A Week of Miracles

One week ago our hearts were heavy as we accepted the impossible situation we faced. Now we are preparing our trip to Russia in just two days! The past week is a blur really. The sight of our to do list burned our eyes and filled us with anxiety. Where should we begin? Visas aren't processed that quickly. Plane tickets cost too much on such short notice. The judge's requests are impossible. We need $11,000 more before we can leave on Friday. Our agency said it just can't be done,

Tonight we sit exhausted,but filled with peace and awe by the greatness of our God. Our documents are done, even the impossible ones. God softened the judge's heart and she responded with compassion and understanding. Our plane tickets were expensive until we clicked purchase and then I noticed our confirmation showed a much different number. A much lower number than was there previously. We found a wonderful visa service in NYC with just the right connections and knowledge to get our visa pushed through in record time at an affordable price. And my favorite, the $11,000 still needed to pay our $26,000 bill. Tuesday morning we received a phone call from the Abba Fund letting us know that our application for an interest free loan was approved. Guess how much they wanted to give us. Yes, $11,000 even though they usually only give $7000. Wow! God is SO much bigger than I can begin to fathom.

We are feeling so blessed right now that God chose us to be right in the middle of all these miracles. That we get to experience His incredible power and faithfulness in His promises. That we get the honor of parenting such an amazing little girl. What did we do to deserve all this? Nothing! That is the best part of our God. He loves us despite our flaws and fears and our lack of faith. 

So, Friday night our next Russian adventure begins. We fly through the night to NYC and arrive in the early hours of the morning. We get to spend some time with an old friend before we board another plane Saturday afternoon for Moscow. Sunday morning we arrive in Russia and spend the morning in the ever entertaining Moscow airport until our flight for Stavropol. Sunday night we will finally arrive at our hotel where our hard, uncomfortable bed will feel like paradise to our tired, aching bodies.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we get to visit our daughter for short amounts of time, tour the city, pick up a few Russian gifts and have medical exams. I am guessing we will have some interesting stories about Russian medical exams. Finally, Thursday and Friday we go to court! Apparently Thursday is a practice trial and then we do the same thing again on Friday but it really counts that time.

Here are some things we could use prayer for this week:

- Weather! Russia is having a crazy storm right now ( It must be bad if Moscow has virtually shut down). Please pray for a break in storms so we can make all our connecting flights on time

- Braden this weekend and the wonderful families watching him.

- The remaining documents that are stuck in Msocow to make it to Stavropol in time for court

- Safe travels and good health

- The orphanage staff to be more compassionate and give us more time and freedom with Elena

- Our time in court. That God would give us the appropriate words when addressing the judge and that our words would be received well

- That God would make a way for our 30 day wait would be waived so we can have her home for Christmas and before Justin begins tax season.