Hello, Everyone!
I know it has been awhile since my last posting, but I wanted to be sure several challenges that arose were overcome. Now I can safely say we will soon be going to pick up the Luo sisters! I am sure God is shaking His head every time I became anxious about the events that have occurred. After all, He is in charge. I would remind myself that I am not to lean on my own understanding, but to trust in Him. God tells us this in His Word. I do trust His will is perfect and will be done, but sometimes it is hard when you do not know His will in your own timing!
Our biggest challenge this summer since the last posting was that when we applied for the I-800 approvals for the girls, we were then asked to do an update for Spencer who turned 18 before immigration approved our I800A pre-approval of our family. What should have happened is that we were asked to provide this update when we submitted for the initial approval. However, instead two months passed by with no word until we applied for the 800s. Our immigration officer did everything she could to help us, and now we are finally done. We have approvals and are now waiting on travel approval from China.
We hope to travel on 3 Sep and adopt the girls on 6 Sep. We will keep the blog spot updated so you can join us in our travels. Please pray for them as they leave the life they have known for almost 9 years and also leave their two older sisters behind in the orphanage as they have timed out of the system.
I want to end with an amazing story of God's work in us. Shortly after bringing home Lily in 2013, our first adopted child, I went with Spencer to a Newsong concert in Las Vegas. It was here that the band partnered with Holt International, our adoption agency, to get others involved in the support of the orphans. The band told us the story about meeting a young girl during one of their visits to China who needed a family. Her name is Autumn. She was about to time out of the system and had no one to care for her. Newsong found her a home and she was actually at the concert! She spoke on behalf of the orphaned children and how much they need us to help them. It was at this moment I knew we would eventually go back and bring home an "Autumn."
We received the referral for the Luo sisters just after the new year of 2015, three months after arriving from picking up Noah Enoch, our second adopted child. With a referral for two came double the fees. We needed help. With your generous donations and grants, we were able to get our fee balance to $10,255. THANK YOU! We were not sure how we would pay this balance let alone pay for travel which costs between 12-15k. Well, here is the full circle part of the story!! I received a call from Beth, director of the China program with Holt, and she told me that Newsong received word of our story and our need. Their ministry raised the money to pay the balance of our fees! WOW! I really did not know what to say because I found myself in awe of the Lord and His work. Rarely do we get to see His work come in full circle. Newsong was the initial inspiration to adopt an older child, and in the end they provided the means for it to happen. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel in our hearts. Thank you, Newsong Ministries! If you have never heard the Newsong band, please listen to their music. It will warm your heart and bring you closer to the Lord.
Now we continue to raise money through Adopt Together to help pay for travel expenses. I will update the blog spot once I have a final itinerary for our travel. We will gladly accept all prayers at this time for us and the girls.
The photo above is the latest photo we have received from the girls. We were able to skype with them about a month ago, and they are so happy and joyful. We are blessed to be their parents (soon).
God Bless You.
