Day 36 Tuesday April 22nd.

Visa Update: This morning we arrived at the Embassy at 8am. I got to meet the Visa staff that I have been speaking with for months. They were so kind. I learned that the "one piece of paper" I thought they were taking forever to review was actually a huge giant packet. I passed the initial interview with out any trouble. Then we had some issues with birth names versus adoptive name on the passport and visa. We had to take a trip to the immigration office. For now we are keeping passport in birth name and visa in both names and praying that we don't have trouble at the port of entry in America. I had a second interview and with God's grace I passed that one as well. We are now waiting on a security clearance. My prayer is that the visa will be issued at 10 am tomorrow. Please join me in praising the Lord for all of the documents passing review and for helping me to pass both interviews! We are getting closer!


Travel Update: I am hoping and praying that we will be leaving Malawi this Friday and arriving to Tennessee on Saturday April 26th at 1pm. I don't feel comfortable booking the tickets until I have the visa in my hand because I can't afford to pay the fee if they have to be switched again. Please pray that the Friday tickets are still available when the visa is issued. I can't wait to land at the airport in TN and see my husband, and four other children, family and friends. Can't wait to see who is chasing who with the sledge hammers :) I hope some of you bring cameras and take lots of pictures for me as I will probably be in front of the camera at this event. Oh I can't wait!


Shower update: So much for our hot shower last night, there was no hot water. This morning there was hot water. We we were so excited. I got in the shower today and was enjoying my shower when the cold water shut off and boiling water came out. I tried to duck behind where the water was coming out so that I wouldn't get burned, somehow the shower nozzle jumped out of the holder and cracked me in the head. I tried to jump out of the tub quickly and slipped and fell on the tile floor. Not the relaxing shower I was hoping for. But it was a shower.

Clifford Update: I have received funds for Clifford from some of you faithful and generous bloggers. It has touched my heart more than I can say to have you extend your prayers and finances to help the sweet people of Malawi who have crossed my path through Savannah's adoption journey. Clifford's family had a meeting and decided for now to keep his two nephews and sister together with Clifford's other brother. It was felt that the boys needed a woman's touch and since Clifford is single and the other brother is married, they will stay with the other brother. The other brother can't provide for the three little ones without Clifford's help, so although Clifford won't be providing daily care he will be providing financial care as he is able. Thank you to those who have helped Clifford and his family.

Wellness: Can I take a moment to Praise the Lord for good health for the past 36 days?!? It is amazing that in a country where we have literally seen people dying, we have been blessed with excellent health. And as a bonus.....I have lost 14 pounds! Can I get a woohoo?!? I think Savannah-Hope is gaining every pound I lose...she gets bigger by the day :)

Brother Gentry: Brother Gentry was called to Malawi as a missionary after serving as a pastor for 24 1/2 years. He was nearly seventy when he was called to the third poorest country (now the poorest) in the world. He has various medical conditions....but he doesn't let anything stop him. In 8 years he has planted over 411 village churches and founded a 100 bed orphanage and has purchased a property for another orphanage. If it wasn't for the generosity of this Godly man we would not have our sweet daughter. Good Samaritan is not a baby orphanage. The youngest child at the children's home is 6, but the majority are teenagers. There are several baby orphanages in Malawi but very few that will take the older children. Many missionaries shy away from the older children because of their backgrounds of witchcraft, thievery, sexual exploitation, disease, lack of education, etc. But brother Gentry has a heart for those left behind...the lost children. Thankfully brother Gentry made an exception for our Sweet Savannah-Hope and allowed us to house her in the staff quarters with a private nanny. Even though Savannah-Hope had her own staff, she still took quite a bit of time from several of Good Samaritan primary staff such as Thandie and Lloyd as well as using the children's home vehicles for transport. My family and I will be forever grateful for Brother Gentry for allowing our sweet daughter to have a chance at life. And for offering his home to me and Mrs. Miller for the past 36+ days.


The day Savannah-Hope arrived at Good Samaritan September 4th 2007. She was 4 months old and weighed only 4 pounds. Do you see how swollen her eyes were? She was so sickly. Just a little peanut.

This picture was taken last week. She's not a little peanut anymore!

Prayer request: Please continue to pray for my children back at home. They have never been separated from me for more than a couple days and even that is very rare. But this....this has been so long. The children knew I would be gone for a long time and had a paper chain and calander to mark the days. They did great until that last paper chain was broken and the last day was crossed off the calandar and I wasn't home. Not only did I not come home that day, its been 16 more days and I still am not home. And they still can't been given a concrete date to expect me back. Izabella is really starting to show signs that she won't be able to take this much longer. My heart cries at the thought they even for a second may feel abandoned by me. I pray that this separation doesn't resurface abandonment and attachment issues for our first adopted angel Amelia. She had so many mamas before me....and they all left her. Please pray for Amelia, Zander, Zach and Izabella today.