Spread Across the Continents

So, as you may have figured out, Adrienne is still in Nairobi and I (Dale) am back in Canada.

Sorry for the break in blog entries, but between the craziness of travel and inconvenience of the place we were staying at in Nairobi just made updates very difficult.

As Ady mentioned, we are pretty much in the waiting game right now. Everything on the adoption is complete except getting the immigration visa so Epimaque can come home. Unfortunately, Immigration Canada is not forth coming in giving any kind of time line other than sometime in the next 2 years.

Immigration is a very confusing and frustrating process, and Ady, Chad and I spoke about this a few times when we first got to Nairobi from Kigali. I asked, what is the one most critical piece of advice you would give prospect adoptive parents about international adoption? They both answered without hesitation, "Don't travel until ALL the paper work is done." The problem with this, we all instantly recognized is that if the adoptive parents are not present and in the face of the officials, the work does not get processed. So, had we waited for all the paper work, it would have added time on to our process.

And where we don't think the visa will take 2 years, but really only a matter of weeks, if we waited for Immigration to do this on their own, it would take several more months.

So waiting will make the process easier (or at least, less stressful) it would mean our son would still be in the orphanage and most likely would be for at least 6 months extra. In the midst of the struggle, it is tiring and overwhelming, but honestly, getting Epimaque out of the orphanage sooner rather than later is worth it.

But, we would ask for lots of prayer. Now that I am back in Canada, I have a little perspective on what to pray for:

1. speedy visa issuance

2. grace, grace, grace

3. favour with Canadian officials

4. and this is where the new perspective comes from - freedom from spiritual oppression. I realized, especially today during our church service here, that Nairobi is a very oppressive city. And I think further complicated by the adoption process, which is bringing freedom to a child. Bringing freedom to children is the heart of our Father, and conversely, the ire of our enemy. Pray for release of this oppression for Ady and Chad as they are still in Nairobi.

On the home front, it was so wonderful to see our other kids again and get hugs, cuddles and kisses from them.

What a torn place to be in right now - enjoying the kids here and tremendously missing Ady and Epimaque in Nairobi.

God, let Your Kingdom come!

-dale