Interview Date

Today we heard from the American Embassy but I thought I would let Elaina tell you about it.  Below is what she wrote in her journal (of course I got her permission to share her thoughts with you  :)

News from the Embassy today.  Mom's interview is in October (8th).  After my birthday! After Deanna's birthday!  In six weeks.

I wish we could be on the plane right now, but all the wishing in the world won't get us what we want.  

Through all tough times, we must remember to trust in God.

Elaina

Waiting

Can you believe it has been over 2 months since Gary, Daniel and Nicholas left?!

We had really hoped to have been reunited by now, but that is not the case.  I remain in England with Jeremiah and the girls ... waiting!  Waiting for my second interview at the American Embassy where they will make the decision as to whether to grant me a visa ... or not.

For the last two weeks I have been checking my email constantly to see if the interview has been scheduled.  But no email has arrived. 

Gary contacted his Senator last week to see if they can move this process along.  They said they would contact the embassy, but we have heard nothing.  

Finally, this morning I wrote the Embassy an email to see if they had scheduled my interview (as I was told at my first interview that it could probably happen in August) but I received an automated reply stating that my email had been deleted without being read.

So we wait ... and wait ... trusting, not in man, but in our God who is Sovereign and is in control of all things.  He, and He alone will allow me back to the States, when He is ready. 

Do I understand why we have been separated so long?  Absolutely not!  I do not have to understand why,  but I do have to trust in Him who works all things for the good of those who love Him. 

That is what I am trying to do, yet some days are easier than others!!

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

Isa 55:8  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

Michelle

Silent too long.

I have been silent for way too long.

When we returned from Zambia we promised that we would continue to be a voice for the orphan, yet I have been so wrapped up in our own challenges (which are minor in comparison to that of the orphan) that I have not been the voice I had hoped to be.

Today I will begin to speak.

I was first introduced to Reece's Rainbow through the adoption of Hailee and Harper by Anthony and Adeye.  

Reece's Rainbow is an international adoption ministry that focuses it's efforts in finding families for children with down syndrome and other special needs.  They have an incredible ministry and so far this year they have helped families rescue over 70 children.

Most of these children are young (0-4) because at the age of 4 the majority are sent to the mental institution from where they are unable to be adopted.  For most of them this move leads to death as the conditions in these places are horrendous. 


I understand that not all are called to adopt and that is okay.  BUT we are ALL called (James 1:27) to take care of the widows and orphans in their distress.   So, if you can't adopt, how can you take care of them?   Pray and give.  An international adoption costs, on average, $25,000.   It's a lot of money, an amount that most of us don't have.  But, what price do you put on a child's life?   Remember, if they are not rescued most will die!  So, could you help another family rescue a child?

One thing I really do like about Reece's Rainbow is that they allow you to donate to a specific family - most of whom have blogs so you can follow their journey and rejoice with them when they bring their children home.  That, my friends, is an incredible feeling to see a little one in the arms of their new parents, who have prayed, sacrificed and loved this child so much before they have even met them.

To see the difference the love of a family can make for one of these precious children of God, please click HERE.  Believe me, it is worth a look - God has done incredible things.

Will you give a little (or a lot) to help a family rescue a child?
Will you pray for these children?
Will you adopt a child?

What does God want YOU to do?

"Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering towards slaughter.  If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not He who weighs the heart perceive it?  Does not He who guards your life know it?  Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?"            Proverbs 24:11-12

"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act."     Proverbs 3:27

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Round 2 - The Medical

The second part of this process to get me back to America happened yesterday - the medical.

Of course, the American Embassy doesn't make it too easy for you.  I couldn't use a local doctor I had to travel back to London to see one of their approved (and expensive) doctors.

The journey to London should have been easy.  The town where I am currently living has a train station less than a mile from my parent's house.  The train from this station goes directly to London - or at least it should have done.  Yesterday it was different!  Of course, I was wise and allowed almost 2 hours of extra time in my schedule in case there was a delay of any sort because I knew I just couldn't miss my appointment.  

My train was due to leave at 9.50 am.  I arrived at 9.40 to hear a couple of minutes later that the train had been delayed by 30 minutes.  Okay, not a problem, this is why I allowed extra time for my journey, right?    Time passes, about 20 minutes later there is an announcement, "this train will arrive in 10 minutes" (great) "but will terminate at Oxford" (what!!!).  "Everyone will have to change at Oxford to get a train to London."  Okay, still don't have to panic as I have plenty of time.


I finally get on the train, just half an hour behind schedule.   About 20 minutes into our journey the conductor gets on the microphone and announces about the train termination at Oxford but informs us we can catch the 11.01 train from Oxford arriving at London Paddington at 11.59.  Still no need to panic as my appointment is at 1pm and it is only a mile and a half from the train station.

THEN, the train stops ... another announcement "We apologize for the delay, we have to wait here for about 10 minutes for the signals to be reset"  ... so I wait ... well, what else could I do?!!

Arrived at Oxford at 11.15 am, totally missing the 11.01 to London.  I frantically search the departure board to find the next train - 11.31 arriving at 12.29.  That would leave me 30 minutes to walk to the Doctors - I can still do it.  Yippee, thank you Lord.

11.22 - another announcement "We are sorry to inform you that the 11.31 train to London Paddington has been delayed.  It is running 15 minutes behind schedule"  WHAT - you have to be kidding me!!!  No - this was no joke.   So, that would leave me 16 minutes to walk 1.5 miles - that would mean running all the way - and I have to admit that this body of mine isn't up to it.  So I would have to take a cab. 

