I understand that I will probably not be able to post easily on the blog while we are in China, so I may set up a plan to email the daily postings and have someone here add them to the blog. Will work on that today.
I was asked to video tape the process- like a reality show- and am wondering if this would be something that many would be interested in viewing. I don't like to see or hear myself in this kind of a setting but if it would be helpful/encouraging to others I would make the effort to do this. I would have to put this together after we return.
Bear in mind this would be real life- the good the bad and the ugly- so you are going to see us in some ugly moods and hard situations and you will also see us in some amazingly happy times as well. International travel is tough going, especially with a bunch of government paperwork to do, and so you will probably see us in some very frustrated and boring moments.
I will look for your responses to determine if this is something we take the time to do. I have not asked Teresa yet, so I may be in trouble already. Again, if you think it would be helpful we will do it. I'm not sure what to think of this myself.
1/14/10
1/13/10
Update for today
So today was interesting with more phone calls and emails.
Here's what I know and unfortunately it's not too much:) We need to fly soon, we haven't purchased tickets yet, I am not sure what do we really need to be there, and I am not sure when we are going to return. Most of our hang-ups are on the American side, but some may be hang-ups when the American side is completed.
We know we have to get our Travel Approval(TA) before we can have some of the dates- like the reservation at the NVC- getting "Vince's" visa. So we can't get a reservation until we have the TA and we won't have the TA until we are in China, so when do we get to return?
I think we will know much more tomorrow and I did talk to a reservation specialist at NW airlines and she told me that they have an adoption program for flights. I don't want to schedule a ticket and then have to change the date and get charged another $1000 just to change that date- apparently they have a program for people like us. I will keep you posted on this, as this may be a good program for other adoptive parents to use.
I also talked to a family today that picked up their "aging out" son from the same orphanage as "Vince" is from. He is 14 now and deaf, so that had to be a challenge. I asked when the orphanage told him he was being adopted and they said they thought he was told about 2 days before he was to age out. When his dad came up to the orphanage he ran out with his back pack on and hugged him and didn't want to let him go. The mom also told me, "Your life will not be the same when you see the look in his eyes at all the 'firsts' in his life".
It looks like we also have a lot of first time things coming our way as well. Thanks for all your prayers and postings, suggestions, emails and the likes.
Here's what I know and unfortunately it's not too much:) We need to fly soon, we haven't purchased tickets yet, I am not sure what do we really need to be there, and I am not sure when we are going to return. Most of our hang-ups are on the American side, but some may be hang-ups when the American side is completed.
We know we have to get our Travel Approval(TA) before we can have some of the dates- like the reservation at the NVC- getting "Vince's" visa. So we can't get a reservation until we have the TA and we won't have the TA until we are in China, so when do we get to return?
I think we will know much more tomorrow and I did talk to a reservation specialist at NW airlines and she told me that they have an adoption program for flights. I don't want to schedule a ticket and then have to change the date and get charged another $1000 just to change that date- apparently they have a program for people like us. I will keep you posted on this, as this may be a good program for other adoptive parents to use.
I also talked to a family today that picked up their "aging out" son from the same orphanage as "Vince" is from. He is 14 now and deaf, so that had to be a challenge. I asked when the orphanage told him he was being adopted and they said they thought he was told about 2 days before he was to age out. When his dad came up to the orphanage he ran out with his back pack on and hugged him and didn't want to let him go. The mom also told me, "Your life will not be the same when you see the look in his eyes at all the 'firsts' in his life".
It looks like we also have a lot of first time things coming our way as well. Thanks for all your prayers and postings, suggestions, emails and the likes.
1/12/10
What's happening?
The email comes in, the phone rings and what is the news on the other end? What are they going to say? Is the paper work done? Did the right people call the other right people and get the info there in time?
I talked to the agency today and we are going to China!!!
So here are the "specifics". We are going to China, and the paperwork is not completed. We are traveling and the paperwork will be done when we are either traveling or when we are there. If we wait until we have final papers then we may not have time to go. The agency said that there is always a possibility of not getting our son but they are confident that this will happen. They are 3 for 3 in situations like this and they feel like this has a better possibility of going through than they have on some of the others.
So what does that all mean? We are going out on faith- as the entire process has been- and if God wants it to happen it will. We haven't had any guarantees to this point and there are still none.
So what can you all be praying for?
1. Paperwork to get into the right hands and back out of those hands into the next.
2. Travel would be affordable at this late hour.
3. We would walk by faith and trust that God is sovereign.
4. "Vince's" heart to be tender to the Gospel.
