I'll try to update as best I can on what's been happening the last few months. At the beginning of June Justin and I traveled to South Carolina to be re-fingerprinted. As we were traveling our phone kept getting flooded with information that exit letters would be issued to Americans soon. 27 Italians had been issued exit letters and we had heard some Belgians had gotten exits too. People in DRC told us to be ready that Americans would be next. There were only a handful of files that were submitted to the DGM (including ours) so we knew we had to be one of them. This was the first time we had gotten our hopes up in MONTHS. We even started to think out plans for our travel. The United States Embassy issued a notice that day that 15 (American) children would be issued exit letters and the families would be notified by the next day. I woke up several times that night to check my email. The next day I continually checked my phone waiting for an email. Justin call several times to see if the notification had come. NOTHING. Our lawyer, our agency, even the Embassy couldn't give us a reason as to why we weren't one of the families to get an exit letter. The families that were stuck with Justin didn't get exit letters either and they are STILL in Africa. I still don't know how the DGM decided which 15 children could get exit letters, but I am truly happy for them, even if we weren't one of them. 15 more children are HOME with their families.
So after being beyond disappointed Justin and I continued to work on getting our visas and the boys' U.S. visas updated so that we can be ready when it is time to go. Even though our hearts were crushed it is positive that there has been movement at the DGM, and that hasn't happened in MONTHS. They (DGM) have also agreed to review cases of the families who met their requirements they issued back in October. We don't know when or how long it will take them to review these cases or even if they will do anything about it. So as of now we are PRAYING that they will review our case (and all the other families) and issue exit letters. And above all else we are praying that the suspension will be lifted and all the families who have completed adoptions can go get their children.
Even though it's extremely hard to be separated from the boys I am incredibly thankful for the family that is caring for Canaan and Neema. Esther is beyond amazing. She cares for our 2 little guys AND a 1 year old little boy and 7 month old little girl. She has her hands full to say the least. Justin's trip was not in vain because now the boys are with a FAMILY and they are being taken care of. No more sitting in an orphanage and drinking dirty water. The boys are loved and hugged on everyday. I talk with Esther almost every day and she sends me pictures and videos of the boys all the time. Justin and I will forever be connected to Glenn and Esther. I can't praise these couple enough.
Esther said today that the boys have grown almost a centimeter per month since Justin has left (4 months ago). It makes me sad because they are growing up so fast and I'm missing it. It's been 16 months since our adoption was COMPLETED. Insane. I've been a mother for 16 months to 2 little boys I've never met. I don't understand why and I'm still questioning God as to why He's doing this but we trust that He is good. He is ALWAYS good and His plans are ALWAYS best. I know He has chosen us to walk this road and be the parents to these two little guys, but man has it been hard. Continue to pray for us. I will not stop begging God until Canaan and Neema are home.
As I was reading the other day I came across these verses in Isaiah (55:8-9). I felt like the Lord was shouting this to me:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
