Tell the official-" timeout"

Based on the fact that we went to the court house yesterday to check with the judge about when the court decree could be picked up, and based on the fact that she indicated no sooner than April 8th at 9:00am, we had some choices to make. A standard waiting period after court to pick up the court decree (all sewn with thread and stamped thoroughly all over) is 10 days. Our robed official has indicated that she is packing 10 days into 14 days. We opted for Chris to come home tomorrow (March 28th)with Kelsey and Vickie, who were already set to return on this day. Later, Chris will make a return trip when the paperwork is ready. This is not easy for our kids, or for us, but there are not alot of options with the length of this overall process stretching off and on over several months now. Even though it has been quite a process, we have sensed God's surpassing peace in us through this time and even through the uncertainty of the court. It really seems that His Spirit has created many of the road blocks to allow us to fully prepare for life with these 3 new ones, and for them to see more truth and love from Him through us. In fact, they are having to learn to trust us more because of the process (that we really will return each time we leave!). Remember ministry is our life being lived out on our turf or on theirs, and God supplies grace for both.

Yesterday was another exciting ministry day in a couple of ways. One was that we found out that a couple from America that we had shared and prayed with over dinner on Wednesday night got good news about a child in another region of Ukraine, and they went today to meet the child. They actually called us before flying there to thank us for talking with them because they were ready to fly home and call it quits before we met. A second good thing was the chance to have dinner with Sue Boycott from Birmingham. She had come to Ukraine to visit a child she met on a hosting program and file documents with the embassy for her. It was great to be able to help her with the metro and to have some good conversation with her.

We've spent the day doing some back and forth between notary offices to make sure we have an early start on the "last leg of the relay" so to speak. The highlight for the afternoon has been to go to a nearby shopping area and watch our little man Kory bounce on a bungee machine like a rubber ball. He tested the limits of the elastic ropes and made the attendant really nervous as he did double back flips. A grandmother seated near by was fascinated to watch him, I think she enjoyed it more than us. Later this evening, it will be time to take everyone back to their same ole' place until a few days from now, when liberation comes full scope. Please pray for our flights and the connections to make it home tomorrow night. We want each of you to know how thankful we are to have you as friends and family, and how God has strenghtened us to go forward through your prayers and encouraging words to us. We have experienced life in the body of Christ even 7,000 miles away from you.