THE CLARK CONNECTION...

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Wildomar, California, United States
We are Rob and Kim Clark. We have been married 25 years and have 4 great kids! We have been in ministry just about all of our married lives and have spent 15 years serving the Lord Jesus Christ in the beautiful country of Czech Republic. Now we are in California.

Friday, December 5, 2008

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.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Embassy Interview Friday?

Dear Family and Friends,
The battle continues and we appreciate you for your prayers.  Kim communicated today with us the following: "I finally connected with the doctor tonight. She had not gotten the English version before leaving work. Marina says that Natasha (adoption lawyer) sent it so possibly no one gave it to the doctor. I will call the doctor in the morning to see if it is there. If not, Natasha will fax it again. The original will arrive on the 9:30am train. ... Anyway, tomorrow will be a race to get to the embassy before they close. Traffic is unreal in the city and it will be Fri which is always worse."
Getting to the embassy in time is related to having time to do their interview for passport and visa.  Following that Broden's visa will be rejected.  If she doesn't make it on Friday, then they have to wait till Monday.  The waiver can't be sent to the 2 US agencies for their approval until this interview and subsequent rejection has taken place.  These interviews only happen on a weekday. The embassy is saying at least 2 weeks after the interview before approval. Please pray that they will be able to have it on Friday, which is 10 hours ahead of us here in California.  
Here in California I've been trying  to obtain contact information for the CIS, CDC and a county HIV program that we need to enroll Broden in.  It was not going well.  Then I came across something that just seemed obscure, but possibly what I needed.  I called and it turned out to be a State Department Adoption Hotline, though it sure didn't seem like that's what I'd found.  Well, it was "INFORMATION JACKPOT".  They provided me with everything I needed and then some.  I was off and running. I contacted this county HIV assistance program, Inland HIV/AIDS Project, and they were very helpful.  They provided me with a letter over the internet in 15 minutes stating they were willing and prepared to enroll  Broden into their assistance and support program as soon as he arrives to the US. Then I contacted the CIS and they have an over the phone Service Request center for asking for an expediting of our case.  Their system was down, but I'll be calling them Friday morning.  The CDC number that I called didn't seem to be what I was looking for, but I learned some things about their role as "Review Only" and that CIS is the final approval.  Then I contacted our State Representative Darrell Issa.  I was looking to ask for his help and influence in requesting the expediting of an approval for our medical waiver.  I wrote a letter with detailed information of the situation and our request for his help and action on behalf of our son/family.  I'll be driving that to his office tomorrow.  All in all it was an interesting day.  
Meanwhile Kim and the kids are enjoying time with the Carters and their children (when they aren't running around town).  They have biological children as well as 2 adopted Ukrainian children (Ashlee and Ethan - both 10, not twins). Ashlee likes to tell blonde jokes :).   Kaitlyn and Broden are enjoying their time with these kids.  For us it is a bonus to our prayers,  because having others to play with takes their mind off the other activities and the waiting.  They are getting to see first hand some other kids that were adopted and the result.  I'm praying it is influential on them as a glimpse of how things will be for them.  Kim asks prayer for the following: "It is late and I need some sleep. I'm getting pretty sick so I need to rest. It is good that the weekend is here.  I won't have to go running around. Pray that I can be an encouragement to Lisa (Carter) and any others while I am here."
Praise the Lord that Pam Greer and her new son Justin will fly to LAX arriving around midnight on Friday. Congratulations to the Greer family (Kevin, Pam, Garrett and Morgan) on their new son and brother ~ ~ Justin!.

Hardest Day Yet...

Dear Family and Friends,
We continue to be very grateful for your prayers and encouraging messages.  It seems there is a large supply of obstacles that just keep extending this process.  My constant prayer has been that the Lord will sustain Kim and give her wisdom (Proverbs 9:10; James 1:5) and the ability to stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-12) and take all thoughts, fears and anxieties to the Lord. (Philippians 4:4-9; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

After the wonderful news of receiving the passports and getting the addendums submitted on Tuesday, we again have learned of other barriers to overcome in this final phase of the process.  Kim and the kids took an overnight train to Kiev.  In one sense she said it was easier to sleep because this train went slower and so the train wasn't rocking so much.  However, it took 14 hours and was the most amazing "oven" you can imagine.  Each time the train stopped the temperature shot up.  There was no mechanism to really control the heat.  There was no way to open a window or vent.  She said it was easily 100 degrees and the only "relief" was when the train was moving.  They left at 7pm and arrived in Kiev after 9am....  "A driver met us, Nik. Nice guy, speaks english. He took us to get photos done of the kids and then to the medical clinic. That's when the bomb hit. Broden's the first one to be adopted with this virus, so no one really knows what to do. Turns out they did not give me all the medical documents in Belgorod. I need things by the specialist who oversaw his case. He has never been vaccinated for rubella and did not get one yet maybe because of the virus. Kaitlyn needed another one. I had them both get a blood test. He again tested + and her - .   I could not get into the embassy so I have to go at 8:30am tomorrow. The embassy is saying (by phone) they hope it will all be ready in 2 weeks. UGH!  The hard thing is that the kids don't know what he has so they don't understand the seriousness and the delay. Also, they see Justin about to leave. I hit my max today and am exhausted and discouraged. I hope tomorrow is somehow better."

