Letter

We mailed a letter Monday to various friends. In case we missed you, a copy of the letter is at the end of this entry. If you received the letter and are just now aware of our endeavor to help the Lord rescue 3 orphans, you can read more about the initial journey by scrolling to the bottom of the page and looking on the right at "blog archive". From there you can click on the 2008 entry. That gets you started.

About the letter, we originally sent our first letter at the first of November. We felt the Lord was wanting us to do that in hopes of getting the word out for prayer and financial support. Obviously there are various ways to fund an adoption. Some can afford it, some borrow the money, some solicit individual help and others plan various fund-raising events. Again, we prayed over all of this and did feel like this letter was what we were to do. It's been really amazing to see the support and the encouraging words that have come from the first letter. Many have said that they were moved to seek the Lord themselves after reading the letter. It wasn't anything special and I'm sure many of you could write a "better" one, but I believe it is an example of the Holy Spirit's guidance and the Lord using what He wants to speak to His own. With the paperwork being finished, again we felt we needed to send a letter updating everyone. While we certainly pray that there are those who feel led to support us prayerfully and financially, I really feel that the Lord wants to use this letter to encourage others to wholeheartedly seek Him.

It is only divine providence that I'm studying Esther right now. The whole book is filled with God's providence and God-ordained destiny, though the name "God" is not once used in the book. The study has been such an encouragement to me that this whole adoption is certainly part of my destiny. I'm so thankful I said yes to God. We always have a choice. It's not always easy making the choice God has for us, but it is ever worth it! I do pray you will, as I know many of you already are, seek the Lord and ask what His plans are for you. We have to continue doing that. I know this adoption isn't "it" for us, but just a part in our destiny, the great and unimaginable plans He has for us.

I don't think there's anything I love more than witnessing and experiencing the movement of God. It's amazing to me how He changes us and grows us when we allow it.

Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified Bible)
"For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), [a]recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]."

February 23, 2009

Dear Friends,

Hope all is well. We’ve hit a milestone in the adoption process, so we figured it’s a good time to update you. We have finished all the paperwork needed and it is in the Ukraine. Whoo-hoo! We are now waiting for the Ukraine government to accept the paperwork and then give us a travel date.

You may have received a letter in November sharing with you about the adoption and asking you to consider participating in this journey through prayer and/or financial help. Since then we have learned that many people we sent the letter to never received it. If you are one of those, we are sorry. Please take a moment to get a little history at our blog, www.bordenadoption.blogspot.com. If you are aware, and have been praying and supporting us we humbly and graciously thank you.

In all of this we give all and absolute praise to God. When we entered into this process it was on unsteady knees trusting that God would provide if He wanted this to happen. Ultimately, we had to trust God to do some mighty acts to get this journey started.

We are amazed, sitting back so often in tears of gratitude and wonder. Here are a few of the highlights thus far:
1. Countless people have committed in prayer for this adoption. I dare say Makc, Alona, and Natasha have never had such a crowd of saints praying for them.
2. $21,875 of the $40,000 needed to provide Makc, Alona and Natasha a family has been given.
3. Another family encouraged by what God was doing began their own adoption proceedings in the Ukraine.
4. The body of Christ has gone above and beyond in support, encouragement, and offers to serve: painting the kid’s rooms, tutoring the kids, watching Keely, Max, and Izzy while we travel, on and on.

As a result, our faith and love for the body of Christ have grown. It is an awesome sight to see the body of Christ working together to rescue the poor and oppressed. This is God’s work!

This we know, God is faithful. He will continue to provide for the needs throughout this journey. Please know whether you’ve given $20.00 or $10,000 or anything in between, we appreciate and value your support so very much. If you are led to help, we still need $18,125 before we travel which could be as soon as the end of March! If you would like to send a tax-deductible donation, please mail it to: God’s Waiting Children, 1865 Herndon Ave, Suite K-125, Clovis, CA 93611. Please note “Borden adoption” in the memo of your check. To make sure we receive your gift, it needs to be there by March 15th. Once we travel, our agency is not allowed to send us that money.

Finally, as we are learning to embrace the calling God has before us, we encourage you to seek God with your whole heart as to what He is calling you to. The past few months have required sacrifice, but we are experiencing an exciting journey that we never could have dreamt for ourselves! In Beth Moore’s Esther study, she wrote “In the times of greatest struggle when you make the Godward decision over convenience, earthly comfort, or carnal pleasure, you too have come to a critical moment in the fulfillment of your destiny. A defining moment. A war is being waged over your head in the unseen realm, and a great cloud of witnesses is cheering you on. You have no idea what’s at stake.”

Dear friends, “who knows, perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14

It's all here!

I was beginning to think the day would never get here, but we received the immigration approval form Friday! Tomorrow I'm going to pick up the last form needed, get them all notarized, get the notary approval, then get them apostilled...all to say it's a lot of signatures and driving around, but then it's done! After the driving around, I'll make 2 copies of the whole kit-and-kaboodle and the dossier (or mound of paperwork) will be off to be translated and on to the Ukraine.
I hope the dossier will be in the Ukraine next week. At that point, it's up to the Ukrainian government (and I know, ultimately God) to give us a travel date. We have no idea when the travel date will be. It could be March or it could be October! Of course, I'm hoping it's as quick as can be. We've gotten a few reports from a family adopting at the kid's orphanage that the kids seem to be getting a little anxious and discouraged. Please pray for them to continue to have hope! I can't imagine how slow these past 5+ months have gone for them. Through a translator that sweet family adopting emailed me little notes from Alona and Natasha. Here they are:Dear Mother,

I would like you to come to me very much. I love you and Father very much. I love all the family!

Love,

Alona


Dear Mother,

Come and visit me. I want to see you very much. I will write a letter for you. Father, how are you doing? I want to see you very much. I love all of you!

Love,

Natasha

We are continuing to be amazed at how God is providing and showing Himself in each step of this. Oh how I love Him! We will be working on a letter to update everyone with the latest big news. Praise the Lord, the completion of this paperwork is a huge thing! With love, Jenny