GOD.ANSWERS.PRAYER.

Lots of catch you all up on around here...
God is answering prayers in amazing ways.

As you know, we emailed the US Embassy in Accra asking for confirmation that they had received Solomon's visa paperwork as well as a date that we could have our POA come to pick up the last stack of paperwork (aka visa packet).  On Monday of last week, we had a bit of a scare as the Embassy replied to our email saying, "We don't have your paperwork.  Please contact the National Visa Center."  Translation: your file has been misplaced/lost.  Not.  Good.  Fortunately, we had already spoken with the National Visa Center before we emailed initially so we were able to immediately reply to the Embassy politely re-stating the information and tracking numbers that they needed: "You should have the file - please check again."  Here's the thing: our paperwork could have been lost forever.  We could have been waiting for another month as we begged US officials to re-send the stacks of paper.  BUT GOD ANSWERED PRAYER.  The Embassy wrote back in 24 hours and said they had located our paperwork and our POA could pick up on Wednesday, 6/26 at 2:00pm.  WOOHOO!

So today is Wednesday, 6/26.  At 7:00am California time (2:00pm Ghana time), we were up and checking email, waiting for confirmation that our POA was able to retrieve our visa packet.  Just around 9:00am our agency emailed confirming the pick up.  A few minutes later we sent off another email to the US Embassy in Accra requesting our visa interview date.  Everyone we spoke to said to expect to wait 5-8 days for a reply and that interviews would probably be scheduled out 4 weeks.  Well, GOD ANSWERED PRAYER.  Two minutes after we pressed "send," the Embassy emailed us with a visa interview date.

TWO.MINUTES.LATER.
TWO.

Do you understand how crazy that is?!?!?!  GOD.ANSWERED.PRAYER.

Solomon's interview is scheduled for July 15 and we could not be more pleased...unless it was tomorrow.  *grin*  While we wait for the 15th to roll around, our social workers in Ghana will be busy preparing the last batch of paperwork for the interview (we already sent them all the remaining information they would need aaages ago) and taking Solomon for his medical exam.  Pray that Solomon shows no signs of TB as a course of treatment for TB would delay his homecoming for months.

Have we bought plane tickets??  Not yet.  The earliest date we would fly out would be July 19...that's the day that Solomon's visa, if approved at the interview, would most likely and Lord-willing, be printed.  There is still a chance that further administrative review for visa approval could happen (a lot of countries do this type of review before I600 approval, but that's not the way the system works in Ghana) or that the visa is not able to be printed or printed with errors.  We're not "through the woods" yet!  Our prayer is to fly out on the 19th or 20th and stay in country for three days or so.  We'll keep you posted...and inundate you with Solomon pictures...again.

Another super de duper exciting thing happened this week too....
As we have mentioned, Solomon has a hole in his heart and has been taking medications to help his little body since he was admitted to the orphanage at 3 months of age.  Two weeks ago, we checked in with our social worker regarding his medication and having enough to "tide him over" until we see our doctor here in the states.  Apparently, all the pharmacists in the city have been on strike.  And Solomon ran out of medication FIVE WEEKS AGO.

Whaaaaaa????

Five weeks ago?  Five?!?!
This is one of many reasons why Solomon needs his mommy and daddy with him...all the time.  *sigh*  We are so very thankful that the orphanage nursing staff has been caring for Solomon and giving him access to medical care that he needs.  But when there are 150 children at one institution, there is no one to fight and push for one child to get what they need.  That's a parent's role....and believe me, we started pushing.  Thankfully, the Bethany staff in Ghana is fantastic and pushed right along with us for Solomon to get what he needed.  Potentially, Solomon could have been at risk if we took him on a trans-Atlantic plane flight without proper medication.  BUT GOD ANSWERED PRAYER.  Just today, our social worker emailed to say that the orphanage nurse was able to work things out and will begin giving Solomon his medications again tomorrow.  ALL GLORY TO GOD!!!!  These are miracles, people.  Truly.  We are even happier because the orphanage doctor gave Solomon the green light for air travel...we are just waiting for a "go-ahead" from his cardiologist as well when Solomon sees him next Wednesday.

When you think about how many smalls things need to come together just so in order for a child to be adopted into a family, it blows your mind.  It is truly overwhelming.  Our God is BIG.  This is not too difficult for Him!  Keep the prayers and shouts of praise coming...God has already been glorified in a mighty way through Solomon's little life and we can hardly wait to see what is yet to come....

Updates on actual travel dates and homecoming ASAP!