We are Going to China!

Our prayers have been answered! We received our consulate appointment for July 9th! This was our first choice as it allows us to get Maeli home before the consulate closes in July and it gives us almost a month at home before school starts! That means we will meet our daughter next week! God has shown His power in a mighty way! Praise be to God.

My intentions for blogging earlier in the week were interrupted by the need to make travel plans including airline tickets that seem to increase by the minute! Again, God blessed us with friends who donated miles to help us bring our daughter home.  All arrangments are set and we are ready to go to China!!!  From flights, to hotels, to packing, to orphanage donations, God has worked it ALL out!  The to-do list(s) have been long, but with the help of friends and family:  It's complete!

We stand in awe at the wonderful way God uses His people to bless His people. We could never monetarily repay all those who have helped financially, with their talents, giving of their resources, or the power of their prayer during this journey. Please know how thankful we are by all the kindness and generosity you've shown! I'll post our itinerary tonight!



Much Love,
- Jessica

Travel Approval!

It's amazing how the adoption process can go weeks without any change and then within a matter of days, the process is moving quickly!  Our agency requested an expedited travel approval for Maeli when it was dropped off Friday, June 14th.  We received word Wednesday, June 19th, that Maeli's travel approval had been processed!  So essentially we had a 3 day travel approval wait!  Recently the system for processing travel approvals has been updated and wasn't printing for almost 3 weeks!  There are still many glitches and families waiting, so please keep them in your prayers!  We all want our children home as soon as possible and there seems to be no logical processing.  Then there's the consulate closure to move offices that will take place from July 12-23 in which no visas will be issued.  Any families that receive travel approval in the coming weeks will have to wait until the consulate starts processing visas again on July 24th.  Visa appointments are limited, so that could mean that families have wait another week for a slot.  Ultimately, the closure could create a three to four week delay if an appointment isn't available.  I'm amazed at how God shows His power and grace in a BIG way after months of disappointment and waiting.  I've begged God to bring Maeli home before school starts back.  I'd love to have several weeks at home with her before she begins school and a new routine.



Our official travel approval arrived Friday morning, so we have requested a Consulate Appointment (CA) for July 9, 10, 11, 24, or 25.  We are fervently praying for a July 9-11 date.  That means we would be leaving this week to go get our girl since finalization in province occurs a week before your consulate appointment.  It's amazing to think this time next week we may be flying to China to meet our daughter!!!  The to-do list is a mile long and we are certainly ready to travel if we can.  If we receive a July 24 or 25 date, we will leave on July 13.  We will know in the morning if one of our first three appointments are honored.  I don't think I'll be sleeping tonight.  I've been pretty emotional the past couple of days thinking about our journey to her.  I'm putting my hope in God that He has this.  He's had her in His hands from the beginning and I am at peace knowing that He will be holding her until I can get there.  Praying BIG and waiting for Him show His glory in her story!

Happy Father's Day Dad!

A certain precious girl half-way across the world managed to send Father's Day love to her Dad! Praying she can experience just how wonderful her Daddy is soon!




- Jessica

unSTUCK in Immigration... Again

It's been 5 very long weeks since my last post. Mostly, because we've been STUCK, again, in immigration. Maeli's visa application was sent to the US Embassy in China on May 9th and was scheduled to be processed and picked up May 23rd. Given the long delays with immigration previously and the fact that Maeli is considered an older child, our agency requested an expedited Article 5 (visa application) processing. However, we were never contacted prior to the two weeks that it was ready for pickup. In fact, when our agency representative went to pick up the approval letter on May 23rd, she was told Maeli's visa was not ready.
After many phone calls, emails, and congressional inquiries, we were told that given the unique nature of Maeli's case, they didn't need additional information but were asking for input from "experts" to make sure she met immigrant status. If there is one thing I've learned through this process, it's that things can change quickly. When I actually called the Embassy and talked to our officer, he was very nice and indicated that her case would be processed as soon as possible. Three weeks went by after our first phone call and I began to allow my thoughts to take me places that faith would not have allowed me to go. What if they deny her visa? What if they ask for additional information and it delays the process for several more months? What if? What if? And then I was reminded of the scripture I've prayed over and recited many times the past several months: Isaiah 41:10 "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." God is fighting. Maeli is His daughter. He has captured my tears and He has this. I can't understand His ways. It's easy to ask why... But it's about Faith and Hope. Faith that He's in control. And Hope in His promises that gives peace through this journey to our daughter.



Those who know me best, know that this journey has been HARD. It's been devastating to think about our daughter being so far away without us. And it's been exhausting trying to control things that are completely out of my control. I've failed being Faithful many days to His promise of Hope and finding Joy. Trust me, many times. But through this journey, my personal relationship with God has been strengthened and relationships with friends and family have been strengthened. But most of all, God's glory has been shown because this adoption is truly a miracle and only He can get credit for making this journey possible.
Speaking of hope, just when I had given up hope to receive news for the week, God blessed us....Again! We received an email on that Maeli's visa is approved and ready for pick-up!!!!



