Leaving for China in 6 Days

For those who may have missed the news on travel for Arayla's adoption, we did get our confirmed approval on Wednesday morning (Oct 29). This time next week (Nov 7) we will be in the air moving closer by the minute to our girl. Right now we are about 7445 miles apart.

China (green)  Henan province (yellow)

Over the next 48 hours after travel approval, we were quickly and somewhat frantically booking flights and hotels. Travel arrangements are now set. We depart the US on Nov 7 and return to Nashville on Nov 22 at 6:20 PM. We will spend the first week in Zhengzhou (sounds like Jeng-Joe) which is the capital city of Henan province. Arayla's orphanage is in Sanmenxia, Henan, which is on the Yellow River around 160 miles west of Zhengzhou. She will be driven from Sanmenxia (San-muhn-she-ah) to Zhengzhou for Gotcha day (Nov 10) and will be with us from then on. The adoption paperwork signing and finalization will take place in Zhengzhou on morning of Nov 11. Right after this we will have to drive to Sanmenxia to apply for Arayla's passport. We will then have to wait 3 days for her passport. On the afternoon Nov 14 we will fly to Guangzhou (sounds like Gwong-Joe) where we will be for the remaining 8 nights. Oh by the way, the weather in Zhengzhou is like Chicago and Guangzhou is like Miami. 

There are specific ways you can pray for us, and we appreciate your prayers immensely!

The financial part is one concern. We traveled to China 4 years ago for Nathanael's adoption so we had in our minds how much that trip cost. On Wednesday we would discover airline tickets this time ended up costing about 2,000 more than we expected. Though Arayla weighs the same as some 20 month olds, since she is 3 her tickets cost almost as much as an adult, and our adult tickets are also more than last trip. The following day on Thursday we found our inner China hotel and transportation costs also turned out to be around 2,000 more than the last time we traveled to China 4 years ago. So in 48 hours we slid in a $4,000 hole. All I can say is God will provide!

Please pray for Arayla to have peace and comfort that surpasses our understanding as we meet her for the first time on Nov 10 (Gotcha day). That she would quickly feel safe with us as we "strange white people" bond with her. 

Please pray for our children while at home without us. They will be well cared for and loved by Grandparents and trusted friends while we are gone. Pray for them to have peace in their hearts. They are experiencing a lot of the same uncertainty and anxiety as the parents.

Pray for Keyanna and I to have peace as well. Most times we feel amazingly and inexplicably at ease, thank you Lord! But there are times when we slide into feeling overwhelmed with the amount of things to get lined up before we leave. We also feel the weight of the journey set before us.

There are so many people that are supporting us, praying for us, lifting us up, caring for our children, giving of themselves. It is so beautiful to see the community of God's people, the bride of Christ, loving each other the way we are loved. THANK YOU ALL!!!!! All of us have a short time on this planet. We can either seek to build His kingdom, or we can build our own. Throughout this adoption we have encountered people who are real and living inspiration of the Savior's unending love.  

There is a song that has become the theme song of our journey. God has called all of us to deep waters, to the great unknown, saying "Trust Me, not yourselves." We know this is God's plan, not ours. He has led us this far and He will complete what He started. These lyrics are so beautiful and seem to express our heart's desire as we set out. 

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

Follow us on the blog. I will try to post every day with lots of pictures of the trip and our sweet Arayla Joy. Thank you to all who are praying.

May all Grace, Love and Joy in the Savior Jesus Christ abound in all things. Amen!!!

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--Ephesians 1:4-5