Encouragement when needed. No sooner, no later. God is faithful...even when discouragement sets in and faith waivers, He always graciously reminds us to keep our eyes on the prize.
And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. Acts 2:44-45
Almost two Sundays ago, a young couple and dear friends, approached Vince and I after worship and placed an envelope in Vince's hand. Though I was near-by, I only caught the end of the conversation. They mentioned selling something and wanting to share their profit for our adoption. Wow! I felt the tears well up...because, I must admit, I was beginning to feel forgotten; until that moment.
Things had been so frustrating because we're still waiting for immigration and we also had three documents returned because they were notarized incorrectly. We're so ready to get our paper work to China so we can relax...we really expected it would be there by now. God knew our hearts were breaking...he intervened and renewed our hope!
What a blessing this couple has been! They shared with us a significant amount of money that I'm sure they could have used for a million other necessities, but instead, they saw our need as priority. Wow, again. It's so amazing to see God's people in action: exercising enormous faith, and sharing sacrificially!
There's a passage in the Old Testament where King David declares that he will not give to God what costs him nothing. I have now seen what that looks like.
6.21.2007
6.11.2007
No News Isn't Always Good News
Still no immigration approval...tomorrow will be 8 weeks.
But let me tell ya about last week's fiasco...
Our family coordinator is off duty for 3 weeks for her wedding & honeymoon, so we've been assigned a temp coordinator for the mean time. Except for immigration, all of our paper work has been ready to submit to AWAA for several weeks.
Before our FC took off, she suggested we go ahead and send AWAA our paperwork for initial processing. And we did, but...I sent everything to the wrong person AND forgot to make copies of our original documents. That's a pretty big deal since I've been working on papers for 6 months, and if Fed-Ex were to lose them...oh, I can't even stand to think about that!
Anyway, our Fed-Ex made it to AWAA, and was located by the appropriate FC...thank goodness! But one problem was discovered, my OH birth certificate was county certified with the wrong date (06, instead of 07). Everything is time-sensitive! After several phone calls to OH (state and county) it has become evident they will not be able to help me in this lifetime, so I have to pay an agency to handle it for me, quickly. It's really not a big deal, it just stinks to pay for someone else's mistake...wow, suppose that's every-day life!
But let me tell ya about last week's fiasco...
Our family coordinator is off duty for 3 weeks for her wedding & honeymoon, so we've been assigned a temp coordinator for the mean time. Except for immigration, all of our paper work has been ready to submit to AWAA for several weeks.
Before our FC took off, she suggested we go ahead and send AWAA our paperwork for initial processing. And we did, but...I sent everything to the wrong person AND forgot to make copies of our original documents. That's a pretty big deal since I've been working on papers for 6 months, and if Fed-Ex were to lose them...oh, I can't even stand to think about that!
Anyway, our Fed-Ex made it to AWAA, and was located by the appropriate FC...thank goodness! But one problem was discovered, my OH birth certificate was county certified with the wrong date (06, instead of 07). Everything is time-sensitive! After several phone calls to OH (state and county) it has become evident they will not be able to help me in this lifetime, so I have to pay an agency to handle it for me, quickly. It's really not a big deal, it just stinks to pay for someone else's mistake...wow, suppose that's every-day life!
5.29.2007
Still Waiting...Sound Familiar??
It has been exactly six weeks today since we applied for immigration. They said to expect the process to take about five weeks. Yes, I'm starting to get that uh-oh feeling. There are a thousand different scenarios, but here are two extremes: our approval will be here tomorrow; or, there was a glitch with our home study and they'll get around to telling us sometime in the next six months.
It's impossible to contact the immigration office, so we'll wait it out a little longer, but if we get no news soon we'll get a congressman involved.
It's impossible to contact the immigration office, so we'll wait it out a little longer, but if we get no news soon we'll get a congressman involved.
5.08.2007
Sponsors Needed!! Summer Camp for Orphans
AWAA not only finds homes for orphans, but also ministers to special needs and older orphans who are more difficult to place with families. Below is an excerpt from the AWAA website...they are seeking donations for older Chinese orphans to attend summer camp. You can find more info at www.awaa.org.
