(This is being written at 5 p.m. on Thursday)
Before I write about our plan, I thought I would show you our little Miss Bed Head. It takes me half the day to get that snarl out of the back of Eliza’s hair!
Today we sipped some of these….. What do you think that says on the side of my cup? We think it says “Sir,” because when they write it in English it will say “Miss” or “Sir,” and Blake was the sir who got that for me!
We also watched some cooking shows on the lap top. Which is really like pure torture for someone who is so hungry. But it passed the time.
We watched life go on outside our room. Like fish in a fish bowl.
We ate a lot of these. I pretended they were steak. And cake.
Sweet Addie is not well. She has the cold that half of everyone we know in China has.
All of that sums up our day. Except for the plan.
We have spent the rest of our day today in meetings and in prayer as we try to make a plan for all the families that are waiting on the computers at the Consulate to be up and running again. Our latest update from the consulate was at 3:45 p.m. that nothing has changed and they have no idea when things will change.
As far as our family is concerned – we have made a plan.
Blake and Addie Mae will be going back to Wisconsin. If they can get a flight out on Saturday, they will wait until then. If not, we have seats on hold already for tomorrow’s flight, and they will leave first thing in the morning tomorrow morning (Friday). We will be talking to our travel agent at 9 p.m. tonight to see what the options are for flying out on Saturday to finalize that plan.
There is another family here that is part of our plan. The Dad and daughter from that family will be going with Blake and Addie Mae until they reach O’Hare in Chicago where they will part ways.
Eliza and I will be gaining some new roommates! The Mom and new son of this other family will be moving in with us. We will stay here together until we get our visas and then we will travel together as well until we get to O’Hare in Chicago. We love this family and feel SO blessed that they are part of our plan.
Now, there still is a chance that the computers will work again tomorrow and we will get Eliza’s visa then tomorrow as well. If that happens, Blake and Addie may already be gone, and my new roommate and I will fly out on Saturday together. OR, we will all still be here and all fly out together on Saturday, which is our prayer.
If we do not get Eliza’s visa tomorrow, our next earliest chance will be Monday, allowing us to fly home on Tuesday.
Tonight will be a flurry of activity as we finalize Blake and Addie’s plan, figure out what they need to leave behind for me and pack everything else up for them to take home.
I would be lying to say these decisions have been easy. They have not been. Our hearts are very heavy, but we are resting in the Lord’s promises and trusting Him and His will for all of us right now. It will be very, very hard to say goodbye to Blake and Addie Mae. Please pray for us. Please pray for Eliza. All of this change is going to rock her world. Again.
“And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.” Job 11:18
Prayers continue. Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and He will provide!!!
Oh Stephanie! My hearts for all the agonizing that must have gone into this decision. I pray that this special time with you and Elisa alone will only seal the bond further. I pray that having Blake and Addie there on the other side when she gets there will only make things easier for her. God is working out His plan for your good. Know that we are praying for you all. Is there anything we can do from this end to help?
Oh, I can only imagine… Praying harder, knowing God has this. <3
Two things – they sell a great product for snarls in hair. Farouk Royal Treatment and CHI Total Protect. You only need literally a pea size amount on your hand and a comb will glide thru. Emily and I are both hooked on it. If you only choose one – I would go with the Pearl Complex. Secondly, I will pray for your travel plans every time I pray for Don’s. He left at 3 this morning to drive a semi full of food for the needy out to NYC. 2 other men are with him. Emily and I fly out tomorrow to spend the weekend with Spread Truth Ministries and Midwest Food Bank. So…you know I will be covering all of you in prayer since I certainly think of Don constantly. Remember…in this travel delay, you may never know what the Lord is sparing you FROM. Love you.
So do not fear, for I am
with you;
do not be dismayed, for I
am your God.
I will strengthen you and
help you;
I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Praying for you all in this time of tough waiting and moment by moment decision making. Praise the Lord that you can count on the fact that He is in control.~Love, Debi
Oh, I can only imagine how difficult this must be… Praying that things get resolved soon. I know you want to be home as a whole family!
I’m not sure what Addie is doing in that picture, but I really like it! She’s got such a great smile, even through the sickness and emotional things going on with this decision. I’m praying for you all. I know it must be tough, and I’m really empathizing with you. Keep smiling, Addie! It looks so good on you!
In Christ,
Naomi
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