Gripped with Awe

I was reading this parable today and am still pondering it, but wanted to share what's running through my head. In my Bible, the parable is titled "Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Evil Spiritl. It's found in Mark 9:14-29. These are the verses that particularly gripped me today...

9:22-24 -- "Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can." "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." The father instantly replied, "I do believe, but help me not to doubt."

If you read the same parable in Luke, it ends this way... Luke 9:43 -- Awe gripped the people as they saw this display of God's power.

Hope. Belief. Doubt. Awe. These are the words running through my head. In this journey of international adoption, there are so many times we see God's power displayed in big ways. But I was realizing this morning that God's power isn't displayed just in the big things, it's also displayed in the little things. Today, I'm praying that I don't miss the little things. That awe will grip me as I see God's power displayed.

Like I said when I started, I'm not really sure where I'm going with this today, but it's what's running through my head and I wanted to share it.

Blessings,

Not for the weak at heart!

So, we've received PA from the US Embassy and many are asking...How much longer? If we learned nothing else from Samantha's adoption, we learned that we just can't answer that question! Today, our agency informed us that PGN (the Guatemala Attorney General who signs off all adoption cases) has stopped releasing cases.

Why? Well, the new President has just installed a new attorney general and a new assistant attorney general. So, all is a bit disorganized right now while these new appointees settle in and figure out what they think is best.

Here is the quote from our agency
"PGN has posted a sign saying that no more cases will be released. They say that all cases will be turned over to the central authority for review and interviews again with birth mothers. This is very unfair, especially to cases that have already been reviewed and approved by PGN but not yet released. It is unlikely that any cases will come out of PGN for the next few weeks while this is all battled out. Cases already picked up from PGN are fine."

The good news is, we're not IN PGN yet. We expected to be submitted next week. All we need is an updated medical on Giovanni. Amazingly enough, as would only happen in the world of international adoption, PGN is still accepting cases, even though they aren't releasing them! I guess the fun never ends!

We are at peace and are trusting in God's promise to bring Giovanni home. Keep praying and we'll keep you posted!

Blessings



Jeremiah 29:11-13 -- For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.

Praise

These words echo in my heart this morning!

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, "Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving me a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord? What more can I say? You know what I am really like, Sovereign Lord. For the sake of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have shown them to me. "How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you-there is no other God. We have never even heard of another god like you! What other nation on earth is like Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you rescued your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way. You made Israel your people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God. "And now, O Lord God, do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. And may your name be honored forever so that all the world will say, `The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!' And may the dynasty of your servant David be established in your presence. "O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer because you have revealed that you will build a house for me-an eternal dynasty! For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to me, your servant. And now, may it please you to bless me and my family so that our dynasty may continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!" -- 2 Samuel 7:18-29

Blessings,

PA!

We received notice from the US Embassy that Giovanni's PA was issued today! Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. Now it's on to PGN, where Guatemalan officials will review our dossier. We'll continue to keep you posted.

Blessings,



Psa 119:49 -- Remember your promise to me, for it is my only hope.

Meeting Number 2

Monday's meeting was very productive. We were able to speak to an incredibly kind woman who stopped processing payroll to type our letter. What a relief it was to walk out the door with a corrected I-171H in-hand! So, we quickly scanned it, emailed it to our agency, who emailed it to our attorney, who delivered it to the embassy on Tuesday.

Thursday morning, we received an actual phone call from an actual person at the embassy in Guatemala. She requested that the I-171H be faxed to them. For some reason, the scanned copy delivered by our attorney was not enough. Not wanting to jeopardize our case in any way, we complied and faxed over the form. Now we continue to wait. We are encouraged to know that our case is being looked at. With the embassy being closed on Friday, we don't expect to hear anything else this week, but anxiously look forward to what next week may hold.

We appreciate your continued prayers...

• For Giovanni as he waits
• For our hearts as we miss him
• For the embassy in Guatemala to release his pre-approval and let our son's case move forward
• For a smooth, uneventful trip through PGN
• For wisdom to know if we should visit again
• Most of all, for God's timing and our obedience to His plan, not ours, as we continue walking this road.