As I stood waiting for the train I remember telling the Lord that I had done everything possible to get there on time and it was up to Him whether I made it or not.  There is such a peace that comes when you leave it (where it should have been all along) in His hands.

Thankfully, the train finally arrive and I journeyed on to London with no further delays.  I stepped off the train at 12.41 pm and headed straight for a taxi.  When I arrived at the Doctor's office I looked at the clock - I had 5 minutes to spare!!!!

The medical itself was really uneventful and they will have the results to the Embassy on Monday.

The best part of the day was the journey home, well, not actually the journey but arriving at the train station to see my parents, Elaina, Naomi, Jeremiah and Deanna waiting for me.  How sweet that was to have my kids run up and hug me and tell me they had missed me, especially as I had only been gone 7 hours.  It makes me long for my other reunion, with Gary, Daniel and Nicholas, oh how sweet that will be :)

So what's next?   Round 3 will be another interview at the Embassy.  That means another trip to London on the train, for which I will leave a 3 hours window - in case of delays ;)

I am hoping to hear from the Embassy very soon as to when that next interview will be.  I will keep you posted.


Michelle

My Grandmother

98 years young!!

God's world is so small

One of the other paperwork requirements we have to fulfill is for Gary to provide an affidavit of support.  Proving that he can provide for me and that I won't become a burden on the government. 

There are a few challenges with this - we need to show our 2009 tax return - whoops we don't have one of those because we weren't in the country and didn't need to file.  Ok, we will send the 2008 tax return - a little problem there too. While we did file a 2008 tax return, we couldn't find it.  We know it was sent to us in England, but from moving from England to Zambia, back to England and now America, it seems to have gone missing.  Now, I know we could have requested a copy from the IRS but that would have taken a long time and believe me, we are trying to get all this paperwork done asap so our family can be together again.

On Sunday I had an idea - why not contact the man who prepared our taxes and see if he still has a copy.  I called Gary, he didn't have the man's email, so instead he sent an email to the Financial Director at WEC and asked if he could put us in contact with the man who did our taxes (who now lives in New Zealand).  WEC emailed the man for us and by Monday afternoon I had an email with a copy of our 2008 tax return.

So, in less than 24 hours, my request went to the Lord and then from England to Missouri, to Pennsylvania to New Zealand and back to England. 

Thank you to those who I know were praying that we would find our tax return quickly - the Lord answered your prayers and we are grateful.

Michelle

God is in the Details

I have seen the Lord move.  I have seen Him orchestrate circumstances which were beyond my control.  I have seen Him answer prayer and I am grateful.

After my interview last week I got straight to work on gathering all the paperwork.  My first task was to send off for a police background check.   In order to do this I needed a passport photo.  No problem - off to the chemist to take care of that.  Next, get someone to endorse the photo to say that it is a true likeness of me, shouldn't be a problem, but wait, the person who endorses the photo has to have known me for at least 2 years, has to be a professional and can't be a family member.  This caused a little problem.  Everyone around the place where I am currently living hasn't known me for 2 years.   The only professionals I know that are close to me are my family - yet I can't use family.  Think Michelle, think. 


Then, I remembered that the next day I was going to be in Swindon meeting friends from Leeds (who I also have only known for less than 2 years).  Well, Swindon is my home town so I thought maybe the Pastor of the church I grew up in could sign it.  So I sent him an email but by the time I left the house the next morning to go to Swindon he had not responded.

Anyway, we met with our friends around lunch time at a local park.  We had a wonderful time catching up and the kids really enjoyed playing together for a couple of hours.  When we left I still had no reply from my Pastor so I decided we should go across town and see if there was anyone at the church who could sign my photograph.  Now, the church is only small and the office is not constantly staffed so I was praying on the way over that the Lord would allow someone to be there who could help us.

You can imagine how disappointed I was when we arrived to find the parking lot empty.  We still walked around to the church office, hoping that someone was there, but there was no reply to Jeremiah's banging knocking on the door.  We walked slowly back to the van asking the Lord what we should do next.  I tried calling the Pastor on his cell phone, but I was out of credit on my phone. Okay Lord - what now? 

Just then another car arrived.  An older lady (who I didn't know) got out and walked towards the office.  We decided to follow and found her in the church.  I explained who I was and what I was needing and asked if the Pastor was around.  She informed me he left for vacation in Greece that morning!  Oh dear - was there anyone else who could help?  She suggested Ann, who was a retired social worker and lived close to the church.  She has known me most of my life.

I called Ann and she was at home and agreed to come to the church to sign my photo.  While we were waiting for her, the first lady proceeded to tell me that she normally wouldn't be at the church at 4pm in the afternoon but the church needed cleaning for an upcoming funeral.

Then when Ann arrived she told me that she was surprised that I caught her at home, because she had been out shopping most of the day and only arrived home just a few minutes before I called. 

Both ladies could easily have been unavailable, but thankfully the Lord had different plans and I was able to get my photo endorsed. 

If I had not found someone in Swindon to sign my photo then I would have had to have sent it to America for someone to endorse which would have delayed my application by at least 2 more weeks.  Instead I was able to send off for my police check last week and it came back today.

And in case anyone wonders .......... It came back clear - no criminal record for me :)

Michelle