America World is working diligently to prepare for the older orphans Summer Camp. The camp is schedule for mid July and we are in need to families to sponsor a child to attend this camp. Cost is $250 per child to go to camp. Please pray for the children who will attend this camp as well as for the America World staff and the fundraising needs.
For those who wish to contribute, checks can be made payable to AWAA. Please write “China camp” in the memo line.
There's ALWAYS a way for ANYONE to make a difference!!
What a unique Mother's Day gift to honor a special mother in your life!!
America World is working diligently to prepare for the older orphans Summer Camp. The camp is schedule for mid July and we are in need to families to sponsor a child to attend this camp. Cost is $250 per child to go to camp. Please pray for the children who will attend this camp as well as for the America World staff and the fundraising needs.
For those who wish to contribute, checks can be made payable to AWAA. Please write “China camp” in the memo line.
There's ALWAYS a way for ANYONE to make a difference!!
What a unique Mother's Day gift to honor a special mother in your life!!
5.03.2007
Our First Baby Gift
We received our first baby gift this Sunday!! It is a snuggly blue-jean quilt. A sweet friend of ours, Karen Durden, made it. She was feeling inspired during the ice storm back in January...or, maybe bored.
Mayah will love it!!
4.23.2007
Streams in the desert...
Vince and I made a whirl-wind trip to Kansas City last Tuesday to apply for orphan immigration approval. We left at 5:30 am to get there by the time the office opened; our paperwork and finger prints took about 20 mins, then we booked it back so Vince could at least work 1/2 the day.
Expected approval time is about 5 weeks, but we've seen both extremes since Jan. Once couple from church rec'd their approval in 2 weeks, but another had to wait 4 mons. oh my! Sooner, than later, would suit us just fine since the wait time to receive a baby referral keeps increasing.
Despite increased wait times, our agency has been such an encouragement! The agency staff has set aside Apr 23-25 to fast and pray...below is their declaration and requests for prayer...we'd all appreciate your prayers, especially over the next 3 days, as well:
In recent years, our agency has asked our community to fast and pray on certain occasions - in hope and expectation that God would change the hearts of adoption officials for the best interest of orphans. We are writing to ask you to join us again as we fast and pray from April 23 -25, 2007; if you cannot join us on these dates, please see if another time works with your schedule.
In the past we have seen God work mightily as we have fasted, prayed,and sought His direction and guidance. We greatly appreciate your prayers for our staff, prospective adoptive parents, adoption officials in the U.S. and abroad, and, most importantly, for the many waiting children in need of a family.
Just as Esther and the Jewish people prayed and fasted and had a ruling overturned, our prayer is that the policies preventing orphans from entering families will be changed (Esther 8:5-8).
Another passage that has been an encouragement to our agency is from the prophet Isaiah-showing us the hope that God can do new things-and providing a way through terrain that seems impossible:"This is what the LORD says-He who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters... See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." -Isaiah 43:16 & 19
Specific Issues in Need of Prayer:*
To decrease the wait time for referrals from China and El Salvador;*
To allow more orphans in China to be listed and available for adoption;*
For paper chasing China adoptive parents who need to reach their May 1st deadline;*
For adoption agencies to be accredited in Russia;*
For the hearts of leaders in the field of adoption to make decisions in the best interest of children - and not to be motivated by personal greed, ambition, or national pride.
We are praying boldly and in faith-as Jesus taught us in Mark Chapter11: "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen,it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." -Mark11:22-24
This would also be a great time to ask your church community, fellowship groups and bible studies to pray together for orphans waiting to be adopted. For those who can join us in prayer and fasting from April 23- 25, we appreciate your support, prayers and faithfulness.
Expected approval time is about 5 weeks, but we've seen both extremes since Jan. Once couple from church rec'd their approval in 2 weeks, but another had to wait 4 mons. oh my! Sooner, than later, would suit us just fine since the wait time to receive a baby referral keeps increasing.
Despite increased wait times, our agency has been such an encouragement! The agency staff has set aside Apr 23-25 to fast and pray...below is their declaration and requests for prayer...we'd all appreciate your prayers, especially over the next 3 days, as well:
In recent years, our agency has asked our community to fast and pray on certain occasions - in hope and expectation that God would change the hearts of adoption officials for the best interest of orphans. We are writing to ask you to join us again as we fast and pray from April 23 -25, 2007; if you cannot join us on these dates, please see if another time works with your schedule.
