No news on why the wait.

Yesterday we received an e-mail about our USA visa application for F.  Because the process is taking so long and some families, including us, starting before adoptions in Haiti were under the Hauge convention, we will likely be 'grandfathered' in under the old process, giving us more time to finish.

So we needed to send them evidence that IBESR approved of our match with F.  Please be in prayer for the families who also started the visa process by filing a I-600a but continue to wait for their match. Time grows short before they would need to restart the process with an I-800 if they aren't matched by April 1, 2016. 

I’m reminded of the story of Moses. When he raised his hands overhead, the children of Israel would be winning during battle. [Exodus 17] When he could no longer hold his arms up and they dropped, the battle turned against them.. So Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side while Moses sat on a stone.

I picture our special prayer team as doing this, holding up our hands before the Lord. Holding up F and our adoption chart. I’m so thankful to know that when my eyes grow weary and start to focus on this life’s problems and stresses that our partners pray for us to refocus on the Lord.

We asked our agency this week if there’s something specific holding up our case as we hear of other cases exiting IBESR in 3-4 months after their socialization visits and we now stand at 7 months post-visit. Nothing that the agency knows of is an issue at this time.  

Tuesday we received a very special Christmas card. For the last 3 Christmases we prayed for our 'littles' not knowing a name or face. Thankful this year we can pray specifically for F, and the hope that next year he will celebrate with us. 

We know that F does not deal well with a change in routine and the foster family left for Christmas in the USA on Tuesday. Not sure when they plan to return. Thank you for continuing to pray for F, us, and the adoption process.

Grateful for those times of peace when I can sit calmly at the feet of our Lord, that I’m accompanied by others on the team joining me in prayer and in faith, waiting to see how the Lord will answer. 

YOU are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. (Psalm 77:14)

Cory, Kris and family.

Praising the Lord of miracles.

This morning we headed out before sunrise to visit a church that starts early so that their pastor can rapidly leave after service because he covers two churches, about one hour apart.

 A poorer church, the people met under a tin roof but the worship touched me.

Pastor Mano preached on Psalm 114. He referred back to the spies going into the promise land; ten returned discouraged but two stood on the Lord's promise. Numbers 14: 9 "Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them"

I will continue to praise the Lord for this adoption journey.  I will refocus my hopes and thoughts on the Lord when my feelings overwhelm me, and I start to focus on the problems and obstacles in our path.

We serve a God of miracles. Psalm 114 reminds us that the Lord parted the Red Sea and the Jordan. He makes the mountains, and hills skip. I thought of the mountains of adoption paperwork sitting in the IBESR office in Port-au-Prince.

I picture those charts moving to the exit desk!

Pastor reminded us that the Father God we serve is Powerful and Faithful. He hears us. He will act.

I do not know if our chart will exit IBESR before Christmas. We earnestly pray that it will so that we can enter the adoption courts. Nevertheless, if it does not happen, still we will praise Him.