How is our adoption going?

Many of you often ask me how the adoption process is going. Well, our social worker is writing up our homestudy and hopefully it will be sent to the USCIS immigration office VERY SOON. It usually takes the USCIS immigration office about three months to process homestudies and fingerprints. After three months, we should be approved to finally adopt a child. Well, normally after this approval, we would then be issued a referral (a picture and description of our child), but because of the situation in Uganda...it could take longer.

As for the situation in Uganda, the Ugandan courts have agreed to everything the US Embassy is asking them to do, but the US is still not granting visas. So, several American citizens, including my husband, are now writing letters and calling their congressmen to plead our case and help get these orphans home. Tomorrow, April 14th from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the Senate is having a briefing to discuss the visa situation in Uganda.

I guess I rest in knowing that we serve a good God and a God that has a huge heart for the fatherless. The Lord is bigger than both the Ugandan government and the US government. He can make anything happen if it is his will. His will is perfect and good, even though sometimes it does not feel perfect and good. His will at times, might even feel down right horrible and you might be suffering. The Lord says there is JOY in suffering. Did you say JOY in suffering? Yes, I did say JOY. The situation between the Ugandan government and the US government could be suffering to some of us, especially if this situation has made you separated from loved ones. God is asking you to rest in him, lay your frustrations and burdens at his feet. He is working in our lives even when we don't feel it. Our suffering should draw us closer to the one who created us. This brings glory to God. What does Piper say: "God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him". So our suffering allows us not to be satisfied with the world, but satisfied with God, which brings him glory. We were designed this way. The Lord has given me little glimpses of joy in suffering during this past year and that is where I have found life! Christ is the one who fulfills and makes us whole!
James says in James 1:2-6

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

Please pray with us that God would move mountains and once again open the doors for Ugandan adoptions.

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Matthew 18:20