5 Days and Counting.....

Well, it has been almost 3 weeks since we have been able to talk to Vanya.  We did receive an email from him the other day that said he was getting increasingly sad as he misses us and is wondering when we will arrive.  It was so wonderful to be able to email him back and tell him that we'll be seeing him in just 1 more week.

We thought we might give you all our tentative schedule of events while we're in Ukraine, but please do "follow" us there for all that awaits as we finalize our adoption.  We 're planning on giving lots of updates while we're there and we look forward to continuing this journey with all of you.  Again, we would ask that you cover us in prayer as we go.

Sunday, October 2 - fly out of Philly
Monday, October 3 - arrive in Kiev
Wednesday, October 5, 9:00am - Have our SDA (State Department of Adoptions) appointment to identify Vanya as the child we wish to adopt and be interviewed
Thursday, October 6 - receive and accept the official referral for Vanya.  Receive the necessary paperwork that allows us to visit with him at the orphanage.
- Take an overnight train to Vanya's region
Friday, October 7 - SEE VANYA and try not to hurt him when we hug him!!!!!
approx.  October 19 - 1st court hearing in region
Friday, October 21 - Jim comes home
approx.  October 19-29 - Mandatory 10 day waiting period
approx. October 30 - 2nd court hearing declaring Vanya as our child!!!!  We officially become 7 Moynihans!
approx. October 31 - Vanya and Wendy take a train to Kiev
approx. Nov. 1-8 - Vanya and Wendy process medical exams, documentation, Visa interview, etc.
Wednesday, November 9 - Vanya and Wendy return home!!!

Specific prayer requests include, but aren't limited to :)...

• Smooth and safe travelling
• Smooth and efficient processing of all documentation
• For the well being and stamina of our kids at home and those watching over them while we're away
• For Vanya as he brings closure to his life and relationships in Ukraine and anticipates his life in America
• For us to share the love of Christ with all those we'll have the opportunity to interact with including our adoption team, Ukrainian officials, orphans, and Vanya's loved ones. 

Lastly, we'd like to share a song that has recently both ministered to us and challenged us.  We'd like to share this in honor of Wendy's sister and brother-in-law, Kristen and Karmen Friesen, who for almost 2 decades have worked tirelessly in the name of Jesus for mercy and justice on behalf of many worldwide.  They have also played a major role in our adoption process and we thank God for them!

Flights are booked!!!

WOW......We're leaving in less than 2 weeks to go get our boy.  Today, we were able to firm up our travel plans and we're scheduled to leave on Sunday, October 2nd.....after Jim preaches, of course!    We will have time to visit with Vanya, but will also have lots of appointments and paperwork to complete as well.  Our trip will be divided between time in Kiev and time in Vanya's region, which is about a 12 hour train ride away from Kiev.

We would covet your prayers for a smooth, safe trip and for our kids back at home while we're away.  We also want to take the opportunity to thank each of you for your love, support, prayers, encouragement and financial gifts to our family these past few months.

Please continue to follow our blog as we hope to share the many experiences yet to come.

We got our due date.....I mean....We got our court date

We just found out about 25 minutes ago that we have been invited to meet with the SDA in Kiev, Ukraine on October 5 at 9:00 to begin the final portion of our adoption process!  We are thrilled to share this with you all who have been faithfully praying to this end with us.

We will be working out travel details in the next couple of days and will be sure to keep you all updated.  We thank God for His continued blessing on our adoption.

"Strength" or "Stress"?

For those of you who know our family really well, you might be able to guess the 2 males in our family who have the ability to change the lyrics to songs, whether for the better or for the worse.  You can all guess the one, and the other one, is Jonathan.

So, we're all at the breakfast table this morning and a few of the kids broke out in singing one of our favorite songs, "Everlasting God".  We got to the part that says, "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.  We will wait upon the Lord."  Jonathan belts out, "Stress will rise as we wait upon the Lord.  We will wait upon the Lord".  I looked at him and after some laughter realized that this was EXACTLY how I woke up feeling this morning!   (I also thanked him for the inspiration I needed for this new blog post.)

We are definitely in a quiet time of waiting.  The majority of the time, God has been good to lead me into a quiet trust in Him.  However, somewhere between yesterday and today, my heart has chosen to start worrying about our adoption process again.....worrying about Vanya's welfare right now.....worrying about all that is ahead.  Worry is sin and it rejects the very character of God....His power, His goodness, His faithfulness, and His sovereignty.  I have confessed it as sin and as I continue to choose to trust, I do ask once again for your prayers.

The times where I have felt my strength rising as I wait upon the Lord as opposed to my stress rising as I wait upon the Lord have been when:  1) The Holy Spirit ministers deeply to my soul, 2)  You, our friends and family have given your love, support, prayers, and encouragement, and 3) When I have simply made the volitional choice not to worry.

Are any of you waiting?  What a gift we have to pray for each other!  If you could use a little encouragement, I've included the link to this song.

Thanks again to each of you for your gifts of love in all the aspects of this journey.  We will be sure to keep you up to date as we get any news from Ukraine!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhMdWjL2kiU&fmt=18