Sleeping...

I wish this was about me sleeping... but it's much more exciting than that!  It seems hard to sleep here because it gets dark late and gets light really early.  There is also constant noise outside-people talking, music playing, dogs barking, etc. to get used to.  Of course, all of that is exacerbated by the emotions of this trip, by the time spent in prayer, seeking the Lord, by staying up to talk to the girls on skype after their naps, work, etc.  Most of all, we just feel drained in every way-spiritually, emotionally, and physically. 

But this post is not about my sleeping, it is about Vika.  Vika has been so tired this week when we came for our morning visits.  This morning, she was EXTREMELY tired, and also so hungry and thirsty.  We could barely get the food into her quickly enough. :)  She hardly had any interest in walking today when this is usually the main thing she wants to do.  The past few times she would fight going to sleep with all her might, but today, she just leaned back and snuggled up and fell asleep as I was sitting on the swing with her.  It has to take a great amount of trust for her to just fall asleep in a stranger's arms.  It was such a blessing to have had the opportunity to experience it!  Needless to say, she was NOT happy when her nanny came to get her from us and was woken up. 

Today was a holiday here in Vika's country-the Protection of Children's Rights holiday.  There were many children having performances today.  Even at Vika's orphanage, we saw them bringing her group to the main building, and when they came out, they had gotten bananas and also a few balloons. 

Thanks to some wonderful new friends we have made, Ashley, Leanne, and Julie, who are missionaries to the orphans here in this city, we got to go to a "civic center" where some of the orphanages put together a talent show.  It was a wonderful experience.  At the same time, it is heartbreaking to see so many children so full of potential, so full of life, full of talent, facing such a bleak future.  These children need to know that Jesus loves them, that He has a plan for their lives, and when they graduate out of the orphanage at age 16 without anything or anyone to teach them life skills, that they can make right choices to use those talents that the Lord has blessed them with for His glory.  They were all precious lives with so much to give to us!  It was a real blessing to experience it!  We took lots of pictures and video for Vika to have a memory of her culture when she can understand.  We also had the privilege of meeting some fellow Americans from the great state of Georgia!  :)  This was their 18th missions trip to this country to work with the orphans in this city.  God is so good to us!

We also spent much time praying today.  Praying for our process to come to a quick conclusion, and also praying that God woul use us to use our experiences here to bring many more orphans home.  When our process is complete, we will share some of what we experienced.  Right now, we can't.  We received the news that we have gotten our German Interpol Clearance, but that now we are waiting on the U.S. Interpol Clearance.  Adoption is a constant rollercoaster!  We have already gone through so many background checks, gone through USCIS, but this is another formality that we must pass through.  Please pray that this clearance will get here tomorrow, so we can go to court on Friday as scheduled!  One of the passages that the Lord gave us tonight is Matthew 21:21-22 : "Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."  I feel like the Lord spoke so clearly to us what He expects from us and what He wants us to do!  He is God, and He will show Himself Mighty!  Help my unbelief!