Praises to share

I'm going to write a quick entry today because Nadeem may add more later. I tried to send this news via email, but I'm not sure that everyone following our blog knows this great praise. We are very close to having Kalina in our arms as our daughter. Hasan's mom has spent the whole afternoon in the hot courthouse waiting for the magistrate to give her the paperwork so we can go to the orphanage to get Kalina. We're still waiting for her, but this part is nearly done! The next hurdle is to gain US approval to bring Kalina home. Usually you get approval before leaving the US. However, our lawyer left the country to go on vacation for a few weeks leaving behind a paralegal who gave us wrong advice. Plus, the adoption agency in the US who oversees the approval process also gave wrong advice. The immigration department of the government refused to help us before we left. We felt that God was telling us to trust Him and go, even though it made no sense. Keep in mind that NOTHING God has asked us to do has made sense so far. So far He has provided and showed His glory EVERY TIME. We left, a bit fearfully, not knowing the outcome. When we visited the US Consulate here, we were treated in a very unwelcoming manner. We had to be searched and pass through heavy security. Much to my surprise, I saw no Americans working here. The ladies inside were kind but said they could do nothing for us. We kept sending emails and calls to the lawyer's office with no response. It turns out that not only is the lawyer out of the country; our paralegal left on maternity leave. The office said not to expect any response or help until Monday. The lawyer came back early on Wednesday night! Yes, we are now in touch with her! She's talking to Washington, DC to help us get the clearance we need. It's only a small item. We just need our fingerprints taken here. We're also receiving help from Senator Saxby Chambliss' extremely kind staff. More importantly, we're receiving our help from God. We're just waiting to see what channels He chooses. In addition, Hasan told us today that it's a miracle that we got Kalina. He said that usually you wait months to get a baby here, and it's nearly unheard of to get a 2 month old baby girl. At the magistrate's office we bumped into a couple who tried to adopt Kalina! Hasan's mom had to give money to the nuns to hold her for us so that nobody else would adopt her. She's the only baby girl among all boys in the orphanage.
Psalm 121:1,2 "I will lift up my eyes to the hills-from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth."