Miracles

I am not good at keeping this blog updated, but so many of you are praying for us and Dottie....I wanted you to know about the miracle that we experienced this week.

Last week, I realized that my name was different of 2 very important documents:
I800 (we received this 1/17): Emily Cathryn Lesley
Passport and other documents: Emily Kemp Lesley
Seems like a minor issue, but in the adoption paperwork process, every piece of paper must match and be filled out correctly.

Last Friday (1/23): Holt emailed us and let us know that we must call the USCIS office (they issue the I800) and beg them to manually change my name on the form. No travel arrangements, appointments in China can be made until this issue is resolved, and we are already in a time crunch situation. I called and left a voicemail. No return phone call.

Monday (1/29): Brian sent our USCIS officer an email stating our case and attaching medical emergency letter. After multiple phone calls with Holt (our adoption agency) and USCIS, we had no other choice but to fill out a Supplement 3 form to get my name changed. This was costly and was going to set us back about 3 weeks.

Holt had told us that we could try to email the Chinese consulate and plead our case, but good luck as it was not very probable that they would allow forms to be different. Brian felt burdened to email them even though the situation seemed to be already determined.

At 5:00, Brian sent a FedEx package to USCIS with our forms filled out and a check. It was overnight delivery and our Officer, who had been so kind, assured us that she would be watching for it and return ASAP.

In the midst of this craziness, I prayed God would give me His peace. He provided peace, reassurance that He was in control, and a reminder that He loves us and that He loves Dottie more than we can imagine. It was a long, mentally and emotionally draining day. We went to bed knowing that God was in control of this situation.

Tuesday (1/30): I checked my email when I woke up. We had received an email from the Chinese consulate that our I800 was fine as it was. No need to get a name change. UNBELIEVABLE!!!
Our case worker at Holt was shocked too! He said that he had never seen the Chinese consulate be so gracious. Never had they know the Chinese government to accept forms with 2 different names. MIRACLE!

Brian immediately email our USCIS officer and asked her if she could stop the Supplemental 3 process and if there was any way we could get a refund. USCIS does not issue refunds, but we
thought we might as well ask. She called, she would stop process, and she had requested a refund
from her supervisor and it had been granted. Another MIRACLE!!!

Miracles celebrated!!! Sometimes, God must bring us to a place where we are unable to "fix" our circumstances...we can not rely on ourselves. During these times, I am reminded or my false sense of control, my pride, and my inadequacy.  God reminds me of His mighty power!

"We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure......But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely on God. ...We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us."   2 Corinthians 1:8, 10

Thank you for continuing on this journey with us. Your thoughts, prayers, and sweet comments have been a huge blessing to our family. Every time you ask about Dottie or the process, we are reminded that we are not alone....you are a very important part of this process. So thankful for each one of you!