Update

The day after we got our Article 5, our social worker called and let us know that our agent on the ground in China said that it would be approximately 20 days until we get our travel approval.  Of course, all the the times that we get are subject to change, and I have seen various wait times between Article 5's and travel approvals on different blogs (from 7 days to 2 weeks), but still, just getting an approximate timeline set my mind at ease to give me some idea that I can let up on the mind spin of things to remember and just take a few things at a time.  You can probably figure out by now by reading this blog that I love structure-not inflexibility-but order.  

In the mean time I would like to take a moment to give God praise for exceeding our expectations in all ways as we have gone through this process-from our Agency that we have had a wonderful overall experience with, to giving us more adoptive references than we can possibly talk to, to providing us some awesome blogs, to the support and prayers of friends around us.  He has provided for us abundantly financially-though I am not saying in a way where we have not had to be diligent and careful with our dollars.  One of the major themes God has emphasized to me personally throughout this process is that following Christ requires "fixing our eyes on Him"-this is not the same as practicing a religion.  And growing in a relationship with Jesus-like anyone else-requires time with Him, talking (prayer) and listening (in His Word).  Otherwise, you can good deed yourself (even in the name of religion) all over the place until the time, energy and resources that He has provided for you to accomplish the purpose for your life are spent-and you've missed out on His purpose for you and more than that-on knowing Him more.  

 Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame,and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

One way that He has blessed us this summer is by giving us some very fun opportunities with the boys, despite the fact that we didn't want to do an expensive vacation.  We've been able to do a couple of trips now to Six Flags (season passes are the same $ as paying for 2 days on the park!) with free hotel stays both times-thanks to Andrew's hotel points and one business trip that me and the boys tagged along on.  We also went camping recently at Oak Mountain State park, had a visit from the grandparents and have had lots of fun at home together this summer just doing our usual summer activities.  I am sharing this because one thing that I really wanted for us as a family is to have some very special and fun summer times before going to get Kailyn, mainly for the boys sake.  Andrew and I are very anxious to go and get that sweet girl-but I know 5 people who are about to have their world turned upside down for a while-even if she does adjust well to us.  But we have felt like it is important for the boys to have a good break from school and routine before we rock their world with an adoptive sibling.   Even a completely healthy adopted child comes with quite a bit more emotional and developmental needs than a biological child, and therefore requires more attention and intentional care than a biological child-which I have to admit, is hard for me to imagine how that will play out.  Kailyn also has a cleft palate-which is very correctable of course, but still, soon after we get her she will be having surgery and then ear tubes put in.  And those things alone will require a lot of extra care for her from mom and dad and I know the boys are going to be wonderful with loving and caring for her as well.  They have surprised us many times over the last few visits to see their 18 month old little cousin how much they interact and watch out for her.

I am excited to see how God uses this adoption to change all of us-and I think it is a great thing for the boys to be put in a place where they see that the world truly does not revolve around them at such a young age, and yes, there are places in the world that do NOT have a church on every corner, and there really are people who HAVE NEVER heard and MAY NEVER hear the name of Jesus, and following Christ is very costly.  And of course, the many children whose hope of being a part of a family may never come to fruition.  I think that knowing this fact and seeing it first hand are going to be two different things.  We pray that this trip will open our eyes in a way that changes all of our lives for God's glory forever.  

 Our Summer:

Amy

Last Pre-travel Doc issued-Article 5!

