When I was a kid, my parents would make us have "P & Q"--peace and quiet--on Sunday afternoons. Of course, as a child, I never appreciated having that time. Today, it was a Sunday afternoon requirement in our home. For people that aren't/weren't very tired, we all seemed to need the rest. Even though I am typically in my bed for 8 hours each night, I am not feeling rested. I think it's because I feel like I must sleep with one eye open and one ear open too.
This morning we had "home church" as the girls call it. We all gather on my bed, each pick a song, read something from the Bible, talk about it, and then pray. We've sang "Waves of Mercy" for the last two weeks that we have done this (at least that's what we call it) and HG is really getting into the "Na Na" part at the end. By the time we get home, she will probably be able to sing the whole song in her own way! Maybe we can request to sing this one during the service when we return! :)
Today we talked about God's "bread" for us. We talked about how "bread" does not mean just things to eat but God's provision for us all together. I selected the verses, by the way, from what's in the "Christ In Our Home" daily devotion book. Anyway, since I have been here, I have been doing a daily Bible Study that my friend, Sharon, purchased for me. It was supposed to be a 40 day study during the Lenten season but I decided to wait and hold onto mine for a later time. The whole book is a deeper study of the Lord's Prayer. I have REALLY enjoyed it and learned a lot. This past week, the study has focused on just the phrase "Give us this day our daily bread." Rather ironic, I believe, that the scripture for us this morning covered the same topic. I guess I need to be hit over the head with the facts that God IS in control here and He will provide. So many times I want to be in control, as I said a few days ago, but God's reinforcement comes again and again for me that I'm not. Please pray for wisdom for our family as we discern God's will and provision during this time. We've been here for 3 weeks now and yet it seems so long. It's difficult to be away but yet I also find peace here. How can I not when all I have to do is look out my window at God's handiwork or even at the blessing of our beautiful children? Anyway, God's working on me and I pray that I listen and obey Him.
view from my window as I sit here and type
Case Update:
1. We have some things coming up this week in the adoption case. One of the main ones is my return to the US Embassy to attempt to submit the paperwork. If you missed the explanation on that, go back a few days and you will read about it. Please pray that we do have everything correct this time and that the paperwork is accepted. This is crucial in the quest to bringing HG home as adopted children from Guatemala come home on a Guatemala passport with a visa from the US.
2. I have requested an appointment with the same department of the US Embassy staff for a DNA test for HG and her mom. When I talked with the supervisor of the department last week, she told me that it was possible for her staff to initiate this DNA testing now, even without the above mentioned papers being submitted IF the officers can do so (meaning if they have time). Please pray that they can. For those of you that know about Guatemalan adoptions, the process for obtaining an appointment for the DNA testing has changed and is no longer as simple as getting the authorization from the Embassy and then making your own appointment. Now, the US Embassy folks make the appointment for you because they must be present for the sample collection (both a citizen of the US and a citizen of Guatemala, both being US Embassy employees, MUST be present). The supervisor told me that it could take 2 weeks to get an appointment set. Please pray that we are granted an appointment as soon as possible, not taking two weeks to do this. I have stated that we only need a 24 hour notice, asking for an appointment this week. Please pray that HG's mom, M, will be available with such a notice (she said she would be when I spoke with her about it last week). For those of you that don't know much about Guatemalan adoptions, this test is done between the child and the birthmom to prove that she is indeed the birthmom and has a right to make an adoption plan for her child. I do not doubt that M is HG's mom. I am confident that she is. It is simply a step in a process but one that now has more "kinks" in it than before. Apparently I was to have received a notice regarding this change in procedure. I, of course, didn't. The timing on this can severely impact the processing of HG's case. After the DNA testing is completed (samples sent back to the US for processing), then the Embassy issues a preapproval or Embassy Consent form which is required in the next phase of processing in the Guatemalan legal system. Confused yet? Don't worry. One step at a time. Just know that the current prayer request is that the DNA appointment be set as soon as possible.
PRAISES for the past week:
1. Our new neighbors have been great for us all. The kids have English speaking friends with which to play. I have some English speaking adults to talk with as well. Pray for them as they will be having their 3rd child this week!
2. We have remained safe and healthy. Nothing scary has been going on here in terms of safety, but being in a foreign country adds, in my opinion, a new level of awareness and need for safety.
3. HG has done so well. We spent the morning tickling and laughing while the big girls played outside with our friends. (Yes, I can see and hear them from my bedroom). She has transformed so much already that I can't imagine the changes that we will see when we can get her the services she needs.
4. We were able to make some progress on HG's adoption. While all of the steps that I wanted to accomplish weren't done, we still had progress.
5. HV and HM are being able to spend time in "their" country. When we got off the plane here, HV told me that she was home. I think it's a blessing for them to be able to spend this kind of time here, learning and seeing more about their culture.
Well, the natives are now stirring. We need to go back outside and expend some energy before it's time for dinner. I hope you all had a good weekend and ready to face the week ahead.
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