In the past we have seen God work mightily as we have fasted, prayed,and sought His direction and guidance. We greatly appreciate your prayers for our staff, prospective adoptive parents, adoption officials in the U.S. and abroad, and, most importantly, for the many waiting children in need of a family.
Just as Esther and the Jewish people prayed and fasted and had a ruling overturned, our prayer is that the policies preventing orphans from entering families will be changed (Esther 8:5-8).
Another passage that has been an encouragement to our agency is from the prophet Isaiah-showing us the hope that God can do new things-and providing a way through terrain that seems impossible:"This is what the LORD says-He who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters... See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." -Isaiah 43:16 & 19
Specific Issues in Need of Prayer:*
To decrease the wait time for referrals from China and El Salvador;*
To allow more orphans in China to be listed and available for adoption;*
For paper chasing China adoptive parents who need to reach their May 1st deadline;*
For adoption agencies to be accredited in Russia;*
For the hearts of leaders in the field of adoption to make decisions in the best interest of children - and not to be motivated by personal greed, ambition, or national pride.
We are praying boldly and in faith-as Jesus taught us in Mark Chapter11: "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen,it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." -Mark11:22-24
This would also be a great time to ask your church community, fellowship groups and bible studies to pray together for orphans waiting to be adopted. For those who can join us in prayer and fasting from April 23- 25, we appreciate your support, prayers and faithfulness.
4.09.2007
Louise Farner
from Proverbs 31...
"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hand to the needy...She watches over the affiars of her household and she does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed...Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
Most of you remember Vince and I made a trip to Cleveland, OH last fall to say good-bye to my Grandma Farner (although I will see her again). She was the most unique woman I have ever known, even as a child I was stuck by her hard-work, compassion and inner strength. Whenever I'm feeling discontent with who I am and my place in this world, I often remind myself that Gram wasn't just a lady I knew, but that I carry her very essence in my genetic make-up. And, once again, I am emboldened to live a life that makes a difference.
Gram may not be watching the world from her front porch, but she is still continuing to leave her mark on this terrestrial globe. Her home has since passed on to a new owner, but not without, in Gram's fashion, touching the life of someone seemingly insignificant.
My Dad contacted me several weeks ago when Gram's house sale was pending to let me know he intended to split his inheritance among the boys and me (THANK YOU!). Life will always be consumed with bills and needs, but at this point in our life, Vince & I have a very unique need...our adoption!
God's timing couldn't make more sense...the legacy of Gram and her home is continuing to influence those who are 'poor & needy'. In just a few short weeks, proceeds from the sale of her home will be wired to the government of China, helping to pay the ransom of a forgotten orphan.
I can't wait to tell this little girl about her great-grandma! And that although Gram wasn't here when she came home to the US, Gram in her own special way, still made sure she was able to come home!
"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hand to the needy...She watches over the affiars of her household and she does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed...Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
Most of you remember Vince and I made a trip to Cleveland, OH last fall to say good-bye to my Grandma Farner (although I will see her again). She was the most unique woman I have ever known, even as a child I was stuck by her hard-work, compassion and inner strength. Whenever I'm feeling discontent with who I am and my place in this world, I often remind myself that Gram wasn't just a lady I knew, but that I carry her very essence in my genetic make-up. And, once again, I am emboldened to live a life that makes a difference.
Gram may not be watching the world from her front porch, but she is still continuing to leave her mark on this terrestrial globe. Her home has since passed on to a new owner, but not without, in Gram's fashion, touching the life of someone seemingly insignificant.
My Dad contacted me several weeks ago when Gram's house sale was pending to let me know he intended to split his inheritance among the boys and me (THANK YOU!). Life will always be consumed with bills and needs, but at this point in our life, Vince & I have a very unique need...our adoption!
God's timing couldn't make more sense...the legacy of Gram and her home is continuing to influence those who are 'poor & needy'. In just a few short weeks, proceeds from the sale of her home will be wired to the government of China, helping to pay the ransom of a forgotten orphan.
I can't wait to tell this little girl about her great-grandma! And that although Gram wasn't here when she came home to the US, Gram in her own special way, still made sure she was able to come home!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
An Orphan's Ticket Home
Click here to Donate Today!!!
