Some Specific Prayer Needs

Dear Family & Friends,

I heard from Jim earlier today and he asked me to ask all of you to pray very specifically over the next few days about the remainder of the process.

First, he said that it was snowing like crazy in Tulchyn today--by evening 4-5 inches had fallen and it was still coming down hard. All of this snow may make it hard for them (Jim, Matt & Svetlana, our facilitator) to travel to Lidizjan (Roman's birthtown) to get a copy of Roman's birth certificate--the roads are pretty hazardous without snow so you can imagine that they will be harder to navigate in such conditions. Please pray that they would be able to go and for safe travel to and from Lidizjan.

Second, Svetlana told Jim today that she knew of several families who are currently in the process of obtaining their adopted children's passports and it was taking a very long time to receive them and she is concerned about how long it will take to get Roma's. If it takes longer than a few days to get the passport it may mean that Jim & Roma would have to come home later than the projected date of Jan. 17th (next Thurs.) and changing their tickets is not only a hassle but it is VERY expensive. It would be very hard and discouraging for us if he was unable to come home by next week, especially as the children are counting down the days until they see their Daddy and meet their new brother. Please pray that God would go before them and make a way. Pray for God to give Svetlana wisdom. Pray that God would give Jim great peace during this time of uncertainty.

Third, there is also some concern that the special power of attorney that I had done in the U.S. and translated in Kiev may not be enough. Svetlana has said that sometimes the officials at the birth certificate office and the passport office want to see both Mama and Papa. Please pray that all those who need to see this document would accept it without hesitation and allow Jim to act on my behalf.

On a side note...Jim sounded great and said that he and Matt were having a great time. They had "church" yesterday--listened to a great John Piper sermon and had a wonderful time of worship and prayer...so wonderful that they lost all track of time and were up until 3 am praying! They are enjoying the snow but it is making walking back and forth to the orphanage (about 1 mile each way) a little difficult. He said that today the workers not only let him feed Roma lunch and dinner but actually put him in his bed after lunch for nap and at bedtime this evening--he was loving it. They bought smaller markers today at the market and Roma loved them--easier to hold than the fat crayons--and enjoyed coloring with them. Jim also took in the ipod and played some music for Roma--he LOVED it! He and Matt had a great time playing with him today.

Jim also told me that earlier tonight he and Matt had some interesting visitors at the door...the first visitors rang the doorbell and upon the opening of the door broke into song! Of course Jim and Matt thought this was great but when the people wouldn't stop singing they decided they better ring Albina's flat to see if she could explain why the people would not leave. Apparently, on Christmas Day (today is Orthodox Christmas) there is a tradition that people "carol" from house to house singing and they don't stop singing until you give them money!! Albina's mom told Jim that they would sing there all day until Jim or Matt gave them some money...of course they paid up! ha....ha...ha...

The second visitor was an older lady...she rang the bell of the flat and was talking on and on in Ukrainian to Jim and Matt--of course they had no idea what in the world she was saying. So once again they rang Albina's flat and asked for help...the old lady is a known widow who lives in the town and she has no relatives to care for her and is unable to work so she goes inside to the apartments and begs for food. She was not looking for money, just food to get by for the day. Jim said that they felt so bad for her and they went inside and gave her some food. It is sad to think that this woman in her old age has no one and that she must beg just to survive...As Jim shared this story with me I was reminded of Matthew 25:35-40 where Jesus says, "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’" It is easy to overlook the least and last of this world, but what a great challenge given by Jesus to remember that when we serve the least, the last and the lost we are serving Him.

Thank you for praying and walking through this journey with us...We love you!

Love and blessings,
Karen & Jim