Fighting Discouragement

Today marks the beginning of week 7 in Honduras, and the past two days have been discouraging.  Usually, when one of us is struggling, the other one is strong.  Yesterday, was not one of those days.  We began the week thinking that things would progress well and we would be home by the end of the week.  One of the first messages of the morning, yesterday, was from our case worker at US immigration, who has done a great job of trying to work with us and keep us informed.  He let us know that the paperwork would be mailed to the NVC (National Visa Center) in the states, and they would process it, and send it electronically to the Embassy, and then we would get our date for our Visa Exit Interview.  Then, the words jumped out of his email - the NVC will probably process the paperwork by the end of the week and then the Embassy can review it early next week...Our hopes of being home by the end of the week were dissipating into thin air, and we both went on a tail spin of discouragement that lasted the entire day.  I think being back at the house and into the same routine also hit the kids as well.  Yesterday was a tough day for all of us.  This morning began with another email from the same case worker informing us that the paperwork he had approved on Friday and had hoped was in the mail on Saturday actually went out this morning and should arrive at the NVC by the end of the week...we do not know how long the processing will take, so we are preparing for another full week here in Honduras.  Alicia went grocery shopping for food through next Monday, and we began to think of activities to do here at the house and trying to coordinate with Carlos to get a ride to do "something" outside the house.  We could sense that we were going down the same rabbit hole that we went down yesterday as we started reciting all the ways that we have been delayed and ways that others have let us down...then we prayed and decided that we had to stop with that line of thought.  We began to thank the Lord for His provision.  We have a great, affordable place to live for all of this time.  We have saved thousands of dollars because of living in the Fenn's apartment.  We are thankful for the many people who love us and are praying for us, and dropping notes of encouragement without trying to give advice or giving us trite cliches.  We thank the Lord for our daughters who are at home and are being incredibly understanding as we face these delays.  We are thankful for these two children that the Lord has given to our family.  We are thankful for one another and the covenant of love that binds us together through the peaceful times and through the storms.  As you pray for us, pray for our hearts to remain encouraged and steadfast as we wait on the Lord's timing.  Pray for Carlos' mother, who had a minor stroke on Sunday morning.  She is already home and doing well.  She will begin therapy tomorrow.  Continue to pray for Ashton and Alia as the Lord mends their hurts and helps them grieve as they let go and become part of our family.  Thank you for your prayers and support.