Wow.  I can hardly believe that we are finally at this point in the adoption process.  This morning we got an email stating that the last document we were waiting on before we can get travel approval has been issued-Article 5!  Now I really don't know what this document is or does-but I guess that is ok and I really don't care as long as it means that we can bring Kailyn home soon!  My first reaction this morning was Yay!!! (that reaction is for Kailyn!), and then-oh.my.goodess.  The second reaction has nothing at all to do with getting Kailyn but the reality of finalizing travel arrangements, starting to request prescription meds for Kailyn and some general antibiotics for all of us-just in case, wondering if I'll need to schedule an appointment for summer registration at the school for the boys or if we'll be here for the dates already given, if I'll need to request an excused absence for them, make up work?, upgrading calling plans to international, getting a vpn (which will allow us to access our blog and the internet while in China), and just finishing my nesting and packing in general.  I tend to let all of these things float around in my mind until I can check them off the list, and I put pressure on myself because at the same time of all of this, I still want to maintain the point of summer for the boys-to be relaxed, spend time with them and do lots of fun things.  

That is all I have for now, and I am hoping to post a list of specific prayer requests before we travel.  We are grateful to all who have followed us on this journey and have kept us in your prayers.  

Amy

Food for Thought - The Faith of China

I have had on my mind to do a post about some of the religious statistics about China, and specifically what we've learned about Kailyn's city now that we have that information.  As followers of Christ, adoption is a joy and a gift instituted by God himself, as we as believers have been adopted as sons through faith in his son Jesus Christ.  And in that, God's purpose was to bring us into relationship with him through Jesus that we may grow in the "grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"  2 Peter 3:18.  And so the same goes for earthly adoption, our purpose for bringing a little sweetheart into our home is so much more than to expand our family or to meet the physical and emotional needs of a child (although these are very much a part of it!) 

So I am simply going to try and give you some food for thought to those of you who are interested (there is so much info available) about the state of faith in China, and ask that you would pray for this nation.


Kailyn's City- Yichun, in the Jiangxi Provence (From Wikipedia)

Yichun has a profound Buddihist culture.   The monastic rules for Buddhists at the Buddhist temple  originated from Yichun.  The Yangshan Scenic Spot in Yichun is an important birthplace of Buddhism in South China.  
Here is a recent article on persecution that Christians face  -Fox News Feb 21, 2013

Fox News -Persecution of Christians in China


This is a list of worldwide Unreached Unengaged people groups with populations over 25,000 that have no known full time workers involved in evangelism and church planting.  You can scroll down the page and use the codes given to see the vast need for the Gospel in China.

Finishing the Task-UUPG


Here is what wikipedia shows as a breakdown of religion in China-with nonreligious (atheist/agnostic) as 42% and Christian as 4%.  According to World Population Review the Chinese government  released data confirming China with a population of 1,354,040,000 in 2013.

Wikipedia-Religion in China



So are there legal Christian churches in China?  Yes-but legal churches and Christians must be registered and are regulated by the Chinese government.  Thus-the spread of house churches.

http://www.billionbibles.org/china/three-self-church.html

http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-persecution-in-china-rises-over-40-percent-in-2012-chinaaid-reports-89542/

http://www.chinaaid.org/2011/11/clarifying-some-misconceptions-about.html



We talked to a family who also adopted from China and they told us that they had the option to attend an International Christian Church in Beijjing on Sunday-a local storekeeper (citizen) encouraged them to go but told them he was not allowed to go.  This article testifies to this as well.

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/38782-is-persecution-of-christians-in-china-as-bad-as-they-say




Ephesians 1:5-6   In love  he (God) predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ,according to the purpose of his will,  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Amy

p.s. I have no idea why some of the paragraphs are highlighting themselves white:)

Travel gets closer:)

I realized that if you are only viewing this blog from a phone than you probably can't see the adoption timeline.  Well, today we received the letter from the NVC and I was able to add to our timeline that the Letter from the State Department's National Visa Center for Kailyn to be classified as an immediate relative had been forwarded to the consulate in Guangzhou on May 25.  We also received our passports back with our visas.  According to our adoption agency, these are the only steps in the adoption process that are left:

Nvc letter and other documents dropped off at us consulate
Article 5 issued and taken to cccwa in Beijing
Travlel approval issued
Apply for consulate appointment
Travel!

We can hardly believe how fast things seem to be moving and my mind is spinning with things to do and prepare!  

Amy