All Mighty Savior

Our second day in court didn’t quite go as hoped. Jim and I both spoke- that went well. Thank you so much for praying. Everything was fine with the exception of a document. When we were in Moscow, we had seen the 8 specialists required. Apparently, someone at the medical center forgot to make a copy of the license of the Infectious Disease doctor. Hence, that was not in the packet of information that they sent with us. When our coordinator realized the mistake the next day, she had a copy of the license faxed to our region. The judge deemed it not good enough. I can’t tell you the emotion that came over Jim and I when the judge announced that she couldn’t accept our request for the adoption. She set a new court date for the next day. Time for court was to be 3 pm. We were scheduled to fly home the next day at 12:10pm.

As the judge left, all was a buzz in the court room. Our coordinator, the orphanage doctor and the social worker all began to talk and to make phone calls. Of course, all this banter was in Russian. Jim and I stood there and looked at each other, dumbfounded. No one was talking to us and explaining the situation. They were just talking to each other. We later found out, this was to serve us well.

Our hotel was full so we had to find a new one. We had a non refundable room waiting for us in Moscow (tried unsuccessfully to get our money back) and the great possibility of missing our flights back home. We paid our old hotel for permission to sit on a coach and use their wireless access (our new hotel had no access) and started making calls. We talked to friends and family- asking for prayer. And looked for airline alternatives for the next day because it was unlikely that we would make our flight. All in all, our “Plan B” best case scenario was to go out on Saturday, a day late and pay about an extra thousand dollars for the change.

A call was made to a local Infectious Disease Doctor. We were to be at her office at 8 am (with our blood test results from America). If we could meet with her for 15 minutes and then race to the judge (15 minutes away), the judge had agreed to meet us at 8:30 am. If we could then get out of court by around 9 am…we might make our flight. The flight took registration until 11:30 am and flew at 12:10 pm.

All this time that I prayed, I kept hearing that song “…He can move the mountains…my God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save…” The mountains were about to move.

At 7:30 am, Jim and I were waiting to be picked up- nervous and prayerful that God was going to make this happen. But also asking for peace if we had to wait another day. We sat in the van outside the doctor’s office until it opened. Then five of us rushed upstairs. The next few moments were the beginning of seeing God make it happen. Jim and I sat quietly in chairs while 6 wonderful women- two doctors, a receptionist and our adoption contact people, typed and copied and stamped and signed. Quickly. Quickly. Did I mention that we are in Russia and typically efficiency and speed are not a strength here? Jim and I sat in awe. These people were doing this for us. Doing this for our son. “He can move the mountains…” played in my head.

We raced to the court. It was 8:31 am. We all ran in. The judge, prosecutor, typist, social worker, orphanage doctor, translator….all there. People spoke and then the judge walked out to make a decision. We waited……..

When she returned, she stood and read her decision. HE IS OURS! An orphan no more! My eyes, as in court, fill as I type this. There is one less orphan in the world. With a smile, she said that he is OUR son and wished us well. From the look on her face, I could tell that she knows we will love him and care for him well. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!

Wiping my eyes, Jim and I hugged and I let out a cheer. Words escape me.. what if feels like to have that verdict read…….never in my life…Beautiful.
But we had no time to celebrate as we were told to race to the van. It was about 9:15 am. It would be close. Only those who have been to a place like Russia can understand the traffic there. It can be so difficult… traffic can be stopped for hours. So again , I asked for the mountains to move and peace and acceptance if they didn’t.

As we neared the airport at 11:25 am (we can register for the flight until 11:30 am), our coordinator kept crossing herself- countless times. She asked if we had prayed and we assured her that we had. We dropped off Jim and our translator to race upstairs and to tell them that “the lady is coming” and can we please register? The coordinator and I followed behind quickly, carrying the rest of the luggage. It was like a movie. As they started processing our information, they said we must hurry because the plane was already loading. With a wave and a smile to our translator and coordinator, we ran to passport control and then on to security,. Our gate was on the far end of the airport, of course, so we raced. Totally like a movie.  I ran and laughed. God was doing His thing!

So now, I sit here in Seat 26 D. Jim is asleep on one side of me and a pretty blond Russian woman on the other. I pull out the pictures of this little guy that I met in a Russian orphanage about a month ago. Sweet boy… beautiful brown eyes and the hint of a dimple in his right cheek. Our son.

Thank you, Lord for giving us the privilege of allowing us to see you do your work. He can move the mountains. He is mighty to save.