yes, no, maybe

So. Jase's multiple entry visa application for our trip to get Gabe was denied.

Yuck. Yuck.

We've been hoping and praying it would just sail through and although we knew this was a possibility, it's not the news we wanted to hear. WACAP and our courier had both said that ministers have a little more trouble getting into the country than others. So we asked our pastor to write a letter stating that Jase would not be there for church related business. And Jase also wrote one stating that we would be traveling for the purposes of bringing our son home. The courier told us that this will typically suffice.

But the consulate said nada.

Our courier told me that she asked the powers that be there twice to reconsider our request. And they did finally relent to consider a single entry 30 day visa. It will give us a window of 18 days to complete the adoption in country. Which should be more than enough. The single entry scares us a bit since sometimes circumstances warrant that you leave and come back through. At that point, Jase would just have to fly home without us. It is unlikely but possible.

The bigger concern is whether or not they will indeed grant the only visa that they would consider for him, the 30 day single entry. New rules have been made known this week that beginning August 1st, adopting families must show proof of Travel Approval, flight itineraries, and hotel reservations prior to applying for the visa. So that means we must purchase Jason's airfare before we know if they will allow his visa application to stand.

This is nerve racking.

It will also likely postpone our hopeful departure date. WACAP will need time to book our in country flights and lodging and then get that info to us to be able to give to the consulate in order for them to process our applications. Definitely not the end of the world. Just a setback that we didn't want to have happen for several logistical reasons.

We do have a back up plan. And for some reason, even before I knew of the possibility that his visa could be denied, I listed myself as the "petitioner" on our immigration paperwork. That means that if only one of us could travel, it would have to be me. This was months ago and I have no idea why I did it. But I'm grateful now that I did.

So at worse, I would travel by myself to bring Gabe home. We will have guides to help me and I know they could get me to all needed appointments, etc. I just need my husband. And next best, we've asked my sister to consider going if needed. She has generously said she will figure out how to make it happen if necessary. She's always wanted to go to China anyway. And my dear friend, Suzie, is backup number 2. So we've got a few things in the works if it all goes to pot.

More than anything, our prayer is that God would be glorified and that we would honor Him in whatever decisions we have to make. We know that His plan is firmly in place. He is sovereign over the affairs of men and in that, we have peace. Still, we hope that our TA will come quickly {the earliest it could seems to be August 6th} so that travel arrangements can be made more quickly and we can apply for his visa without more trouble. Please join with us in that prayer.

I was reading in my favorite devotional book earlier. Below was the beginning of today's selection. Just what I needed to realign my focus and to remind me that He who called us is faithful. He is surrounding us and though this news brings stress today, He brings peace.

"My soul, consider the mightiness of the Lord, who is your glory and defense. He is a man of war; Jehovah is His name. All the forces of heaven are at His command. Legions wait at His door; cherubim and seraphim, watchers and holy ones, principalities and powers - all are attentive to His will. If our eyes were not blinded by the limitations of our flesh, we would see horses of fire and chariots of fire surrounding the Lord's beloved {see 2 Kings 6:17}"

~Charles Spurgeon