The Hand of God

What a week this has been! We've been home from Ukraine only two weeks now, and have jumped fully back into our lives and activities here, all the while seeking out answers and direction concerning our desire to adopt the girls.

As we've talked about it, and shared with people we know, and asked them to pray about it, it has been amazing to us how God is answering those prayers. It seems that threads of connection are being woven all around us that lead us to the paths we need to make this happen. Last week we were given the name of a missionary who lives in Kiev as a possible source of information. He referred us to a Christian adoption agency in Florida that specializes in international adoptions. We emailed and made contact with a woman who works at the agency. She and her husband have also adopted two children from Ukraine. We made arrangements to speak with her personally by phone last Sunday afternoon. We had an hour long conversation. She was very kind, but very honest. She gave us lots of information, but also related many personal experiences of her own family and others who had adopted or attempted to adopt from Ukraine. Some experiences are positive, but others were difficult.

We learned that if we want to do this we'll need to begin the process right away and make every effort to complete the paperwork by October or November. All paperwork will have to be sent to Ukraine to be translated and finalized by January. In February the Ukrainian government looks at all adoption applications, both nationally and internationally. They only allow around 1500 children to be adopted in or from Ukraine each year, so it is very important that the paperwork be there and finalized, or we would have to wait another year and begin the whole process again. She also told us that it will cost about $25,000 to adopt the two girls. Mark and I agreed that we wanted to begin the process, so she emailed us the application and contract forms.

Mark and I talked about it more that evening, and discussed all the pros and cons. School started here on Monday, so I was back in the classroom. I don't know if I was feeling stressed from that, or still dealing with adjustment and lack of sleep from travel, in addition to "hitting the ground running" when we returned. Whatever it was, I began to have doubts about the whole "adoption thing" on Tuesday. I think I just panicked a little when I thought about how involved the whole process would be, including the money. I talked to my sister, Debbie, on Tuesday evening and she was asking all kinds of pointed questions about the process and life beyond - when we'd actually have the girls with us to raise. I realized as I was talking to her that having the responsibility for the girls once they are with us is not worrying me at all. What I was worried about was the process of getting there. As I hung up the phone I knew I was struggling and needed to pray about it. I prayed that if this was God's will that He would make it all clear, and if I was having a lack of faith, He would just show me that He's taking care of it.

Well, God really showed me! Mark called me at school at lunchtime on Wednesday and said he had talked to Jackie, who works for Eastern European Missions (EEM) and went on the trip with us. She just learned of a family living in their town who had adopted three children from Ukraine. She gave Mark their number. Mark called this woman, and found out that not only had they adopted from Ukraine, but from the very same orphanage (Mariupol) that our girls are in, and not only that, their two new daughters know our girls and longed for them to be adopted, too! This woman, Rhonda, told Mark that she had some contacts in Ukraine, and she would inquire to try to find out if Jana and Ella are truly adoptable. She promised to call us back soon. On Friday she called back and told us her contact is almost 100% certain that our girls are adoptable, and not only that, their paperwork is already in order to allow that! Isn't God good?

It was if God was saying very clearly, "Just trust in Me! I've got it under control, and this is what I want you to do!" My faith lapse was turned around very quickly! In additon to all this, we are learning through many contacts, of people in Albuquerque who speak Russian, and would be willing to help with language when the girls come. We had no idea that there was anyone in Albuquerque who spoke Russian! God is putting together all the pieces of the puzzle beautifully. We've stepped out in faith, and it is exciting! All we have to do is hang on and enjoy the ride!

As to the finances, many people this week have asked us if we are going to start a fund to help with this. Everyone has been so gracious and excited for us. I think this is God's way of letting others grow in the joy and grace of this experience along with us. So, we've started a fund through our church to help with expenses. If you'd care to contribute please send your donation to:

Riverside church of Christ
3100 La Orilla NW
Albuquerque, NM 87120
(earmark your check - adoption fund)
These donations would all be tax deductable for charity.

More than anything, we appreciate your prayers. Please pray for God's continued leading and for our wisdom to follow. Please pray for Nathan and Annie as they go away to college this week and have this to think about as well as everything else. Please pray for Jana and Ella, that God will give them peace and hope, and that they won't think we've forgotten them. Thank you, friends and family. We'll continue to share as God leads us down this new, exciting and blessed path. Your support means so much!

Love, Dawn and family