I spoke with Kim after receiving this email.  They had eventually arrived at the Carter's home and the kids were already sleeping.  She's tired and fighting sickness, so we didn't talk long. I asked whether others are working on these other medical documents.  She assured me that they are trying to contact the doctor in Belgorod for her to get what is needed.  Also, the children don't know the details of HIV, because it is culturally and universally common in UA for a doctor to not tell a patient about a serious disease, but to tell their family members, which they didn't have at the time.  We do know they've been told he has a virus and that's why he has medicine, but nothing has been explained to them beyond that.  Please pray for wisdom as we face these delays and as Kim is dealing with them that she'll know what to share at this point with the kids.

On an encouraging note, I was able to contact the National Visa Center.  Turns out they are almost like a way station or conduit for moving these approvals along, at least for adoptions.   I was told that our approval had been moved on by email to the adoption unit at the Kiev embassy.  I then wrote to the embassy and they replied that  they had received it.  I am waiting now to hear from Kim what the embassy told her and whether this email approval has satisfied their concerns about the home study and I-600A documents.  

Well, I wish I had more news, but that will be coming today.  I would ask you to continue to pray for Kim and that these barriers will be overcome swiftly.  Praise the Lord with us that she has a comfortable and affordable place to stay in Kiev.  Pray the Lord will give her strength, health and perseverance.  Pray for endurance according to James 1, where it speaks of having your faith tested, which will produce endurance.  Please pray too that we will not crave so strongly "good news" at the expense of doing the Lord's will and seeing what He wants us to see. 

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

TWO TOUCHDOWN TUESDAY!!

Dear Family and Friends,
Today we were able to have success in two different countries!  Kim wrote that she and the kids traveled to Kiev by train because their UA passports were received.  Kim wrote:  "Well we got the passports today and I'm on a train with the kids to Kiev :-) Hurray! Hurray! Tomorrow (wed.) we will go straight to the embassy."  
TOUCHDOWN #1!!

For our Tuesday in California it was looking rather grim.  I was primed and ready to go, but couldn't get the DHS office on the phone. I knew that they have limited window hours.  Kim's email came in about 11am our time and I was replying and even writing to her that I don't know what will happen today, when the phone rang.  It was the DHS office and they told us of some additional information to put into the rough draft addendum to the home study.  I then called the social worker, who has been extremely helpful, and we made our plan.  She prepared and notarized the documents I needed while I got gas in the car and then Kelly and I took off.  

The window for submitting documents closes at 3pm!  So, we prayed for smooth freeways (which we got) and to be able to park quickly in downtown LA (which we found).  Then Kelly and I made it to the building by 2pm.  There was a line of over 100 people in front just waiting to get in!  I sent out some SOS prayer texts and 15 minutes later we were through the security line and off to find the DHS office.  Ten minutes later we were able to submit our documents and waited for the DHS officer to return from lunch to finalize it.   I  asked for expediting the approval to Kiev, but she said they can't do that.  Then she told me that she was sending an email "heads up" to the National Visa Center.  Finally, she gave me the NVC's phone number and email, so now I am able to contact them as well and ask for expediting of the approval over to Kiev!  
TOUCHDOWN #2!!

We would ask you to pray for the waiver to get approved through the CDC in Washington and Moscow quickly too. Also, that Kim and the kids can get the other items at the embassy accomplished quickly.  Thank you for joining us in prayer.

Last night I didn't sleep much.  I normally sleep like a log, but I woke up quite early today and decided to get up and pray and then study.  I was sensing in my thoughts and feelings far too much discouragement.   I looked into Valley of Vision again and found the following to be a huge encouragement and helpful later in the morning.   
From, God Enjoyed  ~~ (I exchanged the Old English where appropriate for more modern English to help it read better) ~~
Thou incomprehensible but prayer-hearing God,
Known, but beyond knowledge, 
revealed, but unrevealed, 
my wants and welfare draw me to you, 
for you have never said, "Seek me in vain". 
To you I come in my difficulties, necessities, distresses; 
possess me with yourself, 
with a spirit of grace and supplication, 
with a prayerful attitude of mind, 
with access into warmth of fellowship, 
so that in the ordinary concerns of life
my thoughts and desires may rise to you, 
and in habitual devotion I may find a resource 
that will soothe my sorrows,
sanctify my success,
and qualify me in all ways for dealings
with my fellow men.  
I bless you that you have made me capable 
of knowing you, the author of all being, 
of resembling you, the perfection of all excellency,
of enjoying you, the source of all happiness.
O God, attend me in every part of my arduous
and trying pilgrimage; 
I need the same counsel, defense, comfort
I found at my beginning.
Let my religion be more obvious to my conscience, 
more perceptible to those around.
While Jesus is representing me in heaven, 
may I reflect him on earth, 
While he pleads my cause, may I show forth 
his praise.
Continue the gentleness of your goodness 
towards me, 
And whether I wake or sleep, let your presence 
go with me, your blessing attend me.
You have led me on and I have found your 
promises true, 
I have been sorrowful, but you have been my help, 
fearful, but you have delivered me, 
despairing, but  you have lifted me up.
Your vows are ever upon me, 
And I praise you, O God.