Blessings,



Rom 15:13 -- Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our Meeting with USCIS

Well, our prayer for news from the embassy was answered on Tuesday afternoon. We received an email from the embassy in Guatemala requesting a new I-171H that includes our address and number of children approved for. This is the same I-171H that Samantha came home on, but apparently, the embassy won't accept it for Giovanni. So, we made an appointment to go visit our friendly local USCIS office. Our previous experiences with them have usually left us frustrated with our government who claims to work on our behalf, but doesn't really appear to do so. To make a long story short, we left with exactly what we came in with! The only person in the office who knows anything about the form we need is at a week-long training and won't be back until Monday. So, we have an appointment for Monday at 9:15am.

The only thing keeping me from screaming in frustration is my firm belief in an all-knowing, all-powerful, God. The timing of this does not surprise Him. He has a perfect plan to glorify Himself that extends far beyond my little family. We are thankful for being chosen by Him to walk this road and participate, in whatever small way we can, in bringing Him glory.

Again, my readings this morning ministered to my heart. From Psalm 37, God spoke these words to me:

Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause
will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.
Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

As I read the entire Psalm, several times, my heart rested on His promise to make our innocence in this situation as clear as the dawn and to bring justice that will shine like the noonday sun. It is not my job to prove our innocence or bring justice, it is my job to be still in the Lord (not to fret or to worry away my weekend) and wait patiently for Him to act. Now, I have a part in that, and will walk into our USCIS office on Monday to present our case. And, I believe that He will grant us what we need and we will proceed. Until then, there is nothing else to do.

While we wait, I am comforted in knowing, God sees our son, sitting in an orphanage in Guatemala. His eyes are upon our precious Giovanni. I'll close with this poem:

He has for thee:
A light for every shadow,
A plan for each tomorrow,
A key for every problem,
A balm for every sorrow.

Trusting in Him,

Wait on the Lord

“I believe that knowing what we shall be called to face, today, tomorrow, He so plans that in our reading beforehand, there will be exactly the word which will carry us through. That new experience is meant to give us a glorious opportunity to test and prove the word which He has given us.”
From Thou Givest…They Gather by Amy Carmichael

I have been mulling over these words for the last few days. Hiding them in my heart, deciding that I believe them to be true. There are numerous instances where I have seen this demonstrated to me. Times where God has spoken a word to me that I needed to hear. It appears it has happened again...

As I read this morning, several things spoke to my heart as we continue to wait. The first was in my scripture reading, where I read from Isaiah 43:1-44:5. I won't post all that here, but God spoke to my heart about His promise to us to bring Giovanni home. To gather our children from all corners of the world and bring them to us. To pour out His Spirit and His blessings on our children. To not be afraid as I go through deep water, for God is with us and we will not drown! To not fear the fire, for it will not consume us. To trust that I am precious, and honored and loved.

As the time for PA continues to grow, we continue to pray about what our role is. How much do we bug the US Embassy - an activity that yields very little. Do I call my congressman daily - they seem to be hitting the same barriers we are. Is there something I should be doing that I'm not? As I read my on-line devotionals, it would seem that God is asking me to simply rest and wait.

From Proverbs 31 Ministries, came a devotional highlighting this verse: "Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!" Psalm 27:14

Then, from Revive our Hearts by Nancy Leigh DeMoss: "What do you do when it doesn't seem like God is coming through? I'll tell you what you do: you wait on the Lord. In His time, He'll show you His power."

Those of you who know me, know that I want, more than anything, for my life to demonstrate the power of God. To reflect that I live by faith, not by fear. Not by what I can accomplish, but by what I believe God can accomplish through me. So, for today, I will wait on the Lord, trusting that He shall strengthen my heart. Believing that I will not drown or be consumed, I will face this day with joy and hope.

Lord, in Your time, show us Your power!

Blessings,