They Meet Again

So, the news for today is that our attorney will be meeting with the head of Minor's Court on Tuesday of next week. PGN continues to be uncooperative, so nobody knows where this will end. Our attorney asked when our immigration docs expired, hoping that if they expired soon he could use that to push the case. Being the good adoptive parents we are, we renewed those documents, so they don't expire until July 2010. Guess that won't help us!

We continue to wonder and wait. It's a frustrating place to be somedays. This last week has been one of the hardest yet. We will never give up on Geovany. As long as there's even the slimest chance of bringing him home, we will persevere. Yet the dream of having him here grows dim sometimes.

We're not really expecting any great or exciting news to result from the upcoming meeting. Our agency director leaves for Ethiopia tomorrow. She will be out of the country until July 1st. We understand why she's going and will be praying that her trip is successful; however, with her out of the country, contact with our attorney pretty much comes to a standstill. Yet another opportunity to trust and wait.

I'm trying to apply some things I've been learning lately. Trying to ask the "right" questions... not, "When will this be over" but "What can I learn while we wait?" Not "How do you expect me to continue waiting?" but "How can I glorify you in this?" Not easy questions to ask or answer. If I didn't believe that God was in this, I'd really be a mess! How thankful I am for His presence.

As always, we thank you for your prayers and your continued support of our family.

Blessings,


I've been reading and praying Psalm 37 over the last week or so. It brings some peace to my heart in light of all we're going through. I've included just a few verses, but if you have the time, read the whole Psalm. It's a beautiful prayer and declaration of Who God is and what He can do.

Psalm 37:4-9 and 34

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.

Stop your anger! Turn from your rage! Do not envy others-- it only leads to harm.
For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.

Don't be impatient for the LORD to act! Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you, giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.

No Change

Just wanted to let you know that there is no change in Geovany's case. PGN continues to be uncooperative, but our attorney is confident that he will finish this case and that Geovany will come home.

Reminded this week that patience is one of God's attributes...He is patient with me when I question, stumble, fall flat on my face, lose my temper, or miss an opportunity to share His grace. The God of patience does supply all my needs. He gives me patience and comfort and grace and strength. There is such peace and joy in trusting and resting. As I've prayed these last few days, I've felt more at peace than ever. Deep in my heart, God has confirmed to me that someday soon Geovany will come home. In the meantime, there are great lessons to be learned in the waiting.

Blessings,



Rom 15:5
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,

Isa 9:6
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Rom 15:13
So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hbr 13:20
And now, may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to him. Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with his blood. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Meeting Results

The meeting on Thursday didn't go exactly as we had hoped it would. Apparently, the representative from PGN was uncooperative. I'm not sure exactly how, or in what way, but that's the message we received. So...our attorney will be heading to PGN on Monday to meet with the representative's boss. Our understanding is that Alfonso will continue to elevate this as far up the chain of command as necessary.

In the meantime, we continue to pray and wait. It's interesting, my devotionals for the last several weeks had been on peace. Friday, they switched to the topic of patience. I will admit (not proudly) that I threw a bit of a fit and told God..."We've been patient for 17 months. I'm not reading these!" and I set the book aside. I left Friday afternoon for a women's retreat, still not knowing the outcome of Thursday's meeting. Friday afternoon, my husband called and said "You should have taken the devotional book. It looks like it's going to be awhile."

Each year, our women's ministry team works hard preparing for our retreat and each year a little gift bag is prepared for us to open upon our arrival. As we approached our room, sitting outside our door were three little brown paper sacks...just as we expected. I picked them up, took them into our room and tossed one on each bed. A little while later, I sat down on the bed to open mine. Now, these don't have our name on the outside. Nobody put a bag together and said "This one's for Amy Carr." They just pre-assemble them and set them outside the rooms. Anyway, I opened mine and inside were several fun items, along with an adorable little wooden angel. Across the front of her dress, in beautiful script, was written the word "Patience." I'll admit, I lost it and started to cry. I immediately asked one of my roommates to open her bag, wondering if all the angels were the same. Of course, they weren't. Pam's angel said "Hope". Many have asked if I threw the angel across the room. I thought about it, for a brief second. In fact, I think my initial words were "Oh, no!" But as I've reflected on it this weekend, I realize it's just another gentle reminder to me that God sees where we are. He knows the journey He's asked us to take and once again, He's asking us to be patient. To trust Him. To believe. To rest.

