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. 

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.  

And Now For Something Completely Different!

Kim shared with us in an email that they had an opportunity to go with Pam Greer and Justin and walk around town.  It was a good experience as it showed that she and Kaitlyn and Broden are getting closer to one another.  Plus, there were some interesting things to observe, not the least of which were some technology that we take for granted, but these former orphans have probably never seen...

"We went into town today. It was nice to see justin and pam. The kids all had a great time. They were enthralled with a revolving door and the escalator. Pam said justin watched her washing machine for 30min and then freaked when it spun and started jumping. (You can read a more detailed account of this with pictures on the Greer's blog - www.kevinandpam.blogspot.com) The kids are doing well. They each grabbed my hand at different times to hold it as we walked. As we were walking there was a boy having to hold and guide his drunk father. All 3 kids got very uptight, slowed down walking and really kept their eyes on him. They were obviously afraid and were pointing him out to us nervously. Broden motioned that the man had drunk alcohol and used drugs. It seemed that they had very bad memories. Kaitlyn was really affected. I had to hug her as we walked and tell her, not in our family (drunkenness). She relaxed. It was interesting." 

This would figure since part of the neglect they experienced was a household that had 6 adults + an invalid grandmother.  None of them were working and most likely they were drunks, drug users and abusive.  Please pray for wisdom as we help them adjust. 

Urgent Prayer Needed!

Dear Family and Friends,  

Changes and surprises can be very sobering and can happen quickly.  I received an urgent call from Kim early on Friday morning.  The reason for it was that she had received a call from the US Embassy in Kiev, Adoption Unit/Immigration Visa Services.  In a nutshell, they discovered that a form from Immigration Services (I-600A) and our home study reflect adopting 2 children that are relatively healthy.  Since HIV has not been taken off the list and probably won't be taken off now for immigration visas (only tourist visas have seemed to be approved on this), then I need to provide an amendment to the home-study and the I-600A (in that order) through our agency and the Los Angeles DHS office.  So, I need an amendment reflecting the change in the health condition of a child.  The potential timing delay is big.  I have been in contact with our agency here and will continue to be until I can get the home study amendment and then get into that office in Los Angeles hopefully Monday.  

As you can imagine it is both a surprise and shock.  It sure woke me up in a hurry at 6:20 this morning!  We thought we were complying completely with all requirements and that the waiver was the way of reflecting the change in health condition.  That's not the case though.    Please be in prayer for this as I need to be able to obtain these documents quickly.  When it comes to dealing with these sorts of things a one day delay here can turn into a week or more in delays there.  The embassy is willing to even contact the DHS office and encourage them to expedite our amendment.  They can't demand it but they can earnestly suggest and encourage it so that they will be able to continue on our behalf.  I would ask you to earnestly ask the Lord to move all barriers so that we can bring Kim and the kids home soon.

It is quite interesting too, and I share this with a sober heart, but on Wednesday I was stuck in some traffic a half hour and I had taken with me my copy of Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, which I only usually have on my nightstand.  While sitting there I read the following and it caused me to pray and even on Thursday send it to Kim to try and communicate the Lord's working in my heart through it:  From the prayer The All Good...

You are all my good in times of peace, my only support in days of trouble, my one sufficiency when life shall end.  Help me to see how good your will is in all, and even when it crosses mine teach me to be pleased with it.  ..... you are a bottomless fountain of all good, I give myself to You out of love, for all I have or own is yours, my goods, family, church, self, to do with as you will, to honor yourself by me, and by all mine.   There's more of course.  I recommend the book very much.

Needless to say, I had no idea we'd be facing this sort of situation today.  Sometimes it is 3 steps forward and 2 steps back, but it never catches the Lord off guard.  My hope and prayer is that this is just another "hiccup" in this whole thing and not a delay.  The embassy said they will work with Kim as far as they can (passports, visa, visa rejection, waiver documents) so that perhaps the only thing needed is the receiving of the amendment from DHS in LA.  Of course I can't get that until the amendment related to the original home study is in hand.  Honestly, I have had moments of depression and anger over this today, but the Lord has been good to me in those moments and the peace that passes understanding and correct thinking and action that is explained in Philippians 4 4-9, have been also evident to me as well.  Philippians 4:4 says "Rejoice!".  Verse 5 tells us to let our forbearing spirit be known to all men.  I curiously looked up forebearance and it says, "patient self-control, restraint, tolerance".  Synonyms are very helpful too and some of them are, "patience, resignation, endurance, fortitude and self control".  Verse 6 reflects this further with imperatives like, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication (to appeal to, call on, ask and request) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."  Then it says, "And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Please pray for Kim and I and especially our children as well, to not lose heart or grow faint-hearted with all of this.  Even before I had time to tell Kelly what has happened today she came to me asking when Kim and the kids would be coming home.  So, I tried to explain this situation to her and that we need to continue to pray, because the Lord knows that exact day and time that they will come home.  Thanks for praying and listening.