Can We Get A Meeting?

For the past two months I have been trying to set up a meeting between Savannah-Hope's Malawi social worker, the adoption attorney and Good Samaritan so that we can establish a plan for Savannah-Hope's adoption. Everyday I call Malawi....and everyday there is no meeting. I have prayed, fasted, waited, cried, yelled, begged, pleaded, bribed....still no meeting. I know that God's timing and His plan are perfect....but after 61 days of the same answer.... there are days I have become weary....and other days I have become down right frustrated.

The decision to bring Savannah-Hope to Good Samaritan wasn't one that I took lightly, or a decision I made alone, however I do feel solely responsible. I know it was the right decision and I am 100% sure that it was God's will for Savannah to come to Good Samaritan. But most of this journey has been one of blind faith. There have been so many trials and speed bumps during this adoption journey....I can't even begin to list them all. There have also been many wonderful blessings along the way. And through the trials and the blessings we have been praising the Lord.

Savannah-Hope belongs to the Lord and I know He has a special plan for her life. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.' Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

I woke up this Thanksgiving morning to a phone call from Thandie. Whenever she calls me, I have a mini heart attack because she never calls, unless there is a reason to have a mini heart attack. I called her right back and she said the same thing she has said for the past 61 days....no meeting today. I wasn't surprised by her news, but surprised she called. Thandie called because after 61 days of having complete unwavering faith that this adoption will be granted....she was weary. We have come to a point where if we don't get an adoption plan finalized soon, we will be faced with a very difficult decision. Brother Gentry agreed to allow Savannah-Hope to come to Good Samaritan with the understanding that she would only be there a couple of months. Praise the Lord that God has provided me with the finances thus far to care for her, but Good Samaritan is not set up to be a permanent home for infants. The last we heard from the social worker in Malawi was he could not recommend the adoption unless the American family lived in Malawi with Savannah-Hope for 18 months. This is obviously not an option. The adoption attorney tells us that there is no law requiring an 18-month in country foster care prior to adoption. It is a social welfare policy, but one that was rarely practiced until Madonna brought Malawi adoption under the microscope. I have been asking for a meeting with both the social worker and attorney present so we can discuss a plan and determine if this adoption will be granted.

After I hung up the phone with Thandie, I made my second phone call of the day....for the 61rst straight day in a row, to the adoptive family. Much to my surprise the adoptive mother, Crystal said she talked to the social worker and there was a meeting today! Since Good Samaritan was somehow left out of the meeting, I can't be sure that this meeting actually took place....but I'm hoping it did. The social worker told Crystal that he is willing to write the recommendation for Savannah-Hope's adoption without the 18-month in country foster care, but only if it is approved by the minister of social welfare. The supposed plan is that the attorney will assist the social worker in writing the recommendation that will then be submitted to the capitol of Malawi next week. Our prayer is that the minister of social welfare will approve the adoption. It will likely take weeks for an answer....so please add this to your prayer list.

Please pray with us for God's will to be done and that He will give us wisdom to make the right decisions for Savannah-Hope.