Day 38 and a tribute to Mrs. Miller

We woke up early this morning and headed back to the Embassy for the third day in a row. We had to wait a couple of extra hours, but then in one second....my fears vanished and all of the trials and delays faded to the background...I have Savannah-Hope's visa in my hand! She can enter the US! She is recognized by the United States as our daughter.


I have had a sense of peace throughout this whole adoption journey that everything was going to work out okay, but there have been times throughout the process where doubt and fear would sneak in. Adopting in a country without an international adoption program, without an Agency to hold your hand, without people who have walked the steps before you....it really was a leap of faith. Any minute everything could have turned upside down. I can't tell you how fearful I was that somehow this would all fall apart. How could I love this baby for 8 months, hold her in my arms for 38 days and not be her mother forever? I am not being overly dramatic in saying that this realistically could have happened and at moments looked like it would. I could be coming home without her. I could have had to face my four children back at home and tried to explain why Savannah-Hope couldn't be their sister. I can't for a moment let myself take this for granted and think that because this was what I wanted, it all worked out. Savannah-Hope is only coming home to be our daughter for one reason and for one reason only, God ordained it to be so. He chose this child to be ours and allowed her to be placed in our heart, our lives and our home...forever. Thank You Jesus!


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God has been faithful to answer so many prayers along the way. When I learned that I would need to go to Malawi and stay for 19 days (no idea it would be 40) to bring home Savannah-Hope, I started praying for a travel partner. The trip was bound to be emotional.

• I have never really traveled out of the country before unless you count a few miles into Mexico from the San Diego border. Malawi is the poorest country in the world. I would be traveling through Johannesburg South Africa which is one of the most dangerous cities in the world. I don't speak the language or understand the currency and culture.
• I was a bit of a pioneer when it comes to Malawi adoptions. There wasn't an adoption agency guide meeting me at the other end. This was going to be a combination of "prayer" and "winging it".
• How would Thandie (orphanage director) do with the separation from Savannah? Thandie had never cared for a baby before. For seven months she oversaw the care of Savannah-Hope as if she were her own. Thandie's has a seven year old daughter Peace who was very attached to Savannah-Hope. Loved her like a sister. Peace is the same age as my bigger kids (Amelia, Zander and Zach). Every time I thought of taking Savannah-Hope from her tears would stream down my face.
• What about the nanny, Violet? She came from her village and moved into the staff quarters right next door to Thandie. The money that she got each month for caring for Savannah-Hope allowed her to not only support herself but 21 people from her village. But when Savannah-Hope left, her money would stop. And her ability to provide for herself, her 10 year old twin daughters and village would also stop.
• How would I breathe being separated from my husband and children for so long?
• How would Savannah-Hope react to me? Would she have a hard time? Would she be scared of my white skin? Would it be hard for her to continue to see Thandie throughout our stay.....or would this make the transition easier?
• What if I get sick? What if Savannah-Hope gets sick?
• What if it doesn't go well at Court or the Embassy?
• What if I can't navigate myself through the airport with Savannah-Hope and all of our stuff?
• Can I do this alone Lord? Would you send me a travel partner?

Then the Lord answered my prayer and picked the perfect travel mate, Mrs. Miller. Mrs. Miller couldn't have been more perfect for the role. She was affiliated with Good Samaritan and had visited Malawi in September 2007. She knew Thandie very well and could offer emotional support to her as well. Mrs. Miller new the staff at Brother Gentry's compound as well as at Good Samaritan. She also worked as a trauma counselor before and has a way of bringing calm to stressful situations (and boy have we had some). And she loves the Lord!

Mrs. Miller accepted the challenge right away and stood on "stand-by" for weeks on end waiting to book the travel. We had no idea when would get the I-171H approval. And then once we had the approval, she not only booked her ticket immediately, she booked it out of my local airport so we would be together the whole time. This added a very long day of travel for both her and her husband as they live in Florida. Mrs. Miller left her husband, family, church and job behind and jumped on this adventure with me. She has prayed with me and for me the entire step of the way. She has sacrificed so much to give me so much. And when we learned that I couldn't travel home with Savanna-Hope as planned on March 5th.....she stayed on with me. As the days have gone on and on and on....she has stayed with me. There is nothing I could do and no words I could say to show Mrs. Miller how thankful I am to her for being beside me and supporting me the entire way on this journey to bring Savannah-Hope home. She is truly a gift from God and my answered prayer!

Thank you Mrs. Miller! Thank you for not feeding me to the Elephants on those days when it was less than easy being my travel partner. I appreciate all you have sacrificed and given to me and my family. I am so glad to have shared this experience with you. You have truly been a blessing to me. Thank You!

Mrs. Miller aka "Grammy Sheila" with Savannah-Hope

Here is Mrs. Miller with Thandie and Savannah-Hope