5. Our hearts would be tender toward each other and the Lord's leading.
6. Our pots would be full of grace, as traveling is both exhausting and frustrating.
7. Funds for the trip and all the associated costs that are coming up.
8. Wisdom to know what to try to include and exclude on the trip.
9. Snow retreat without us:( First time in 10-ish years.
10. Did I mention that our hearts would be tender and our pots full of grace?
Thanks for all your prayers and please don't stop now. There is still a lot of things that need to take place.
I did ask the agency if he knows he is this close to being adopted and they are not sure. I also asked if he knows he will age out and they thought he probably did know that. I really can't imagine what must be going through his mind right now.
I talked to the agency today and we are going to China!!!
So here are the "specifics". We are going to China, and the paperwork is not completed. We are traveling and the paperwork will be done when we are either traveling or when we are there. If we wait until we have final papers then we may not have time to go. The agency said that there is always a possibility of not getting our son but they are confident that this will happen. They are 3 for 3 in situations like this and they feel like this has a better possibility of going through than they have on some of the others.
So what does that all mean? We are going out on faith- as the entire process has been- and if God wants it to happen it will. We haven't had any guarantees to this point and there are still none.
So what can you all be praying for?
1. Paperwork to get into the right hands and back out of those hands into the next.
2. Travel would be affordable at this late hour.
3. We would walk by faith and trust that God is sovereign.
4. "Vince's" heart to be tender to the Gospel.
5. Our hearts would be tender toward each other and the Lord's leading.
6. Our pots would be full of grace, as traveling is both exhausting and frustrating.
7. Funds for the trip and all the associated costs that are coming up.
8. Wisdom to know what to try to include and exclude on the trip.
9. Snow retreat without us:( First time in 10-ish years.
10. Did I mention that our hearts would be tender and our pots full of grace?
Thanks for all your prayers and please don't stop now. There is still a lot of things that need to take place.
I did ask the agency if he knows he is this close to being adopted and they are not sure. I also asked if he knows he will age out and they thought he probably did know that. I really can't imagine what must be going through his mind right now.
How much does it Cost to Adopt?
A thought I had this morning and much of yesterday afternoon has to do with the cost of adoption. I talked to a lady, who- with her husband- has adopted 6 kids from China. I am pretty sure they are just "normal" people, making a median income. She is a home school mom. I asked her how she afforded to adopt all these kids, knowing personally how much it costs- especially when you are trying to do it the fast way. She said "Well, God has provided along the way in amazing ways and since we just have brought 2 more home in the last month we are now in pretty serious debt".
There is a great financial cost to adoption. Cost is what keeps many from even starting the process. And since we are still rookies we don't even really know the true cost yet. But this is not the cost, nor the adoption, I have been thinking about.
As I think about literal, physical costs that we are incurring and about the limited resources that we have as a family, God directed my thoughts in a different direction.
His resources are unlimited. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He knows where every vein of gold is, where the biggest diamond lies, where the field of platinum sits waiting to be discovered so is it fair to say that He is not worried about the cost for our adoption? He can pay for it without any effort at all.
But since He has unlimited resources then the barrier to entry, for Him, is no barrier at all, right? If adoption makes no impact on your budget at all, then how many people are going to adopt? Many more. There are other costs, such as time, attention, health and social concerns, unknown history with the child, others sibling issues. All of these can be barriers to entry for many people- but look at them from God's perspective. There are no budget issues, no divided time problems, no medical or emotional circumstances that He does not know and for Him, we are all siblings anyway.
So I go back to the cost concerns that many have. If none of these are an issue to Him He should be quick to adopt-right? But He didn't take the easy way out in adopting us. He could have made the price for our spiritual adoption anything He wanted- He sets up the rules. But to show how much He really loves His children He made it so the cost could not have been higher for Him. He could have bought us with hundreds of pounds of silver, gold or platinum, but that would have been too cheap. He used the most expensive currency He had. He paid for our adoption with the only "thing" that really had value to Him- His only Son. He didn't spend one of 2000 sons to purchase us- His cost was one of one.
Why would He devise such a plan, when He could have done it so many others ways and still been God? Why such a great cost to Himself? Why such a great cost to Christ? To show His amazing love for us. We are not worthy of ANY redemption cost and He redeemed us at the highest cost- to show how much He loves us. Our adoption is much more expensive than any human adoption will ever cost- may we remember the cost and rejoice in it, praise Him for it and be loud exclaimers of what has been done on our behalf.
Amazing Love, How can it be, that You my God would die for me?
There is a great financial cost to adoption. Cost is what keeps many from even starting the process. And since we are still rookies we don't even really know the true cost yet. But this is not the cost, nor the adoption, I have been thinking about.
