June 24, 2010

YES!!!! That's right...that's the date we will meet with the SDA to get to go meet our sons to be forever!! We finally got it! Our Facilitator (capitalized for a reason!) was amazing...His timing is always perfect as it was today. My friend, Jen, and I had just finished praying together when my phone buzzed with the news! Our earthly facilitator was pretty awesome as well. We could not have done it without either one. We are thrilled for this news that has come after 10 long months of praying and waiting. The suffering was long, but definitely worth it. Rick, Charlie, Andrew and I have grown so much over these past months. We are definitely stronger than we were 10 months ago. We are now ready for Taras and Bogdan. We know God has been working in their lives too, to prepare us for each other. We can't wait to put our arms around them and love them....forever more! Thanks to all those who prayed for us. We are forever grateful to you for your prayers. Please keep them coming...the process has just begun...some of the hardest trials are yet to come...in Ukraine! Love to all...and, please, keep praying!

Bogdan

Today we talked with Bogdan on the phone. His first question, as usual, was "When are you coming to get me?" Of course, we then had to tell him we weren't sure, but we hoped in 4-6 weeks. His whole intonation changed. He became very sad. He asked Roza a lot of questions, but he remained sad. I tried to reassure him every way I knew how, but nothing helped. Please pray for Bogdan. Pray that his hope in God remains and that his trust in us would not falter. Pray that their government would finally give us a date, and that we could impart some good news to him, even as soon as next week. This poor child has so little, and now he is so dissappointed. All he has wanted is a family, and now that he knows we are the family, he just wants to be with us quickly. He doesn't understand bureaucracy or this horrible process. He only knows there is a family and a new life waiting for him in America, and he is so excited at this prospect. Please...pray for Bogdan.

More waiting...

Well, we heard from Konstantin this morning. Still no invitation date. We are supposed to find out next week, May 27 or 28, but I am doubtful. We have had this "promised" to us so many times... We will keep praying and keep pressing on. We truly covet your prayers.

Waiting, waiting and more...waiting...

Today, we sit and wait again. God is definitely working on our patience, fortitude and perseverance. He is also working on me to have joy in the midst of all this anxiety and pain.

It was supposed to be two Wednesdays ago that we were to get our travel date. Then last Wednesday, while Rick and I were in Berlin, again we awaited hearing of our travel date. Konstantin had to go to bat for us big time against the SDA, and is still going to bat for us to try to get our dossier approved. We have begged, we have pleaded, we have cried out to the Lord with all our hearts...we still have no answers. We were supposed to hear something today, although what, we do not know.

We pray that Taras and Bogdan have even more patience and strength than we, and that the days would go by quickly for them. Whenever we talk, the first thing they ask is, "When are you coming to get us?" Even though we have told them numerous times, they still always ask. We are to talk to them again on Friday. Let's pray we have an answer for them this time...