Praying for progress on Monday!

Blessings,
Amy

Meeting

I will contact our agency director tomorrow for some clarification, but got this email today...

"Next appointment is May 14th between some entities regarding Geovany's case."

We covet your prayers for this meeting and for us as we wait.

Today I read some things from John talking about where we find our peace. What reassurance for me, a good reminder that our peace is not found in our circumstances, but in Christ alone. We were chosen for this journey, to go and produce fruit that will last. Thanks again for walking with us.

Blessings,


"You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name...I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
-- John 15:16 and 16:33

Today

Today is one of those days where I sit and I wonder and I ache to be with our son. My heart cries out to God, begging for answers, for resolution, for progress, for something. And yet, there is no answer, just silence. How long, Oh God, will you make us wait? How long until you release our son from the bondage of an orphanage.

Yet, in all this, I know God still has a plan. I can see little pieces of it. The connection that the work and witness coordinator has made with REMAR. Another work & witness team who visited the kids last Sunday, loving them, sharing life with them, bringing some sunshine into their day, something new and different. Would that be happening if Geovany's adoption hadn't stalled? Would we have met Tommy in November during our visit? Would Rob's team have visited the orphanage if Geovany wasn't there? Would there be other teams visiting? Or would all of that simply have blown away in the wind of life, as we get caught up in just living where we are?

Sunday, both Rob and I longed to be in Guatemala. Not just seeing Geovany, but being in that country. Our hearts have a desire to be back there. We wonder what God will do with that longing. We wonder what's next. We wonder how much more God needs to do before His plan to bring Geovany into our home is completed.

So, for today, there's laundry to do and schoolwork to check. There's lunch to make and dinner to plan. There are four precious children sitting in my home, looking to me for direction and guidance. There are things to do, right here, right now. Those are the things that keep me from falling into utter depression. Their smiles are what help me get through the day. Their excitement as they learn and play is contagious. So, today, in the midst of the longing for Geovany, I will sing praise for where we are. A sacrifice of praise to a God Who is amazing. I will ask God to use me right here, right now, to bring Him glory. To allow my life to reflect Him. I will choose joy.

Blessings,



PSALM 65

1 What mighty praise, O God,
belongs to you in Zion.
We will fulfill our vows to you,
2 for you answer our prayers.
All of us must come to you.
3 Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,
you forgive them all.
4 What joy for those you choose to bring near,
those who live in your holy courts.
What festivities await us
inside your holy Temple.

5 You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,
O God our savior.
You are the hope of everyone on earth,
even those who sail on distant seas.
6 You formed the mountains by your power
and armed yourself with mighty strength.
7 You quieted the raging oceans
with their pounding waves
and silenced the shouting of the nations.
8 Those who live at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
you inspire shouts of joy.

9 You take care of the earth and water it,
making it rich and fertile.
The river of God has plenty of water;
it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,
for you have ordered it so.
10 You drench the plowed ground with rain,
melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers
and bless its abundant crops.
11 You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy.
13 The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy

Visit

Our agency director did visit Geovany. She emailed photos and a video is on it's way to us. We were surprised to see how much older he looks. Hopefully it's just the clothes he's wearing. But, a reminder to us of how quickly time really is passing.

The latest report is that the public ministry judge has asked PGN to write a letter stating they erroneously sent the case for investigation. Our attorney has requested the letter and PGN has agreed to write it "soon". Who knows how quickly that will happen! But, at least the judge has looked at the case and taken some action.Thanks for your continued prayers.

Blessings,