Now that we are foster parents in the Zambian Social Welfare system we are pursuing adoption with great hopes and faith in our God who is both Lord over all things and who is able to accomplish all that He determines in His sovereign decree. Shelley and I continue to learn that when we take our eyes off this truth, we fall into discouragement and even anxiety as it relates to adopting Samson.
Before I update you on this process and at the same time seek your prayers, I want to tell you that our family is doing very well. God was gracious to refresh us all in South Africa. Our time back in Zambia has been sweet. Compared to South Africa, Zambia is so third world and broken and at times depressing especially for us who have lived in a first world prosperous country our entire lives. However, what makes Zambia are the Zambians. They are a blessed people. They possess a natural friendliness, peacefulness, and a simple faith in Jesus that would challenge any saint and nourish any soul. I can honestly say that we love them deeply and will know the impact of living amongst them for the rest of our lives.
Just yesterday morning in the lobby of a hotel in Lusaka where I was preparing for a day of meetings with the Director of Social Services, the US Embassy, and Immigration, I was reading all about adoptions in Zambia on the US Embassy’s website. The first thing they mention is that Zambia is in the process of changing their laws regarding adoptions and to expect very inconsistent information from the Zambian system. I was grinning from ear to ear, as this has been our experience for sure. What is nothing to smile about is that with the confusion comes a significant level of uncertainty, hence the great opportunity to learn trust in Christ. What is certain is that we know the Lord is leading us home this spring and what is now uncertain is when. Let me explain.
Because of the confusion, Shelley and I realized we could no longer rely on the information from the local Social Welfare office. Although they successfully helped us get to this point, they can no longer adequately help us. There were only 18 adoptions in Zambia last year! What makes this even more uncomfortable is the fact that because our permanent address is in the USA, we cannot bring Samson into the United States (even for one day) unless the Zambian adoption process is complete even though we have fostering rights for Samson until he is age 21. I also learned that Samson’s adoption can be 100% completed by Zambia, but if we do not follow the lengthy process from the U.S. side, we could successfully adopt him and never be able to bring him home! The U.S. Embassy’s website speaks of this. There is a lengthy process that I was clueless about whereby the U.S. government will not take the Zambian adoption process as final but must in essence confirm for themselves that everything has been and is being done properly. Once I understood that essentially Samson will be permanently immigrating to the U.S., and thus gaining U.S. permanent citizenship, I began to appreciate this daunting process.
I hope you can see this colossal picture of uncertainty unfolding here. Once I saw it, I dropped everything and went with my Zambian friend and consultant in all matters relating to the Zambian government offices, Mr. Kapya, for a quick trip to Lusaka. I knew I needed to speak to the “horses mouth”, and they are all in Lusaka. I left for this trip on Thursday morning with Ba Kapya in a taxi for Ndola. We first had to check with Immigration in Ndola on my Missionary Work Permit booklet to see if it was there. Thankfully, Ndola is on the way to Lusaka. We arrived in Lusaka Thursday evening at 5:30pm. I arrived back into Kitwe last night, Friday at 11:15pm. I am so thankful for the traveling mercies and grace that the Lord provided. Everything about the nearly 6 hour bus trip to Lusaka is not safe. Everything! My day of meetings with the Director of Social Services and with the U.S. Embassy could not have gone better. My more than four hours at Immigration in Ndola and Lusaka combined could not have been more frustrating. Although the Work Permit issues need resolving (I was approved in August and still do not have my permit which is a very long story that involves me having to now give the Zambian government a lot more money), by far the biggest issue is adoption. The greatest part about my trip to Lusaka was that we now have clarity on exactly what the current requirements are and we have a plan. Praise God!
We need your prayers for all of this in a big way. As of this morning, we have no idea when we can come home because “when” we come home hinges upon the Zambian adoption being completed and that hinges on one very significant matter. Although Samson was put in the orphanage at 6 weeks of age, is a true double orphan, and in 8 years there have only been two visits from any relatives, we still need the nearest (of kin) distant relative on each side of his family to sign the consent form. We need this to happen this week, because once they are signed, I will carry the consent forms back to the Director of Social Services in Lusaka. Since I just met with her, she has our formal application and supporting paperwork. Once she has both consent forms, she will approve the official start of our adoption requirements. That will start the 90 days and once it is met, then there will be a court date to finalize the Zambian adoption. Most of the U.S. requirements cannot begin until the Zambian adoption is finalized. From that point if all goes well, we would still have another 4 to 6 weeks to go. Shelley and I and Samson must be present for the Zambian adoption, but only one of us (Shelley or I) and Samson must be present for the US requirements. That said, if the consent forms are signed this week and I am in Lusaka on Monday the 23rd with them, then the Zambian adoption could be finalized by May 1st. This would mean that more than likely Shelley and six children would come home while Samson and I finish out the US requirements. If all went well, we would return around June 1st to 15th. As you can see, every week delayed in the consent forms being signed delays our return proportionately. Please join us in prayer this week over this issue. You might remember that it was difficult for very unusual and strange cultural reasons to obtain the consent for fostering. In some ways, this should be a harder consent form for them to sign but others say now that we have crossed over the first consent form that the second one should not be a problem. One of the uncles lives 12 hours away. This is one of those prayer concerns whereby unless God is in this, it is destined to fail!
Lastly thank you so much for your faithful giving, prayers and encouragement to Shelley and I and the children. Everyday I wake up in Africa, I feel privileged to be here and to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. God has been teaching me through very difficult situations more about the negative aspects of my character that needs to change. God is clearly on the move. I have been asking to grow in these areas of character flaws. Also at the same time, I have been contemplating many options for when I return. Please pray for me as I seek the Lord for wisdom in these areas. I want to challenge us all to live a life where others see our living and can only conclude that our God must be amazing. I want to challenge us to order our lives in such a way that if God doesn’t show up and act on our behalf that we will fail. May all of this be to the praise and honor of His name!
Our God is Amazing!
Dave