"God's unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ and this gave Him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:5
Prior to our appointment at the Embassy (9am appt)
1) Our driver was almost 30 minutes late and spoke very poor/little English
2) Thank God, the streets of Delhi were virtually empty so we ended up being 1 hour early.
3) We knew the Embassy didn't open until 9am so we decided to see a few monuments close by
4) As we rode, we were able to get more photos of India. Below, are a few of them ...
6) We were thankful to see these monuments. This was the only official "sight seeing" portion of our trip. Thankfully, we have other friends from our agency that have been such a blessing by sending us pictures from their visits.
As the morning progressed, more people began to fill the streets and parks. By 8:30 am we decided it was time to head over to the Embassy. We wanted some extra time since it seemed like our driver did not know where he was going.
After the driver continued to stop the car for pictures, even after we asked him not to, we made it to the Embassy at 10 minutes until 9am. However, we actually arrived at the American Center, NOT the Embassy. Thankfully, the guards told us right away that we were in the wrong place! Unfortunately, our driver already drove off! Chad, holding all the baby gear and documents, ran after our driver. Chad's mission was not successful. Fortunately, one of the guards let us use a phone and call our driver back. PRAISE GOD, he didn't get too far.
After we stopped to ask several people for more directions, several u-turns, and said MANY prayers God brought us to the Embassy a few minutes past 9am. At first we were dropped off at the wrong gate but we eventually got where we were supposed to be
THE EMBASSY APPOINTMENT
1) We had several problems getting into the Embassy. Security was very high and all the guards were very demanding. We continuously told the guards we were American Citizens and an I-800 family but the guards kept insisting for us to follow their directions so we complied.
2) While we were waiting in one of the buildings, we saw the news flashing that Osama Bin Laden had been killed! This helped to make some sense out of the high security that day. That world event was only a few hours from where we were. We give thanks to God that the Embassy was safe and not locked down! It did lock down later but that did not affect us.
3) After what seemed like an unwanted tour of the entire facility, God brought us to the VISA appointment area. By this point in time, we were 30 minutes late for our appointment!
4) Feeling very anxious, Chad and I said a quick prayer and walked down the long hall for our meeting with the consulate. We felt some relief when we saw the other adoptive family still waiting. PRAISE GOD! We didn't miss our appointment! The other family had just finished their "interview" and then our names were called! God's timing is ALWAYS perfect!
THE VISA APPOINTMENT
1) Finally, we thought we could relax a little. (Wrong!) After I had handed all the documents to the consulate, he said we were missing our NOC (certificate CARA produced). I looked through my papers over and over and found nothing. I asked Chad to get help from the other family as they were getting ready to walk out the door. Sarah started to melt down and at that point, I just started crying! The other family was very gracious with us and helped me calm down and look again through our paperwork.
2) After several minutes of this, the consulate shut his window on us. I just stood there. He never came back. NOW WHAT!?
3) After about 15 minutes of standing there, another woman came to the window. I told her what had happened and she apologized for the consulate's actions. She spent a few minutes overlooking our papers and said the consulate was mistaken; they had our NOC. THANK YOU GOD!
4) We continuously thanked the Lord for this kind, understanding woman. She sent our documents to CARA and went above and beyond for us. She called our driver back, copied all of Sarah's file for us to take to CARA, and told us if we brought back the Article 23 that same day they would get us the VISA packet same day as well.
5) We held this information loosely. We knew this was a LONG shot! CARA usually requires at least 2 days to process the Article 23 and the Embassy (even though she said it would be done) typically doesn't have the VISA packet ready until the following day.
6) We both sighed and collected ourselves emotionally. It was hard to put everything into perspective. We accepted that we were probably not going to make the 1:45 am flight the next morning. We weren't even sure when we would get home. Our Saturday flight had been cancelled because of the pilot strike and the only available flight that week was the 1:45am flight.
