough packages to justify a driver!  We drove to Prague and got the tickets on the way to the airport.  Nothing like that is even possible here.  

That's bad enough, but then there is the waiver and the possibilities of any number of barriers.  There are no guarantees.  We need prayer like never before.  The children don't understand and they are getting both bored and difficult because of it.  Kim is trying hard to explain, but there is simply not much she can say since she doesn't have answers.  She had to get firm with them yesterday because she understood enough to know that they were talking rudely and badly to one another and they both turned inward.  Kaitlyn ignored Kim's repeated tries to talk further.  Broden cried and wanted to talk but couldn't.  Perhaps Kim didn't understand what was really happening or perhaps they just are very immature in how they handle discipline.  She's going to seek the help of someone who can translate tonight or on the weekend to try and iron it out.  

Please pray for a breakthrough and for the Lord to give to Kim the ability to handle the emotions of it all.  She's very discouraged and struggling with the delays, struggling with wanting to come home and the waiting, the fears and the potential longer time of being there.  Please pray for a breakthrough!    Pray for me too according to these things.  I'm very discouraged about it, though trying to stay focused.  Pray that the testing of our faith will produce endurance and pray for the Lord to move in the hearts of those who can help us.  Pray for the Lord to be glorified in it all.  In spite of whatever we struggle with we are still called to honor and glorify Him and so no amount of complaining will be helpful or wise, so I'm determined to set myself to praying more constantly and earnestly, even though in all honesty I constantly struggle with wanting to get angry at the system or complain about the situation.  Pray too for my kids here who are anxious and struggling as well.  That the Lord's grace and mercy will be given abundantly to all of us to stand up under the weight of waiting. That's all I can say for now, I have to get to work and other things on behalf of her and the family, but I want to say thank you for caring and praying.   I pray the Lord will give to you wisdom and the ability to honor and glorify Him in all your situations and relationships on this day.