Update

I wanted to let everyone know that we did get fingerprinted on the 25th and so begins our wait for immigration approval (I 171H). This can take, on average, any where from 2-3 months. With Isaiah it was much quicker and, of course, we are hoping for the same. I did request special consideration due to Jin Ming's condition and are praying that request will be honored.

On another note, we are asking for prayer concerning our agency's Hague accreditation, which is still pending. I'll try to explain this as simply as possible. China has become a part of the Hague nations and all agency's must follow certain guidelines in order to become accredited and to continue their China adoptions. Adoption agency's have been working with our government to meet these requirements by April 1st. For those agencies like ours (CHI), whose cases are still pending, concerns about delays and suspensions have arisen. The State Department told CHI that as long as I-600A's (ours was filed 3/14/08) were filed by the 4/1 date all should be fine. China's Center for Adoption Affairs has not stated that this will be THEIR policy. They could suspend any agency's adoptions that have not already been logged in (dossiers/all paperwork in China), until Hague approval is granted. This is where we need prayer for favor with the Chinese government and for our government to complete the cases of "pending" agencies as soon as possible.

We will not have our dossier ready until well after this date. We are hoping by that time all things will have been worked out, but it can still affect us and many other families. We knew this adoption would require more trust and a stretching of our faith, but noone ever knows exactly what that will look like. As everything continues to unfold, I am reminded in a deeper way that He truly is our sheild and fortess in times of trouble.

We know, through other families that have had contact with Jinny's orphanage, that she knows she has a family waiting for her. We are still hoping to send her something soon to let her know who we are. We pray as the process unfolds that she will be surrounded with His lovingkindness and have peace in her wait.