God answers prayer

Thank you, praying friends!  We saw God move today in some big ways.

First, Isaac’s visa approval:  We were on the phone (that’s the royal we, meaning Kim!) just about every hour checking the status of the application, trying to talk to a supervisor who could actually answer the questions.  Around noon Kim got word that they were trying to email me the approval, but were experiencing technical difficulties.  Arrggghhh.  At 2:52 pm the email popped up in my inbox:  Dear Sir or Madam, Please be advised that your adoption letter is attached…Woohoo!  I sent it on to our adoption agency who then passed it on to the Chinese Consulate.  It should be getting processed when their offices re-open Thursday morning!

Second: We had to do a last-minute appeal for concurrent adoptions, since Charlie is now part of our family.  There are some specific guidelines that our adoption agency and the Chinese agency hold to for families who are adopting multiple children at the same time.  I spent a couple of hours late last night writing our story and answering their questions.  That form was emailed to our home study agency, who had to approve us for concurrent adoptions.  Then they had to give the notice of their approval to our adoption agency.  All that happened this afternoon!

Third:  We have had several people make generous offers to help us take all the non-infant members of Team Sublett to China!  I can’t tell you how blown away I am–words simply can’t be found.  I believed all along that we were supposed to take the children with us, that it would be a bonding experience for our family, and that God has some redemptive work to do in Annabelle and Josie’s hearts.  But I didn’t feel the freedom to ask people for money.  I sensed that the Lord was telling me to ask HIM to provide, and to trust him.  In faith, Kim and I got passports for the children who didn’t already have them, and Kim was ready to apply for travel visas, just in case God opened the door for us to take them.  When I told the family tonight at dinner (Chinese food–what else?!) spontaneous joy erupted!  Sadie was dancing in her seat, Annabelle took a laughing fit, and Josie could hardly restrain herself!  Levi and Lilly tried to act like they knew it all along.  Our family is learning to trust God to provide in unexplainable ways, and this is teaching our children to believe in his power and provision!  From folks offering to buy plane tickets to covering the costs of visa applications to buying us dinner–God is pouring out his blessing on Team Sublett, and we are humbled and grateful.

Please keep praying for Josie’s passport to be approved.  We’ve been told that it’s in process, and should be approved.  As far as I know, that’s just about the last part of the paperwork on our end.  We should hear about Isaac’s visa Friday.  Our Travel Approval should be processed next week, and then we start packing for China.  Sadie ran upstairs during supper to grab her calendar, starting the countdown to China!

God answers prayer, my friends!  Please keep praying for Team Sublett…