Jonah is Coming Home!

Friends and family,

Most of you all know that we have received the approval for Jonah’s visa this week!  Charise called me on Wednesday morning to let me know that she received the email from the US Embassy in Nairobi saying he has been a approved.  I could barely understand what she was saying through her sobs.  I initially thought it was bad news and my heart sunk.  I said, “’did’ or ‘did not’ receive it?”  When I heard her say “we DID receive it.” I couldn’t comprehend it. 

We have been working toward this for almost a year and a half.  At one point our attorney told us that our chances are very slim to ever have Jonah and we need to be prepared that this will probably not happen.  Our faith has been stretched like never before and we have had many days where we felt nothing but had to cling to a numb, emotionless faith.

God once again proves that He cares deeply for orphans.  He is also proving to us that He and He alone is the rescuer of the weak and the oppressed.  His glory is put on display when the impossible becomes possible; our story is just another example of the millions that have preceeded! 

This week there has been a family in Texas and a boy in Africa that have been full of joy, laughter, and an incredible relief.  The support that we have felt from all of you has blown us away!  This endeavor has revealed the Body of Christ to us deeper than anything else we have experienced.  To say “Thank you” feels cheap and stupid and a “holy kiss” would probably cross the line.  Please just know that in a couple weeks a boy will be coming home to a family that will give him 3 meals a day, care for his health, tuck him into a bed at night, educate him, love on him, and instruct him in the truths of the Gospel and while this should all be the norm for a little boy, it will be new for him.  We could not have done this without you!  We are humbled.  Love you all!  OUR BOY IS FINALLY COMING HOME!!!

-Brad

Our Case is Complete!

Hi Friends and Family!

We just wanted to share the good news that the case we have been working on for the last 3 months is finally finished and is on its way the embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. We are very pleased with how it came together and are so thankful for the MANY people who did their part in gathering information for us and helping in various ways through this part of the process. 

Once it arrives in Kenya on September 9th our case worker will read through all of the evidence we have provided to help clarify the issues that arose in our case, and then they will make a decision. They could ask for more evidence at that time, give us an intent to deny (we would have to appeal their decision which would take 1 year), or they could issue us a visa and Brad would fly to Africa to bring our son home.

Please pray with us during this season of waiting to hear the embassy's decision. Please pray for our case worker Sonia as she makes the decision that will affect the rest of our lives. Please pray for peace and patience as we do not know how long it will take to hear their decision (a few weeks to a few months). Please join us in praying that the next step would be sending Brad to Africa to go tell Jonah it is time to get on a plane and come home.

We trust in the Lord's timing, in his goodness, and in his sovereignty in our lives and in Jonah's life...something we understand and depend on so much more now than we ever did before we started this adoption.

Thank you all for your support of all different kinds that God has used to encourage us so much, especially on really hard days during this process. We hope to have good news to share soon!

Thank you all!

...and I have no idea why this post has a white background:)