REGARDLESS of what happened or how long we were going to be in India we gave thanks to God and accepted what he had for us. However, we had an open door to do what we could to get home soon and we walked through it by faith! God is so much bigger than ALL OF THIS!
Romans 8:28
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for the good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
After the driver continued to stop the car for pictures, even after we asked him not to, we made it to the Embassy at 10 minutes until 9am. However, we actually arrived at the American Center, NOT the Embassy. Thankfully, the guards told us right away that we were in the wrong place! Unfortunately, our driver already drove off! Chad, holding all the baby gear and documents, ran after our driver. Chad's mission was not successful. Fortunately, one of the guards let us use a phone and call our driver back. PRAISE GOD, he didn't get too far.
After we stopped to ask several people for more directions, several u-turns, and said MANY prayers God brought us to the Embassy a few minutes past 9am. At first we were dropped off at the wrong gate but we eventually got where we were supposed to be
THE EMBASSY APPOINTMENT
1) We had several problems getting into the Embassy. Security was very high and all the guards were very demanding. We continuously told the guards we were American Citizens and an I-800 family but the guards kept insisting for us to follow their directions so we complied.
2) While we were waiting in one of the buildings, we saw the news flashing that Osama Bin Laden had been killed! This helped to make some sense out of the high security that day. That world event was only a few hours from where we were. We give thanks to God that the Embassy was safe and not locked down! It did lock down later but that did not affect us.
3) After what seemed like an unwanted tour of the entire facility, God brought us to the VISA appointment area. By this point in time, we were 30 minutes late for our appointment!
4) Feeling very anxious, Chad and I said a quick prayer and walked down the long hall for our meeting with the consulate. We felt some relief when we saw the other adoptive family still waiting. PRAISE GOD! We didn't miss our appointment! The other family had just finished their "interview" and then our names were called! God's timing is ALWAYS perfect!
THE VISA APPOINTMENT
1) Finally, we thought we could relax a little. (Wrong!) After I had handed all the documents to the consulate, he said we were missing our NOC (certificate CARA produced). I looked through my papers over and over and found nothing. I asked Chad to get help from the other family as they were getting ready to walk out the door. Sarah started to melt down and at that point, I just started crying! The other family was very gracious with us and helped me calm down and look again through our paperwork.
2) After several minutes of this, the consulate shut his window on us. I just stood there. He never came back. NOW WHAT!?
3) After about 15 minutes of standing there, another woman came to the window. I told her what had happened and she apologized for the consulate's actions. She spent a few minutes overlooking our papers and said the consulate was mistaken; they had our NOC. THANK YOU GOD!
4) We continuously thanked the Lord for this kind, understanding woman. She sent our documents to CARA and went above and beyond for us. She called our driver back, copied all of Sarah's file for us to take to CARA, and told us if we brought back the Article 23 that same day they would get us the VISA packet same day as well.
5) We held this information loosely. We knew this was a LONG shot! CARA usually requires at least 2 days to process the Article 23 and the Embassy (even though she said it would be done) typically doesn't have the VISA packet ready until the following day.
6) We both sighed and collected ourselves emotionally. It was hard to put everything into perspective. We accepted that we were probably not going to make the 1:45 am flight the next morning. We weren't even sure when we would get home. Our Saturday flight had been cancelled because of the pilot strike and the only available flight that week was the 1:45am flight.
REGARDLESS of what happened or how long we were going to be in India we gave thanks to God and accepted what he had for us. However, we had an open door to do what we could to get home soon and we walked through it by faith! God is so much bigger than ALL OF THIS!
Romans 8:28
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for the good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
JOURNEY TO CARA
1) As Chad helped our driver navigate, I prayed. If this was going to work out, God would have to intervene. It was also very hard to accept that we might have to wait another week or more before we could go home.
2) God protected us as we drove through some "less visited" areas of Delhi. Our driver continuously stopped on the side of the road, left the car running and got out to ask for directions. Thankfully, Chad was always able to jump over the seat and lock the car.
