Our Adoption Story---Glitches, Miracles & Suspense

Days and weeks passed while we waited. Meanwhile two exciting events were added to our calendar, both of which would potentially affect our availability to travel to Kazakhstan---first, my brother's wedding in early July and second, Blake's assignment to the Embassy in Uzbekistan beginning in August. It was already late April and we would be required to spend at least a full month in Kazakhstan to complete the adoption!

(Journal entry) April 23, 2004: "Lord, nothing is too difficult for you. Please enable us to go get Zachary soon. Do not delay, Lord."

April 30, 2004: "Two mornings ago I just broke down in tears and wept; Blake held my hand. I cried out to God to release our dossier and allow us to go get Zachary soon!...'Help me to believe, help me overcome my disbelief.' I sobbed as I confessed that I don't feel able to keep believing anymore."

Amazingly, the very next day Inna called with the news that our dossier had been signed! BUT, there was a glitch. There were already 6 couples scheduled to travel in June and the adoption foundation decided we could not travel until July. I felt sick. Good news and awful news mixed together. There was no way to attend my precious brother's wedding on July 3rd, spend a month in Kazakhstan finalizing an adoption, and then move our entire family to Uzbekistan by August. Not possible.

I mustered the courage to tell Inna that though this was great news, July simply didn't work for us. Saying those words felt sacrilegious, as if I was saying that my anticipated "due date" didn't "fit my schedule." But an adoption is not a birth, and scheduling the travel is part of the equation, whether we found it comfortable or not. Inna, wonderful as always, said she understood our dilemma and would see what she could do.

(Journal) May 5, 2004: "Our God is great! He answers prayers! Yesterday afternoon, Inna called and said, 'How does departing on June 5th, arriving in Kazakhstan on June 6th and returning to the US on July 1st sound?' My reply: 'Perfect!' (Assuming everything went precisely on schedule! An unheard of expectation for Central Asia!)

As the momentous, long-awaited news sunk in, and I looked at our calendar, I realized that these dates were literally the only possible travel window that remained. God was amazing! But apparently we would thread the needle with our travel dates.

At this point, we believed the only remaining hurdle was Blake's visa. We were wrong.

(Journal) May 26, 2004 a.m.: One week from today we leave for Kazakhstan! [Still no visas]

May 26, p.m.: Inna just called and said "There is a problem." Our visas had been issued but for the wrong date. Someone from the foundation would have to hand-carry our passports to the Kazakh embassy in D.C. to beg for a change. Are you kidding me??

We struggled to celebrate the Mountain-Mover's obvious miracle. We didn't want to miss it in the midst of our turmoil. We had been granted VISAS!!!!!!!!!!!!! except for the small problem that they started the day after our arrival. ugh!!!!

May 27, 2004: Inna called and said we were given permission to change the dates but that the paperwork hadn't arrived at the Embassy by the close of business.

Of course it hadn't--because it was becoming clear that this process was designed to leave us hanging at every possible moment! The suspense was killing me!

So...the following day, a Friday, remained our final hope because Saturday the embassy was closed and Monday happened to be a federal holiday.

"Lord, thank you for this good news. With the unfinished parts, I put my trust in you."