Things are moving

So we got the official email this morning that our paperwork is in Haiti and is entering the first step of the process in the Haitian government....Praise Jesus!   In addition, sometime this week our sweet girl will be told that we are adopting her.  I am praying she receives this news happily and is excited.   I know we are.  Last week a group from our church visited and we sent with them a book of our family, which will be given to our girl when she is told the news....hopefully this will help her get to know a little bit more about us.

We will be leaving this Sunday to go to Haiti.  I think some people have been under the impression we will be bringing our girl home on this trip. Unfortunately that is not the case.  International adoption is a VERY long process and every country is different. So this trip is only for us to visit her and start forming a relationship with her.  Because we have missed out on 8 years of our sweet girls life, it is so important for us to connect with her as soon as possible, as well as do anything in our power to bring her home faster (although at this point, there really isn't anything else that we can do and everything is out of our hands).   We will have one more required trip, a two week trip, which we expect to have come in Spring or early Summer.  And then a few more months of waiting and then we should be able to finally bring her home.  

For our prayer warrior friends, we would love prayer in the following areas:

• Prayer for Claire, who will be staying home on this trip with Grandma and Grandpa.  This is the longest she has been away from us, and usually she starts getting really sad around day 3.  Please pray for her peace and for her to have fun while we are away.  We won't be able to talk to her very much on the phone either, so this might be hard.
• Prayer for connections to easily form between us and our adopted daughter.  That she would know in her heart that we are her parents and love her SO much!
• Prayer specifically on Friday, December 13th. This is the day we will be saying goodbye to our sweet girl until the next time we can visit her.  I know this is going to be hard on her and on us.  A few weeks ago a friend asked me how I was emotionally preparing myself for this and I didn't have an answer, I think it is because I don't really think you can emotionally prepare to leave your child behind.  So I am just trusting in Jesus to give all of us peace and help us rely on Him in the pain we may feel.
• Prayer for safe travel and against any attempts Satan may make against us.   I once was told that adoption is the ultimate act of love and is something Satan can't stand, therefore he tries to attack.  So please pray for our protection.  

Internet is iffy in Haiti. But we are going to try to post short daily post once we get there, so you can keep an eye on the blog for daily post starting on Sunday or Monday next week.

We are still working to cover the remaining cost of our adoption, if this is something you would like to help us in you can make a tax deductible donation through Lifesong for Orphans- everything is greatly appreciated.  Checks can be made payable to "Lifesong for Orphans".  In the memo, note "Family account #4035 and "Daniel Family" to assure it goes to the correct account or you can mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley, IL 61744. Another option is to give online.  Go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate .  Select "Give to an adoptive family".  Complete the online form and fill in "#4035" in  Family Account Number field and "Daniel Family" in family name fields.

We are grateful for your prayers, support, and encouraging words.

This is a picture from my last trip to Haiti