Update...

I don't like leaving you all with no news for too long, but right now there is not much to tell and that is to be expected. Our POA stopped by The Minister's office and they have received all our updated documents (YAY FedEx- they said it would arrive on Wednesday and it was delivered on Monday!!!) The Minister has looked through our file and passed it on to her "technitian" who will verify everything. Right now we are just enjoying a very full schedule and trying to get ready for the good news that is just around the corner:) I hope you all have a beautiful Memorial Day weekend!!!

Micah 6:8
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly...
To love mercy...
Walk humbly with your God.

Pics from DC trip #2

These are the pics from Adam's second trip to DC with the boys. It turned out to be a lot of fun:) Thank you Drew, Eric & Quin!!! You guys rock!!!

Yay!

Adam made it safely to DC and had all our documents authenticated and stamped at the embassy in a matter of hours- THANK YOU MR. RUKATA!!! It sounded like him and the guys had some fun while they were there too (I heard something about pretending to be Canadian). Because of the new requirements we will be sending three papers "overnight" using FedEx and then we wait. The next step is a letter from The Minister that will go to the orphanage she refers us to. So many people have had their hand in this process so far and we are eternally grateful.

Kacyiru to Nyarugenge...

Through the help of a wonderful friend (whom I have never met, but I will call him a friend), our dossier has been located. It was at the Kacyiru PO and was then transferred to the Nyarugenge PO this week (I have no idea where those are). Our contact in Rwanda actually has it in his possession and it will be hand delivered to The Minister's office tomorrow! Adam is still on his way to DC to get the papers authenticated for the new requirements and those will be off via FedEx by Friday. We have no idea why our dossier was so lost, but we are so glad it is found!

Guys only road trip...

This week Adam will be taking a guys only road trip to DC not only for some good male bonding time, but to re-authenticate and stamp all of our documents. Our entire dossier with all original, notarized, sealed, authenticated, and stamped documents was lost either in Rwanda or en-route to Rwanda...the details are very uncertain. Our friends and family from across the map quickly mobilized to help us re-assemble a new dossier and we are just waiting on 2 things that should arrive in the mail tomorrow (we hope).

There has been a great deal of frustration and sorrow associated with taking so many steps back, but in the spirit of remaining on the sunny side, this will be a unique opportunity for Adam to spend some quality time with the guys while I am at some training for work. Job 42 says that no plan of God's can be thwarted- my plans can, but not His:) I will trust in that.

"It is not only when we have something that we celebrate."

Please pray for safe travels for them as they go (and favor at the embassy).

It's not always when we have something that we celebrate

Earlier this week I was reading a newsletter put out by World Vision and there was an article in it that really struck a chord in my heart. It was about people in a community in Kenya struggling to stay nourished and provide for their families. They talked about serious drought, famine, wars, and other difficulties related to meeting their basic human needs. In the midst of the daily struggle to live, World Vision workers attended a church service with people from the community. This is what transpired...

The pastor begins the service. “For two years, we didn’t have rain,” he says. “But for two days, we’ve had rain. We give God blessings.” The congregation responds with an offering, collecting a few rumpled Kenyan shillings in a basket. Two older women dance the basket to the altar, circling each other like crested cranes dancing in a field. Later, I speak with one of the women, Ekadel Ngiro. “What happens if there is no money?” I ask. “We dance even if it is empty, because God sees us and understands us,” she says. “It is not always when we have something that we celebrate.”

For me, I don't want to be a wave tossed about by the moment- I want to love God in a way that He is worthy of being loved...in every circumstance of my life...in every season..in every period of waiting that feels unbearable. He is The Great I AM, Creator, Lover, Life-Giver, Perfect One...AND I WILL PRAISE HIM!

Please continue to pray...

We now have our POA along with a contact in the USAID office trying to locate our dossier in Rwanda. Please pray that as a new day dawns in Kigali, it is found and brought safely to The Minister's office. My heart is aching to think of replacing those papers and the delay it will cause. I am so grateful to have so many people helping us- God is good all the time!!!

Frustrating...

I take back my earlier elation that our paperwork is safe and sound because today I received an email from our Power of Attorney telling us that The Minister's office does not have our paperwork and it is uncertain where it is. He has his copies, but The Minister needs the certified & authenticated originals. Apparently our POA did not receive his until he tracked the package down at the post office because it was not logged properly. I'm trying not to overreact- I know that God knows right where it is, I just pray that he opens the eyes of the postal workers and the people at The Minister's office collecting the mail. Please pray as you think of it.

The Gift...

So Adam met me up at my school today for our spring concert and beforehand we went out to Starbucks. While we were there he casually said, "yeah, we got a crib or something like that in the mail today." I'm thinking, I didn't order anything...and if you know Adam, you know that he's not the most descriptive person so really it could be ANYTHING at our house. When we came home today...there was a crib in my garage. Not just any crib, a 4-in-1 convertible crib, which is exactly what I wanted because we aren't sure how old our kids will be when they come home. Now I'm thinking, "well, I've looked at this crib...did I accidentally order it???" The packing slip said, "Sold to: Katie Dorband" on the outside.

When I opened it I started to cry, this is what it read..."Katie: just know that you are truly loved...and the people around you are blessed to have you in their lives. Hopefully this helps you see what is right ahead!" ***I can't even type it without crying***

To whoever gave this to us, THANK YOU!

Proverbs 11:25 says, “He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed”

Praying that "the giver(s)" of this gift will be refreshed as they have so refreshed my heart today!!!