The timing was perfect. With the consulate moving in July, there will be a two week delay in appointments. This is where we go in order to finalize Maeli's adoption before coming back to the states. In order to schedule her consulate appointment, we need travel approval from China. Recent system changes have created a backlog and delay in travel approvals. Typically, travel approvals are issued within 7-21 days. So, we wait again for God to come through and provide a way for her to come home in time to adjust before school starts in August.

Mother's Day Love from China

Oh. My. Heart! There just aren't enough words to describe how amazing it was to receive this email on Saturday... God is so good!
A Mother's Day card from Maeli:
(click on the photo to enlarge)







- Jessica

Birthday Photos and We are Cabled!!!

It's been an exciting week!  After three months of immigration delay, the last week has been full of movement and surprises!  As I mentioned before, we sent Maeli a cake and a care package for her birthday on April 12th.  We hoped to receive some photos of her birthday party and they finally arrived!  It looks like she had a wonderful time with her friends and the worker at the orphanage.  She looks happy which makes my heart full!

Yesterday, we received our GUZ #.  It's the account number that the embassy in China will use to process Maeli's visa and our immigration request.  This afternoon we received email confirmation that our file was "cabled" or emailed to the embassy in China where our agency representative will drop off Maeli's visa application along with some other documents to begin the process for issuing her visa.  This step is critical and provides final approval of her immigration status.  We are praying that things are processed quickly at this step. This step usually takes exactly 2 weeks.  Once the approval (Article 5 letter) is picked up, it is delivered to the CCCW@ where they will issue travel approval (TA)!!!

Since there are upcoming closures at the end of May that could delay our TA approval, we are requesting an expedite for our Article 5.  We hope this expedite request will be honored and we will be processed without delay as we have been unnecessarily delayed for 11 weeks!  If the expedite is approved we could be waiting for TA sooner!  Our Article 5 is scheduled to be dropped off tomorrow night (May 9 China time).  It's SO exciting to think we are getting closer to our daughter.  Just typing that makes my heart beat faster!  There is lots to do here at home, but I would love nothing more to hop on a plane and bring our sweet girl home!!!  She has been told that things are moving again and I can't wait to hug our sweet girl and let her know that her Mama loves her very much!  Please pray the expedite is approved and we are waiting for Travel Approval soon!  If it isn't expedited, I feel comfort knowing that it isn't God's timing but I did all I can to help bring her home as soon as possible.  GOD is good and I trust His timing!

Blessings!

I800 Approval!!!

I800 Approval-it feels SO good to type those words!  I'm still amazed at how fast it came!  But God isn't!!!  I had mentally prepared myself that it would most likely be the end of next week before we received approval but secretly hoped I'd hear something on Friday...  I love when God blesses us with awesome surprises!  I was completely caught off guard as I sat at my desk today, the phone in my office rang: "unknown number."  Thinking who could that be, I picked up the phone and answered in my usual "Hello, this is Jessica Johnson."  The voice on the end of the line greeted me with "Hello, this is Officer ------.  I am calling to let you know...." as she said those words my heart sank.  Could she have had time to read all 137 pages, is something wrong with our package, did all the pages make it, did they find an error? "That your I800 has been approved and I will be forwarding your file to the National Visa Center today."  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  As I sat in my chair, tears streaming down my face, such emotion captured me and it was all I could do to stay calm and collected for the remainder of the phone call.  I thanked her a few (maybe 10) times and she reminded me that this is provisional approval and the ultimate decision came from the US Embassy in Guangzhou.  I gently reminded her that I was aware and we would pray it through just as we did this.  And then that was it...  So many joyous emotions and sighs of relief all created in a simple 2 minute phone conversation.  I've learned that emotions and circumstances can change quickly in the adoption process and it was wonderful after the difficult and emotionally draining weeks we have endured to experience such joy and happiness with one word-approved.

As soon as I hung up the phone, my colleagues could tell, kinda, what had happened.  The happy cry kicked in full force and I'm sure some observers were wondering why the crazy crying lady was stomping her feet and squealing and throwing her arms in the air!  Let's just say that's my way of praising God for showing His power and mercy!  Of course Ryan was ecstatic when I called to share the news.  Our adoption agency was overjoyed that we had cleared this hurdle and our attorney rejoiced that our daughter is "un"STUCK.  We give God the glory for putting people with specific talents in our paths, or giving us strength and direction, for showing His sovereignty, and for fighting for her!

So, what's next?  We hope that our file will be electronically sent (cabled) to the Embassy in China by the end of next week.  This will allow Maeli's visa application to be approved.  After the file is sent there is a standard two week wait for approval.  This is called the Article 5 letter.  Once we get the letter, China needs it to give us Travel Approval.  Travel approval typically takes 1-2 weeks to be issued.  As soon as we receive Travel Approval we will begin to book flights to go to China.  So, in 4-5 weeks we hope to be making flight arrangements... Just in time for Ryan's birthday!

Much love and thanks for everyone who has prayed, cried and rejoiced with us.  The journey is not over but certainly a significant mountain has been moved.  We ask that you pray for those at the Embassy in China who will do the final review of our file.  Please pray that they will approve it without delay and our sweet girl will be in our arms in a few weeks!