The Reason I "SHOW HOPE"

Every so often Show Hope poses the question to its supporters, “Why are you a Show Hope sponsor?” and to be honest I never know how to respond.  The easy way out would be to say something about the help they provided towards Jolene’s adoption leading to our first involvement.  Or I could mention their generosity with adoption grants creating a drive to help them provide even more grants.  Or I could say our family values the lead the Chapman family has publicly provided in the field of orphan care and our desire to follow.  Or perhaps I should mention the fabulous place which is Maria’s Big House of Hope and our commitment to support both its residents and its staff.  Then there are also the ongoing opportunities Show Hope provides our family to be a little part of a big effort in the realm of orphan care.  But, honestly, try as I might none of these answers ever seem to really be the right one.  None of them come anywhere close to really explaining why I am a Show Hope sponsor. 
 

But maybe that’s because the term “sponsor” doesn’t seem to fit anymore.  Yes, technically that’s exactly what I am – a sponsor, but in my little corner of the world it just seems so much bigger than that these days.  Where the organization of Show Hope is involved I’d like to believe that I am more than simply the scribe of a monthly check.  I think I’d prefer a description more along the lines of advocate or volunteer.   A friend as well as a supporter.  Some days I'm probably a bit of a groupie. And most days I'm a walking billboard.  All because, you see, my affinity for Show Hope may have started with a commitment to monthly sponsorship nine years ago, but it has grown to be so very much more and that makes it very difficult to answer the “Why are you a Show Hope sponsor?” question.   No story ever seems the right one and no matter how much I’ve grappled for just the right way to explain things I’ve never been able to string together the right words to express the thoughts and ideas in my head.  But… after all these years, I think I have finally found the answer and I might even be able to explain it to you.  Maybe.

On the rare occasion, I get the opportunity to drive alone in my car.  This doesn’t happen often as I usually have at least one child with me, but every once in a while I get the chance to be alone for more than a few minutes, turn on the CD of my choice and actually enjoy listening to the words of the songs playing – not just the ones not drowned out by one or more little girls talking, singing, giggling, arguing, etc.   And the other day while driving solo across base to water my watermelons I had a very enlightening encounter with my CD player.

The CD playing was Hundred More Years by Francesca Battistelli and the song was one I’ve heard many times before - Motion of Mercy.  Well, as I sang along with the radio (yes, I admit I do this quite freely when alone), I was suddenly struck by thoughts of Show Hope.  I couldn’t believe how the lyrics of this song so easily answered that often pondered question of “Why are you a Show Hope sponsor?”  There it was, written out and put to music – the answer that has so long eluded my grasp had somehow made its way into Francesca Battistelli’s brain and she had so very generously recorded it as a song on a CD that I could listen to in my car.  This was AMAZING!  And this was the reason that I Show Hope.

I was poor I was weak

I was the definition of the spiritually

Bankrupt condition

So in need of help…

The idea of adoption was planted in my heart a very long time ago when as a child my parents considered adopting a child into our family of five.  When Dan and I were dating in college we freely discussed the idea of adopting and looking back it seems so strange that it was such a natural topic of conversation for two twenty-year-olds not married or even out of school yet.  The point being, God introduced the concept of orphan care to my soul long before I had any idea what to do with it, but on some level I think it was always holding me captive to its call until the day I could act.

I was unsatisfied

Hungry and thirsty
When you rushed to my side

So unworthy

Still you gave yourself away….

And then, in 2002, Dan and I decided to take a leap of faith and adopt.  We didn’t have to.  We didn’t “need” to.  God just told us to.  It was time.  The seeds He had sown in us years before were ready to grow and bloom and from the day we took our first adoption "step" we have never doubted His lead.  And this is where Show Hope comes in.  Their example of faithful response to God’s call to orphan care is nothing short of inspiring.  Watching this organization grow from its very first days has been such a model of mercy and compassion that I simply cannot deny its impact on my heart.   And the growth I’ve experienced as a result of the opportunities I’ve had to join them and help where I can goes beyond measure.

That's the motion of mercy
Changing the way and the why we are
That's the motion of mercy
Moving my heart

Some might say I’ve been bitten by the “bug”.  Others might say I’m addicted or obsessed, but I’d like to think I’ve simply found my niche and God has provided me a calling.  Years ago God created the desire in me to love and care for orphans.  Show Hope has provided me the means and the opportunity to act.

Now I'm filled by a love
That calls me to action
I was empty before now I'm drawn to compassion
And to give myself away

Living for the lost
Loving 'til it hurts
No matter what the cost
Like You loved me first
That's the motion of mercy

So, will God leave me here in this spot forever - serving as a walking billboard and volunteering to work at the Show Hope table whenever I can?  I seriously doubt it.  But that’s okay because I really wouldn’t want Him to.  I am active and happy and doing what I can in the realm of orphan care right now because He didn’t leave me where I was nine years ago.  I didn’t get to where I am overnight, and I haven't turned my back on anything I've begun along the way.  What started as a simple request for adoption grant information soon changed to a desire to do more, and even after years of finding more ways to be involved I continue to look for even more.  Through Show Hope Christ has truly changed the way and the why I am.  I cannot fathom what He has in store for me in the future, but I know that each time change comes it make everything that much better so I truly pray that He just keeps right on changing things.