As I think about literal, physical costs that we are incurring and about the limited resources that we have as a family, God directed my thoughts in a different direction.
His resources are unlimited. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He knows where every vein of gold is, where the biggest diamond lies, where the field of platinum sits waiting to be discovered so is it fair to say that He is not worried about the cost for our adoption? He can pay for it without any effort at all.
But since He has unlimited resources then the barrier to entry, for Him, is no barrier at all, right? If adoption makes no impact on your budget at all, then how many people are going to adopt? Many more. There are other costs, such as time, attention, health and social concerns, unknown history with the child, others sibling issues. All of these can be barriers to entry for many people- but look at them from God's perspective. There are no budget issues, no divided time problems, no medical or emotional circumstances that He does not know and for Him, we are all siblings anyway.
So I go back to the cost concerns that many have. If none of these are an issue to Him He should be quick to adopt-right? But He didn't take the easy way out in adopting us. He could have made the price for our spiritual adoption anything He wanted- He sets up the rules. But to show how much He really loves His children He made it so the cost could not have been higher for Him. He could have bought us with hundreds of pounds of silver, gold or platinum, but that would have been too cheap. He used the most expensive currency He had. He paid for our adoption with the only "thing" that really had value to Him- His only Son. He didn't spend one of 2000 sons to purchase us- His cost was one of one.
Why would He devise such a plan, when He could have done it so many others ways and still been God? Why such a great cost to Himself? Why such a great cost to Christ? To show His amazing love for us. We are not worthy of ANY redemption cost and He redeemed us at the highest cost- to show how much He loves us. Our adoption is much more expensive than any human adoption will ever cost- may we remember the cost and rejoice in it, praise Him for it and be loud exclaimers of what has been done on our behalf.
Amazing Love, How can it be, that You my God would die for me?
Outside Help??
I was lying in bed this morning and thinking about a few things concerning where we are in the process. I am not really worried about any of these things, though there is certainly enough unknowns to help me realize once again my utter dependence on my Heavenly Father.
I have made some contacts with some people, one of which is Paull Shin, whom I have already mentioned on the blog. I have also initiated contact with both Patty Murray and former governor Gary Locke. Patty Murray is currently in China and Gary Locke and his wife both have Chinese ancestry. Why I am mentioning this? Though these people have some political connections I am concerned that if I push to open the lines of communication too hard that if they get something done then the spotlight of the story would go on them rather than God getting this done.
Can you picture the news story now? Senator, former governor makes adoption of Chinese boy possible. This is God's story and I don't want any of the credit to go to anyone else. So unless God makes it plain to me this is how I think it should go.
These people get emails from so many people every day that sending an email is like throwing a needle into a hay stack to be found. I have sent emails to them and have not heard back from their offices, and up until now it really has not been necessary for them to get the email. I am going to send another email with where we are in the process and let God answer the emails by having them actually get to the desk and eyes of the people He wants them to get to. If He doesn't want to share the lead role in this story then He will not let them see it. I think calling their office is too proactive on my part. He started this, literally from day one, and He can finish it by Himself if this is His desire. So please pray to those ends.
I have made some contacts with some people, one of which is Paull Shin, whom I have already mentioned on the blog. I have also initiated contact with both Patty Murray and former governor Gary Locke. Patty Murray is currently in China and Gary Locke and his wife both have Chinese ancestry. Why I am mentioning this? Though these people have some political connections I am concerned that if I push to open the lines of communication too hard that if they get something done then the spotlight of the story would go on them rather than God getting this done.
Can you picture the news story now? Senator, former governor makes adoption of Chinese boy possible. This is God's story and I don't want any of the credit to go to anyone else. So unless God makes it plain to me this is how I think it should go.
These people get emails from so many people every day that sending an email is like throwing a needle into a hay stack to be found. I have sent emails to them and have not heard back from their offices, and up until now it really has not been necessary for them to get the email. I am going to send another email with where we are in the process and let God answer the emails by having them actually get to the desk and eyes of the people He wants them to get to. If He doesn't want to share the lead role in this story then He will not let them see it. I think calling their office is too proactive on my part. He started this, literally from day one, and He can finish it by Himself if this is His desire. So please pray to those ends.
1/11/10
Update
It's 8:30 and I talked to the agency a couple of times today, got a few emails, sent off some paperwork to China and I don't know any more than I did this morning. They are still optimistic, but I think that until we have all the "Peking" ducks in a row we can't get too carried away.
