We just heard that the Wagners [missionaries we support] were granted a one year medical visa for Little F (the little girl who needs heart surgery). Little B's paperwork followed Little F's to the capitol by a few days, and if he can obtain a one year medical visa, it would be an astounding answer to prayer! Please pray with us - we should know by the end of the week and will keep you updated. Thank you so much! 
I love this picture of Little B in the orphanage . . . a little scratch on his face, but it's masked by a smile!

UPDATE: We called the administrator of the orphanage, and he said we could bring Little B to the US next week, if we have a letter from a doctor stating that he will see Little B just to evaluate him, without accruing any cost. We cannot go forward with treatment or tests, but we will at least be able to have him examined to assess and determine what type of treatment is necessary to improve his quality of life.

Our missionaries are in the final stages of paperwork before leaving with Little F who needs heart surgery; therefore, we have decided to pursue this option as an open door from the Lord because . . . we heard back from Hershey today, and they are unable to help us with any finances from their Charity Fund nor is the organization we originally contacted back in August.

The cost is daunting, but . . . "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it. . ." so we look to him! and hope to raise some of the necessary funds before and while Little B is here if, indeed, he is able to come.

Please PRAY . . . bringing Little B here now depends on proof of funding for his medical intervention. If this happens within the next few days, he might be able to come this month . . . if not, it most likely will be 2010. The reason behind this is that our missionaries and the administrator of the orphanage cannot wait any longer to bring F to the States and so, within the next week or two, they will make their flight plans. Obviously, we would prefer Little B to come sooner as opposed to later :-) We'd love to get him started on medical treatment now and have him here for Thanksgiving and Christmas; however as it stands now, he'll be coming in 2010 (and turning seven years old!) unless the Lord intercedes on his behalf . . . which we know he can do if it's his will.

Hershey Medical Center has come up with the estimated cost of the tests Little B will need. YIKES! It's a big price to swallow . . . and it goes right along with our path not being made easy . . . this isn't something that we are going to do ourselves or take the credit for. . . we are relying on the faithful hand of our God to provide for His child. Hershey has submitted the estimated costs to their charity overseer and may possibly be able to provide some charity funds in addition to the four doctors who have already said they will provide their services pro-bono!Our little peanut is an expensive little guy :-) But as Pastor Imbumi Makuku says, " A price tag cannot be put on one made in the image of God."

In our young adult Bible study tonight at Calvary, Beau Eckert talked about God's promise to Abraham and Sarah: to make their descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth and the stars in the sky. The years passed, Abraham and Sarah were old, and worst of all Sarah was barren. It is a story of waiting, and waiting and waiting . . . and a lesson of trusting in God, for His timing and clinging to Him despite the impossible. God's timing is so often not our timing . . . but it is all-knowing and perfect. We can't see the beautiful tapestry God is weaving, or the colorful painting He is illustrating, for we only see in part. We see a thread, we see a brush stroke, and our hearts want to cry out in despair---but God's sweeping gaze covers the vast ocean of eternity, and He sees and knows how each detail is working together to make up the bigger picture.

And it wasn't just Abraham and Sarah who waited on God's promise as they faced the bleakness of being barren; it was their son Isaac and his wife Rebekah (who was barren), and Isaac's son Jacob and his wife Rachel (who was barren). Three generations of the Lord bringing these men wives who were barren! Why? Especially after God's promise? Numerous descendants? Why wouldn't God just provide them with fertile women? What was going on? It was so that through the impossible God might be seen at work . . . so that man could not take any credit . . . it was God's hand and clearly God's hand alone that raised them up . . . and it was so people would know that He is GOD ALMIGHTY . . . and all the glory might go to His name . . . man could not boast in this . . . man could take no credit . . .there was no other way that anyone could get credit except God Himself!

This whole reflection made me think of our little guy, and all the details surrounding the process of bringing him here and everything that has happened so far . . . we cannot control it. It isn't according to "our time." The financial issue continues, and the paperwork continues. Yet in His own time, God will bring His plans to pass. We have seen and continue to see His hand at work throughout the whole process, despite the "stumbling blocks" which we've encountered. In the end, God's name will be glorified to the maximum throughout this whole experience!

HOPE! We received very encouraging news from a non profit organization who has offered to assist us by making contacts with donors who may be willing and in a position to help us financially! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month . . .

Today our family did a 5K for Spina Bifida to support our little guy. Mama and Abigail did a prayer walk to uplift him in prayer, while the rest of us ran. Josiah placed first and Joseph placed second (19 & under), Jonathan placed first and Jeremy placed second in the men's age group (20-29) and in the women's division (20-29), Ellen placed first and I placed second. "Ole` Ole` Ole` Ole` Little B! Ganara!"

We have peace regarding the financial situation, reminding ourselves that we must not look to an organization to provide our needs but to the Sovereign LORD. Ultimately, God's Name will be glorified, whether through one organization or through multiple people in the Body of Christ rising up and working together for His glory. If it is God's will to bring Little B over, He will open the doors and provide the funds.

Visas were denied. More paperwork is still needed :-( Legally, we cannot bring Little B over if he is not backed by an organization who will confirm that sufficient funds are in place to cover his medical procedures. Once we have those funds in place, we can proceed.

The picture above is of Little F and the administrators daughter---both girls are the same age.You can see how small Little F is because she was so malnourished before she arrived at the orphanage. She will be three years old in about 4 months.

The administrator of the orphanage called today to say they would be traveling to the capital to try to get the visas tomorrow! On the one hand we're excited, but on the other hand our excitement is guarded because there have been so many delays with the paperwork. The main reason they want to get the paperwork through quickly is because they want to bring two children, Little B and Little F over together, and Little F's heart surgery is time sensitive. 

Our missionaries called today regarding the paperwork still needed for Little B's visa to enter the Sates. We spoke with the organization who previously indicated they would help us and found out they may not be able to help us financillay after all. This seems like a major step backwards for us to get Little B here, and Mama, especially, is very disheartened by the news :-(