Sunday, December 21, 2008

All Nighter in DC!



When’s the last time you pulled an “all-nighter”?

For us it was yesterday – and today. We are hosting Katya through Frontier Horizon’s short term hosting program. A group flew from Kyiv yesterday to New York. They were due in to Dulles at 2120, but actually arrived (by van) at about 0500. So, we left home yesterday about 1730 and arrived home at 0830 today. It was worth it though to get to see our future daughter! (picture at left was taken hours ago - Katya on left, Sophie on right)

Last week we mobilized our church prayer chain asking for intervention in the bureaucracy in Ukraine. As of today we actually know less about Katya’s status than we did (or thought we did) 6 months ago. We have a letter that say’s she’s not available for international adoption. That of course casts doubt on the reliability of our contact that called us in August 2008 and said she was available. The letter doesn’t say whether she’s registered at all or when / if she’ll ever be available.

We are relying on God’s sovereignty in these matters to work out the perfect timing. If you are inclined, please remember to pray for Katya and the 100,000 other orphans in Ukraine.

Tim Q

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Something is Fishy!

Something is Fishy!

Jan 2008 – we learn from a letter that Katya’s mother tragically passed away. Katya had been in the orphanage almost 10 years. We began asking if Katya was registered for adoption.

July 2008 – we learn that Katya will become available for adoption in August. We rush to complete a new homestudy, paperwork, dossier, etc.

Oct 2008 – Our facilitator gets a letter that Katya is registered at the adoption ministry (SDA) but it doesn’t tell when she’s available for adoption.

Nov 2008 – Our dossier is delivered to the SDA. Days later we get a call asking for the official spelling of Katya’s name and her date of birth.

Dec 13 2008 – We learn today that now the SDA isn’t sure whether Katya is registered at all, though the only person that seems to know has been out sick.

We have concluded that in many ways it’s more difficult to adopt if you already know and love the child. We have a new and better appreciation for what many of our friends have gone through.

The “fog of bureaucracy” seems to obscure any clear information. We rely on God’s work to sort this out and we ask that you would pray for a resolution of the conflicting information. The balance of a young girl’s childhood hinges on getting these things sorted out – quickly.

Tim & Charlene