That's the adoption process (as we know it) coming to a sudden halt...
Just as we were finishing up last minute details for our first trip to Russia, we received a phone call from our agency. I'm including the emails we sent out to explain- thanks (in advance) for your prayers!
(This is the email we sent out Saturday evening...)
| Hi friends- We just wanted to let you know the latest news regarding the adoption... We received a phone call today from our agency to let us know that our trip to meet L is being delayed. Our agency director called to tell us that they received a phone call from L's orphanage conveying the message that we needed to delay our trip- evidently, something has come up with the birth family. While our director communicated that we would need to cancel our travel plans, she does not feel that we are going to lose L. The orphanage said to delay our trip, not cancel our plans (I know there is not much of a distinction there, but our agency director seemed very hopeful). We are waiting for more information from the orphanage, but because of the time difference, language barriers, waiting for translation, etc- it's slow-going!
We are grateful that the orphanage gave us a "head's up" before we arrived in Biro- there are definitely folks who have made the trip only to arrive and discover that there has been a paperwork or familial "snag." It's better to work out the kinks before we travel than after our arrival. We are not sure how long the delay might be, but our agency director is hoping that we will be able to use our current Russian visas (that we received last week), and they expire in about 40 days.
Clearly, we are disappointed, but we are not without hope. First and foremost, our hope is in Christ and our confidence that God is fully in control...even when we can't understand His plan for this chapter of our lives. Secondly, we have been given every indication that this is truly a delay, not a closed door. We will proceed with hope!!
We have a couple of prayer requests: 1. Please pray for L- that she would be safe and healthy. That the orphanage (and her birth family and the Russian courts) would make her safety and well-being their priority and that they would act in her best interest. 2. Please pray that we would continue to rest in the Lord- that we would not be anxious, but that our peace would surpass even our own understanding and that we would know that God's mighty right hand holds us, L, and all of the children who are waiting for their "forever families." 3. Finally, please pray for the couple who we were going to be with in Russia (there's a couple from Minnesota that is with the same agency we have that is going to get to travel to Biro next week...we were even going to be on the same flight coming home)- that they would continue to have a smooth path, that they would meet their child next week (as planned), and that all would go well.
It has been great to process this with the girls- as we share truth with them, we are reminded ourselves, and it is truly a sweet time.
Thanks, friends, for your continued prayers! We hope to travel soon and we're taking it one day at a time. We'll let you know more as soon as possible! Have a great night-
Amby and Jenny |
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(this is the email we sent out early this afternoon)
Hello again-
We wanted to quickly update you on our latest adoption news...
buckle up- it's a little bit of a roller coaster.
First of all, we've been so encouraged by your kind words, prayers, and reminders that God is indeed sovereign and we can trust in Him- thank you.
Second- the scoop:
We talked to our agency this morning to find out more details regarding our trip delay. Our social worker told us that the information they were given on Saturday was not entirely accurate- the birth family is not interested in adopting L, nor is there a missing signature on the paperwork.
Here's what's happening: a different Russian family is potentially interested in adopting L. However, our agency has informed us that the orphanage feels strongly that they can find another child for the Russian family.
A couple of things: we are so encouraged and thankful that a Russian family is hoping to adopt a child that's been in an orphanage for an extended period of time...we would love for each and every child to be adopted in to a loving home that will share their culture and life.
We are heart-sick that the child they may adopt is L...a girl to whom we've grown very attached- we've talked about her, prayed for her, dreamed about her- we love her. But, truly- she is not ours...so we are holding her very loosely. Even as I type these words, my heart is pounding. The truth is sometimes hard to type.
We are praying that the Russian family will fall in love with another child that the orphanage introduces to them. The orphanage and our agency are very hopeful about this- we are not sure why, but we're trusting the orphanage (and the Lord!) to place these kiddos where they need to be.
We should know something either this week or next- and we'll go from there.
Please pray that the Russian family would be open to another child- is that a selfish prayer? Maybe. But, regardless of the answer to this prayer, we are choosing to trust the Lord and His sovereignty- we are confident that He has hand-picked our child for us. We can't wait to meet her. And we'll keep praying for all of the kids who are waiting for their forever family.
Thanks, friends, for letting me ramble!
y'all have a great day-
Jenny (and Amby)
ps- remember our new friends from Minnesota? The couple traveling next week to meet their child? The wife sent me the sweetest email...and she offered to look for L at the orphanage. She told me that they would take any toys that we might want to send L. We are so grateful...
