Wednesday, January 02, 2008

How You Can Pray

So many people have prayed for our boys to come home. I know that prayer is what is keeping their paperwork moving. An acquaintance told me Saturday morning that she had given up hope that our boys would come home. Thanks. I guess she's not praying.

For those of you who do pray, I have a specific request. The next timeline of four months or more can't get started until our paperwork is submitted to MOI (the minister of the interior). Our update last night said that legalization of the abstracts of the boys' birth certificates needs to obtained before their files can be submitted to MOI and the files need to be reviewed. Please join us in praying that these things happen quickly so that the files can be submitted to MOI. Our God is a God who answers prayer. I believe strongly in praying specifically. Please help us flood the gates of Heaven with prayers for our boys to come home.

Noah and Samuel are nearly 26 months old now. They have lived at the orphanage for nearly 2 years. Yes, selfishly I want them home and I've wanted them home since I saw their first pictures. However, for their sake I want them home. Two and under are the prime years for bonding and attachment. That's not to say that they can't or won't bond and attach to me and Chuck, but it may be more difficult for them. I want them to have every opportunity to do well in life, and there's not a thing I can do about them still being in an orphanage.

Last night I dreamt that I went to Haiti, which is kind of funny since I'm not invited. I was outside the orphanage with some of the American staff and I was holding Samuel. I was telling the staff that I was concerned about him because he was not gaining weight and was feverish. That is exactly how I found him when I visited briefly in September. He was noticebly lighter than Noah and he was burning up. In my dream I was asking them about getting him home on a medical visa or if MOI could process his file more quickly since he was sick. In my dream they were uninterested in pursuing that.

My dream left me realizing that I just wish that those who have the power to move the adoption process more quickly would feel the urgency that I feel to get kids home. I wish differences in culture and ideas didn't play into things. I wish they understood the love I have in my heart for these precious boys. I wish they understood that EVERYTHING Chuck and I do is weighed against how it would affect the boys and the timing of their arrival home. I wish they knew Jesus because that would change everything. Not know of Him, but truly know Him. Because Jesus changes everything. And He is why I have hope that our boys will be okay no matter how old they are when they get home.

The dream about Samuel happened in the moments before waking up this morning. I found myself willing myself to go back to sleep so I could hold him longer, yet so disturbed by the dream that I wanted to wake up. It was upsetting to dream that he was sick, but I don't dream about the boys very often, so I wanted to soak up holding him in my arms.

Lord, please work to get the abstracts of the boys' birth certificates legalized and the files reviewed and submitted to MOI quickly. Lord, I pray that MOI would notice how long we've been waiting and process our files more quickly. I pray in Jesus' name, the Jesus who changes everything. Amen.

15 comments:

Kathy Cassel said...

I hope your paperwork speeds right into MOI. Keep an eye on this blog as this lady is really plugged in and is working on getting MOI moving more quickly:
http://www.adoptivemomhaiti.blogspot.com/

Terry said...

International adoption is not for the faint of heart! Most people who have never gone through it have no clue. I will be praying for you Juli, for the boys, and for those files to MOVE! In Jesus Name...Terry<><

Anonymous said...

Juli,

This post made me cry. I have not given up hope and I will keep praying.

Anonymous said...

Am praying hard for my grandbabies!
Love,
Mom

Juli said...

Thanks, everyone!

Major Mom said...

I am crying and on my knees in prayer this very moment for you Juli. Your mommas heart need not take anymore of this. Those boys need you. I pray the powers that be feel the urgency that us as adoptive parents feel.

Joni said...

Praying Juli. God can move this moutain.

GOD IS GOOD. . . ALL THE TIME!!
Love, Joni

Anonymous said...

Our house is praying for them (and you & Chuck) and not giving up. We pray every day... they are coming home... I'll be at the airport when they come home... I'm sure we will all be crying "Happy Tears" as Emma says....

Love,

Debbie

Juli said...

Thank you, all of you, for your prayers and love and support. It means the world to us. God will bring them home, I know this.

Natalie said...

Hi Juli,
I am continuously praying on your behalf. I can't wait to rejoice with your family when Noah and Samuel are in your arms in America.
Natalie

Heather said...

Praying Juli.

Anonymous said...

Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Being as specific as we can - and counting on the Holy Spirit to fill in the blanks with those groans, girl!
Love, Terri

Anonymous said...

I am on the prayers sister!

Christi

Unknown said...

OUR GOD IS A GOD OF HOPE. DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT THE BOYS ARE NEVER COMING HOME. I KNOW THEY WILL BE HOME. I THANK GOD THAT YOU TWO HAVE SHOWN YOUR FAITH BY PRESSING ON EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE SAY STUPID THINGS. THANKS FOR HELPING ME GROW IN CHRIST.

WE LOVE YOU ALL. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU.

DAD C.

junglemama said...

Hoping that you bring them home soon. I just blooged about something similar on my blogs. We are adopting a little boy, hopefully as young as possible, and I so want him in my arms already. God Bless your journey.