Bottom line- God is on His throne and if this is what He want to happen then there is nothing that can prevent it from happening.
I did talk to a lady who has adopted 6 children from China and she said she was amazed how much faith and courage we had to start with a child this old. I guess I hadn't really thought too much about what might be coming after we pick up our son- if God allows that. I said, "Well, maybe it is not that I have so much faith, maybe I'm just ignorant". She said- "That's how God shows He is using us- using the simple to confound the wise". I guess that's me.
I'm excited to be used in whatever simple way God wants to use a simple guy. Maybe this is why He gave us Grant's event and the whole of 2009- to build our faith in order that we would just start walking in faith, knowing that I certainly don't have any of the answers and in fact I haven't a clue what the questions are going to be. It seems that is what faith is- walking when you have no idea what will come as you walk and where you will end up, but the answer to that doesn't matter; what matters is Who we are following.
So here I am waiting to see what He will do and thinking about all the implications of where we are walking- both for us and for "Vince".
Bottom line- God is on His throne and if this is what He want to happen then there is nothing that can prevent it from happening.
I did talk to a lady who has adopted 6 children from China and she said she was amazed how much faith and courage we had to start with a child this old. I guess I hadn't really thought too much about what might be coming after we pick up our son- if God allows that. I said, "Well, maybe it is not that I have so much faith, maybe I'm just ignorant". She said- "That's how God shows He is using us- using the simple to confound the wise". I guess that's me.
I'm excited to be used in whatever simple way God wants to use a simple guy. Maybe this is why He gave us Grant's event and the whole of 2009- to build our faith in order that we would just start walking in faith, knowing that I certainly don't have any of the answers and in fact I haven't a clue what the questions are going to be. It seems that is what faith is- walking when you have no idea what will come as you walk and where you will end up, but the answer to that doesn't matter; what matters is Who we are following.
So here I am waiting to see what He will do and thinking about all the implications of where we are walking- both for us and for "Vince".
Spectator in your own life
This weekend and right now we have a feeling of guarded excitement. I think we all want to be excited about what might happen today or tomorrow, but we don't want to get our hopes up and have them dashed on the rocks of bureaucracy.
We are supposed to find out today what is really happening. Truthfully and humanly speaking it seems like God would allow us to bring this young man into our family, since there is a lot of money out now and if we don't get him much of that money is not coming back, so it seems like a waste of His money, but there is not much humanly going on in this process anyway. I want to be content in whatever God brings and maybe being guardedly optimistic is my way of protecting from disappointment if it doesn't happen. I'm not sure that this is what God would want me to be doing- does that show little faith? Not sure.
Teresa and I, and really many from the church family, have been talking about what will happen if we don't get him and how different his life will be if we are allowed. Does he know what's going on? Does he have any idea about us yet? How hard would it be for him if he does know and God doesn't allow it all to go through? It's coming down to the wire and as usual I don't have any control over much of what is going on, so God will have to work- the great thing is is that He has already worked to start this process and has carried it all the way. I believe that the process we went through over the few working days between Christmas and New Years is listed on our schedule, in normal time, as being 4-5 months- so God got a 4-5 month process done in about 4 days.
There is much to be praying about- and we cherish your prayers- and there is already much to be thankful for. We have learned much and have met some people we would not have met if He had not placed us in this process. What does He want us to learn and what will He do next? It's fun to be a spectator in your own life- something I am not used to being.
We are supposed to find out today what is really happening. Truthfully and humanly speaking it seems like God would allow us to bring this young man into our family, since there is a lot of money out now and if we don't get him much of that money is not coming back, so it seems like a waste of His money, but there is not much humanly going on in this process anyway. I want to be content in whatever God brings and maybe being guardedly optimistic is my way of protecting from disappointment if it doesn't happen. I'm not sure that this is what God would want me to be doing- does that show little faith? Not sure.
Teresa and I, and really many from the church family, have been talking about what will happen if we don't get him and how different his life will be if we are allowed. Does he know what's going on? Does he have any idea about us yet? How hard would it be for him if he does know and God doesn't allow it all to go through? It's coming down to the wire and as usual I don't have any control over much of what is going on, so God will have to work- the great thing is is that He has already worked to start this process and has carried it all the way. I believe that the process we went through over the few working days between Christmas and New Years is listed on our schedule, in normal time, as being 4-5 months- so God got a 4-5 month process done in about 4 days.
There is much to be praying about- and we cherish your prayers- and there is already much to be thankful for. We have learned much and have met some people we would not have met if He had not placed us in this process. What does He want us to learn and what will He do next? It's fun to be a spectator in your own life- something I am not used to being.
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