3) The above pictures are from our ride to CARA and the pictures below are from our walk to the CARA office. I driver had to drop us off at the gate. We walked down an alley, behind a creepy/dark building, by several people sitting in the dark shade staring us down, past armed guards, up a spiral stair case and down a long hall to the CARA office. WHEW!
1) As Chad helped our driver navigate, I prayed. If this was going to work out, God would have to intervene. It was also very hard to accept that we might have to wait another week or more before we could go home.
2) God protected us as we drove through some "less visited" areas of Delhi. Our driver continuously stopped on the side of the road, left the car running and got out to ask for directions. Thankfully, Chad was always able to jump over the seat and lock the car.
3) The above pictures are from our ride to CARA and the pictures below are from our walk to the CARA office. I driver had to drop us off at the gate. We walked down an alley, behind a creepy/dark building, by several people sitting in the dark shade staring us down, past armed guards, up a spiral stair case and down a long hall to the CARA office. WHEW!
When we arrived, the receptionist pointed to a sign on the wall. It said, "Adoption Visiting Hours Mon-Fri 4pm-5pm". WHAT!? Chad and I were NOT going to leave there without getting past the front desk. I took a deep breath and we both just walked in anyway. A man stopped me and again pointed to the sign. I just kept walking. Another man walked over to us and I said, "We are here for our Article 23 and the U.S Embassy sent us." After pretending like I didn't understand the visiting hours sign, a beautiful woman showed up in a gorgeous sari and clear English. She said, "You are here for Article 23?" I replied, "Yes." She said, "Come here." She looked at my papers, told us to wait (in a dark room with no lights ANYWHERE) then walked down this long hallway. I never saw her again. After 40 minutes of waiting in the dark room, another woman walked in with our Article 23. Thank God Sarah was flexible with us at that point. She just sat on my lap and played with the same toy the entire time. SUCH A BLESSING!
HOMEBOUND
1) Chad and I spent the ride back to the hotel thanking God for every answered prayer. We did not deserve to have every important detail of the day work out for our good but it did. We were praising God for it all!
2) Closer to the hotel, our driver took us on another unwanted excursion after we insisted that he take us straight to the hotel. He stopped our car on a unpaved dirt road and asked us to spend 5 minutes in this "shop" with no markings, no windows, or anything that would make it a credible place to shop. Almost at screaming level, Chad told our driver to take us to the hotel. Thankfully, he complied and took us back to the hotel. The hotels did not charge us for the car that day after we told them about all the problems we had with our driver.
3) After SEVERAL hours of phone calls, God provided us with an affordable flight home. Plane ticket prices were extremely high for all airlines but God gave us a non-stop flight home for only $1,800!!! During the strike, it was not uncommon to pay 6,000 -10,000 for 2 international plane tickets. We are so thankful for God's provision.
4) We had another bump in the road at the airport. For whatever reason, we had to purchase Sarah's lap ticket at the airport. However, Air India was not issuing new tickets because of the strike and they weren't going to give us a ticket for her! Once again, God intervened and after at least an hour, they agreed to sell us a lap ticket. Shortly after this, a manager asked to see proof that she was adopted or he wouldn't give us the ticket. THANK GOD, Chad had kept the Hague adoption certificate in his carry-on with the VISA packet! The manager went to a special safe and pulled out a fancy looking ticket for our baby girl. After showing our passports at least 10-12 times in the airport, we were on our flight home.
Love,
Jess
1 comment:
WOW! Your last day in India sounds like it was full of unexpected events. It is wonderful to see how God answered your prayers throughout the day and you made your final flight home.
Your driver sounds like the driver we had in Kolkata! It is amazing to me how much a driver can contribute to the stress level of being in a foreign country and not knowing where you are how or how to communicate. A good driver will make things go so smoothly while a bad driver will bring that stress level to a boiling point.
Glad you are home safe and sound with your children. Thanks for sharing your journey.
April :-)
P.S. I can't see any of the pictures that you posted :-(
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