When Rumors Are True

The week before thanksgiving, we began to read emails from contacts we have made that are connected with the adoption process with Honduras.  In these emails, we began to read that IHNFA was on strike for a second time this year, that corruption was discovered in the adoption process, and that adoptions in Honduras were completely stopped.  With the reading of each email our hearts became heavier.  Our agency had been told, and encouraged us with the news that we would have our referral before the end of the year.  We had told ourselves that we probably wouldn't hear anything until the spring, but we had our hopes up that we would at least know our little one before Christmas.  These rumors really put us into a tailspin, yet we wanted to wait for any official news.  Well, the official news came from our agency last week, and some of the rumors are true.  There was a second strike in IHNFA, there was corruption discovered in IHNFA, and the adoption process has been delayed, BUT not shut down.  We were told to expect a two month delay in receiving our referral.  Lord willing, we will receive information about our little one by the end of February.  Until then, we continue to wait and pray for her even though we do not know her.

A Crowded Plane, Splitting Headache, and a Screaming Child

Last weekend, I had the privilege of traveling to Merida, Mexico to be part of the Ordination Recognition Service for Marcos Ramirez, the pastor of La Roca de Merida (our Bible Fellowship Church in Mexico).  We also celebrated the 18th Anniversary of the church and handled other denomination business while we were on the trip.  On Monday, our journey home began early with a drive from Merida to Cancun, followed by a flight from Cancun to Detroit, and after a brief layover, a flight from Detroit to Philadelphia.  This is where the combination of a crowded plane, a splitting headache, and a screaming child come together.  I was on the plane, the headache was mine, and the child was right behind me.  This is usually a formula that equals great frustration and a bad mood, but this time, the Lord was teaching me some lessons.  Lord willing, it will only be a few short months before we will travel to Honduras to bring our daughter home.  On that flight, I may be the one with the screaming child and maybe a headache at the same time.  This thought led me to have great empathy for the parents of this young boy.  With my head in my hands, I spent most of the flight praying for this family, and for others that I know that are struggling, I prayed for the adoption, and for fellow pilgrims on this adoption journey.  We continue to wait for further information about the adoption, yet in our waiting, we continue to pray, and thank the Lord for His grace and for His many blessings.

The next wait

Well, It if you notice on our cute caterpillar on the side that it has been 9 months since we started the process (when I dropped our application off at Living Hope).  In a "normal pregnancy" this would be "D" day.  It looks like our "D" day is still a ways off.

Yesterday we received an email saying that October 17 (which was the same day our dossier was dropped off for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to get the authentication done) we entered into IHNFA for our approval from Honduras but not only that we also now know that it should take between 1-2 months until we know if we need to do anything more or if we are approved.  In receiving the news later we are now 2 weeks into that countdown. 

Within the next half hour I saw an email come through from a discussion board that IHNFA is on work stoppage Nation wide -what does this mean...I have no idea if this will affect us.  A feeling of satan attacking me at that moment!  I immediately took time to pray that God would give me peace and I would continue to trust Him in all of this-Total peace! 

A short time then later, another group of emails and posts from others on this journey that have dossiers at IHNFA (with other agencies) are now being required to have their children in their home get blood tests done and others are needing to get further psychological testing done.  Will this affect us...no idea, and yet again felt satan attacking me by causing me to get discouraged and doubt a bit.  Again I prayed for peace and the desire to continue to give it all over to Him.  Again... total peace.  I trust that God has His hands totally in this journey and that He will continue to carry us through and that He is caring for our little one until we can.  His love is so much greater that what we will be able to do for her or our children at home now.  What a lesson to learn.  I am in awe at how my relationship with my Lord and Savior has grown through this journey.

An though our desire was to have our little one home by Christmas, I totally trust and believe that God has a bigger plan for all of us through this.  I thank Him for giving this opportunity for our family and using it to grow us closer to Him.

This is also National Adoption month.  What a joy to be able to celebrate personally this month. Those of you who are watchin this journey with us we covet your prayers.  Please continue to be praying for our little one-we love you sweetie and we can't wait to be able to see your picture and then hold you in our arms!  Please pray that our daughter is being shown love, being kept warm and getting the food that she needs.  Pray also for the men and women that it is their job to work through the mountain of paperwork that is coming across their desks to approve.  Pray also for those workers that are caring for the many orphans of Honduras where there is so little as for the many orphans around the world.  Our prayer for all of you is that God would be using our journey to touch your heart.  We understand that not all are called to adopt, but through our journey, you would understand how God has used you through your support and encouragement for our family.  Reaching orphans is more that adopting but becoming aware of the need  and praying for these children, financially supporting orphans through many different ways and encouraging those that God has placed it on their hearts to adopt.  Thank you all for your faithfulness.

Final Review

Alicia grew up in Baldwinsville, NY, which is just north of Syracuse.  The trip from SE Pennsylvania to Balwinsville is about a 4 hour journey, depending on traffic, weather, and stops.  Throughout the years, we have made this trip many times, and through the years, I have found that there are certain points along the journey that have become milestones for me.  One significant point is the state fairgrounds.  As we pass that point, I know it will not be long before we pull into the drive at Alicia's parents home.  Before we were married, I made this trip alone on a few occasions, knowing that when I pulled into the drive, Alicia would be waiting for me.  Those state fairgrounds were always a welcome sight, knowing that it would not be long before I held "my girl" in my arms.

In a symbolic way, we just passed the fairgrounds in the adoption process.  Yesterday, we received word that our dossier is with IHNFA and has entered the final review and approval process.  We do not know the exact length of the journey yet before us, but we know that it should not be too much longer before we pull into the drive and hold "our girl" in our arms.