"Isaiah 40:28-31"

The Russian government has decided that all adoption agencies are Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). As such, they must now be registered with the Russian Ministry of Justice. The branch that will govern NGOs does not exist at this time, though it is being created. The requirements for an agency to register as an NGO have been issued and our agency is currently working to meet these requirements, but it will take time.
We were told that the Russian Ministry of Justice is requiring each agency to have 28 documents. These documents are ready to go with our agency, they are waiting for the go ahead from the NGO. This is just one of the issues with accreditation. The break down of accreditation each agency (our agency is NOT accredited, they work under Adopt a Child, we were told this is very legal) is required to be reaccredited each year, kind of like renewing your driver license. Sometimes this takes time because the license has to be in hand before some regions will let you proceed with court dates. The umbrella agency that America World is working under (Adopt a Child) has a great record with adoptions and they do not have any "black marks" on record, so they should have no problem getting reaccredited. But, now along with accreditation they will need to register with the NGO, which is what I explain above. Some regions will proceed with court dates during these accreditation times, they will work on good faith, if they know that an agency has been in good standing for a long time and they do not feel for any reason that the agency will not get their license, they will then proceed. Our region (Saratov) is a different story right now, the judge is our biggest issue. The judge mailed a letter to a family in another state who traveled to the same region as us, they traveled to meet their child in January 2006. The letter was written in Russian and the family was not able to translate this letter, so they contacted the America World Agency, and the letter was faxed to them to translate. Our agency called all families (with our agency this about 6 families, we were told this affects in all about 20 families who are waiting with other agencies as well) who are waiting to travel back to Saratov and warned us about the letter and told us to expect the same letter. We still have not received this letter and feel now that we will probably not get it. We believe the letter was addressed to this other family because they were the first to travel from our agency this year and the letter was basically for all families. Our agency (America World) had a teleconference yesterday (6-8-06) to discuss the letter and to talk about the next step in proceeding with getting a court date. This conference included our Russian Facilitator, who is a behind the scenes person that nobody sees or hears from except our agency, so we felt very honored yesterday that he took time to speak with us directly. I took the information about the letter this way -- the contents of the letter are basically so crazy that our Russian facilitator doesn't consider them to be "real". As in, the judge doesn't say anything productive or useful, it's just a bunch of made up stuff aimed to get attention. It has no purpose whatsoever other than to further the political career of the judge.
Instead of saying, "hey, I take issue with this and that and these matters need to be addressed", he says "I don't like the way the US law handles adopted children and I want US federal law changed to make me happy, including revisions to the I-171H form( a form we had to go through Homeland Security, to petition for adoption and be approved)." Pure insanity!!! So, obviously we cannot go around asking the US Dept. of Homeland Security to change their I-171H document to appease this judge. We need to pray for this regional judge and for whoever is doing the negotiating with him. Sounds like baby steps are being made in trying to find a way to make him happy with lots of additional documents and for now, the judge is at least willing to discuss it. If something can be worked out, I believe that we will be asked to do TONS more paperwork, then hopefully get court dates, and that we will be required to do whatever medical exams are necessary while we are in Russia, prior to our court hearing. I take all of this to be hopeful, but I do think that it requires massive amounts of prayer!!!
I have been feeling very misled by God and by our agency, I have been fighting with God , is this really what HE wanted us to do or is this what we wanted? This is a constant battle for me, but yesterday evening I read a scripture that my daddy gave me Isaiah 40:28-31 28) Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29) He gives strength to the weary and increased the power of the weak. 30) Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31)but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Daddy then left me a message that said "You and Phillip are in the center of God's will, don't give up, help is on the way." I realize I am not battling with God I have been in a battle with the devil all along. NO MORE!!!!!!!!!!!! I will not battle the devil anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please just continue to pray for the families who are waiting as we are, for the judges and all officials who are tied to this situation in Russia, for our son Luke, his health and safety and that God will reunite us very soon. I also ask that you continue to keep Phillip and I in your prayers, I just ask God to soften our hearts and prepare us for what He has in store.
I just received an email from the most dear friend and someone who is so special in my life. God puts people in our life's for reasons and I am so blessed to have such beautiful friends . Here is what she wrote… (Thank you CMS)
I've really been burdened about this whole Luke situation and wanted to share a few things with you. I've come to this conclusion - if you guys have prayed about this adoption before ever going into it, and feel like you were under God's will and direction, then that's all we need to know. He sent you all to Russia for a reason. Although we may not know what it is now, there is a reason. Don't give up hope. He is mighty, and He is in control. Here’s a few verses that I found, that really encouraged me about the adoption and I hope it will do the same for you.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Isaiah 46:11 ……. the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Jeremiah 4:28 ……….I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose
Like the song Melanie sings : (Four Day's Late)
You may be fighting
A battle of fear
You've cried to the Lord "I need you now" but he has not appeared
Friend don't be discouraged
'Cause he's still the same
He'll soon be here, He'll roll back the stone and he'll call out your name.
But you're four days late and all hope is gone
Lord we don't understand why you've waited so long
But his way is God's way, not yours or mine
And isn't it great, when he's four days late, he's still on time
EXPECT BIG THINGS FROM GOD! Don’t underestimate Him.
God Bless...