This was originally a post back in February, but we thought we would add it here too!
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We have a travel information update... No, we don't have word on when we're traveling yet. Are you kidding? We'll blog about that as soon as we know! We're aiming for traveling late summer-ish (please, Lord, August at the latest... our munchkins are waiting). We think late July or August is a reasonable guesstimate.
Our travel update is not about when do we leave, but the logistics. Remember, our two boys are in different provinces so we have to go to three different provinces if you include traveling to the U.S. Consulate. This means that if Jason and I travel together we can expect about a week in each province. Yup, that would be minimum 21 days. Three weeks. Three-quarters of a month. In another country where we don't speak the language, we can't drink the water, we are eating in restaurants every meal, we are dealing with jet-lag and government appointments and not driving each other crazy, and doing all this while we are running on adrenaline from the excitement of finally meeting our sons and trying to bond with these two beautiful little munchkins while missing our #1 son on the other side of the world.
What's that saying... If He brings you to it, He'll bring you through it. We know adding these two boys to our family will stretch us beyond our comfort zone. We know that while we're in China we will be uncomfortable and waaaaaaay out of our element. These are just the inconveniences and discomfort of life, and it is so temporary. And God has such a greater purpose for us. It is not about us. He is driving this bus, all we have to do is trust and go along for the ride. We can do this for three weeks.
If we had to.
But we'll choose
what's behind
door #2...
We emailed the CCAI travel gurus and we do have a two week option. If Jason and I split up for the first week, we can git 'er done in 14-16 days. (This is the typical length of a single adoption in China.) We prayed about it, we talked about it, and we're doing it. Jason is going to pick up David in northern Shanxi province. I am going to pick up Samuel in southern Henan province. We will both have in-China CCAI representatives available 24/7. The difference is that I will probably be in a travel group with other Americans who are adopting, and Jason will probably be in his own travel group by himself. We can do this. It is only a week. We're already leaning on God throughout this process, might as well keep on trusting that this is His deal and His idea. Who else could orchestrate something so beautiful?
The three week travel trip would give us each other to lean on the whole time. The two week travel trip gets us home faster. Either way it isn't about us. Let's enjoy China while we're there, but let's get these boys home a week sooner. We'll trust that this is His idea.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
