I learned about this issue this past Friday (today is Monday) and had to go through the entire weekend with no answers. The agency could not tell me exactly what we were going to have to do because we had to wait to hear from the immigration department. That left us waiting all weekend in limbo and not knowing how "bad" of a set back this may be. I spent much of this weekend - specifically Friday - in tears and in prayer. The pain of not being able to get to your child is real. The nonsense of the paperwork and red tape that keep you from getting there can be maddening. As I spent time in reflection and conversation with God about our road to Lily I was reminded of all the families who have gone through this and will go through this same process. Many of those families that have been through much more than this and in the end everything works out. I am so sad at the addition of time that this issue will add to our wait to get Lily, but I am also thankful that at least we are continuing to move forward and we will be going to get her sometime in the near future.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Prov. 3:5&6
So early this morning my agency did call me to let me know they had a game plan as to how we would get what USCIS needed and get things moving as quickly as possible. Unfortunately we have the further complication of our "fingerprints" expiring on August 10th which means if we do not get our Embassy appointment in China prior to that date we will have to re-applying for our fingerprinting as well. This process is very costly (we have already done it 3 times in the last 3 years!) and can take weeks to complete. We were looking like that wouldn't be an issue until finding out about our need to get an updated home study which has now added an unknown amount of time to our process that my agency believe will almost certainly not have us traveling in time. Unfortunately this is all out of our hands so we continue to pray and move things along as best we can on our end.
In addition she told us that she had spoken to our social worker, Karla, who would be in contact with us and we were hoping that we would be able to send everything in to immigration by early next week. I was just in tears hanging up the phone with her. Looking at the time line I was realizing that there is just no way humanly possible we can pull this off in time to make our August deadline. Again, all I could do was pray. The only way this could work is literally by a miracle - God has to move mountains for us!
Not long after speaking with our agency I was on the phone with Karla. She is an incredibly sweet woman who has become very close to us over the last few years. She has completed a total of 4 home studies for us - yes, FOUR in just under 3 years! That includes and completed post adoption study where she met with us once a month for 6 months after Gabby was born. We have truly been blessed by Karla and she was about to tell me how once again she was going to go to bat for our family. As we spoke she made it clear that she intended to get out to our home in the next 24hrs and that she would have her report ready for me almost immediately so that we could overnight everything we needed to immigration. As a matter of fact she will be out tomorrow morning at 7am so she can meet with us all before the kids have to leave for school! Again, I was in tears.....happy grateful tears. To Karla and to our Heavenly Father for showing me that things will happen in His time and not based on whatever timeline a person or an agency gives me. What I was told would be at least a week is sounding like it will be completed in about 2 days! I understand that is a long way from traveling to China still, but I also know that is mountain #1 coming down! :)
"Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure." Psalm 147:5
There are many more hurdles that we have to get over in the next few weeks, but I am confident that we will get through it all just fine and to Lily quickly - better yet, in God's perfect timing. I will continue to petition Him and pray for the desires of my heart in hopes that He will answers those prayers but I know that if He chooses another way it is because father knows best :)
I will continue to keep you updated on our progress and how God is showing us His modern day miracle working. I also ask that you would continue to join us in prayer that we would continue to be able to see this through as smoothly as possible. And pray that Lily would be growing stronger as she waits for her medical care and not weaker. Love is a powerful force and I pray that our love is supernaturally reaching her already and bringing about a real change in her. When I look at the pictures we have been sent of her - the ones from her referral which were before she had a family and the ones we were sent just since she has learned of her family - they are in such stark contrast! It is hard to deny that she looks more alive and vibrant in the latter!
Blessings!
Jessica & Family
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