So…  why am I a Show Hope sponsor?  

I am a Show Hope sponsor because Christ used Show Hope to call me to action and my heart can't help but respond to that motion of mercy.

God give me strength to give something for nothing
I wanna be a glimpse of the Kingdom that's coming soon…

Thank you, Show Hope!  I can't wait to see what the next nine years brings.  You have truly blessed my life.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  John 13:34

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."  John 15:12

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  James 1:27

Listen to Motion of Mercy here...

Travel Approval

We have

Travel Approval!!!

We won’t have exact travel dates until CCAI sets up our US Consulate Appointment but the first option looks like leaving on August 10 with the second option as leaving on August 17.  I’ll let you know more as soon as I know.  Yippee!!

Monday Update 7/25

Process Updates:

First of all, Happy Monday!  Can you believe I actually got this done on time?  Perhaps I’ve turned over a new leaf, or at least found the old one…

Second of all, 23 days!  23 days!  23 days until my chosen travel date.  Hurray!  It doesn’t get any better than that!  Okay, who am I kidding?  Of course it does - It will get even better tomorrow when there will be only 22 days left – but for July 25, 2011... 23 days is basically awesome.  =)

And, well, that’s about all I’ve got today.  We really have nothing new to share.  Our Travel Approval is still pending so we are still waiting.  I have made some serious progress in the packing department, however.  Jack is pretty much packed – clothes, toys, etc., and my remaining list of needed items is dwindling very quickly.   I haven’t gone as far as getting my own suitcase out yet, but I can pretty much guarantee it will be out before next Monday.  CCAI has shared that they are really hoping CCCWA will rush through a large number of TA’s this week in order to beat the August 1 new regulations, but they don’t really expect this to happen.  I am totally okay with this and hold the view that before August 1 would be a great surprise, but at this point I just want it to arrive as soon as it can.  I plan to check with our social worker this week to determine how exactly you submit a progress report to China at the one month mark – I’m pretty sure she’s going to have to be waiting on our front porch when Jack and I arrive home in order to get the paperwork completed, notarized and in the mail for that due date.  We’ll see though.

And that’s it.  Please continue to keep Jack, our travel plans and Katie’s childcare needs in your prayers.  The closer we get to real dates the more definitive answers Katie can give to those who are working on a plan with her and that always helps.  The closer we get, however, the more pressing the need for smooth transition prayers for Jack and our family.  And please also keep my own travel preparations in your prayers.  I have a lot of lists and sincerely hope that I am not missing something that will make my life crazy at the last minute.  Ha!  You are all wonderful for following along on this with us and covering us all in faithful prayer.  We appreciate it more than you know.  Thank you!!

Prayer Requests:

*We pray that our Travel Approval will arrive quickly and we will be provided the earliest travel dates possible.

*We ask for God’s continued guidance in finding childcare for Katie’s children as she prepares to travel.  Please pray that plans will fall into place smoothly as travel gets closer.

*We pray that God will prepare Jack’s heart and mind for the changes he will soon encounter as he joins our family.  May God provide a smooth transition, a clear understanding of the changes and situation, and a safe journey home.

*We pray for continued health and happiness for Jack, as well as God’s hand on his caretakers.   We pray for peace of mind and comfort for Jack.  We lift up his caretakers and ask blessings upon this relationship.

*We pray for patience and trust throughout this process, and as travel gets closer we pray for God’s direction and focus with preparation for both travel and Jack’s arrival.

* We continue to pray that each person following this journey will feel led to participate in Jack’s “100 Good Wishes” Quilt so that Jack will have a true record of the love surrounding his journey.

Ways You Can Support Us:

PRAYER - Please continue to lift up Jack and all of our family in your prayers.  We greatly appreciate your prayers on all fronts.  Please continue to pray that paperwork and processing moves forward smoothly and efficiently with China and that everyone involved experiences smooth transitions, safe travel and peace of mind.

Deborah Shipley

Meet Katie Green…

It has come to my attention that those of you who do not receive or read my Monday Adoption Update emails may be very confused as to who exactly “Katie” is.  In my last blog I spoke fervently about Katie and I leaving for China on August 17, but it was only after I had posted said blog that Katie pointed out I had never blogged about her traveling with me.  So, in an effort to get everyone on the same page, this blog installment shall be dedicated to your introduction to Katie Green and how she became my travel companion on my great Bring-Jack-Home adventure.  A little late maybe, but better late than never, right?

To tell this story right, I must first take you back to the events of mid-May.  My Monday update of May 23 actually stated things this way:  “The biggest news we have for the past week is actually an alteration to our planned travel experience.  For those of you who have not heard, we found out a few days ago that Dan will again be deploying to Afghanistan for a full year and unfortunately this will keep him from being able to travel with me to pick up Jack.”

Well, there you go - that about sums it up.  Now you know why Katie is going with me.   Glad I could clear that up for you.  Thanks for stopping by.  Oh wait!  You want to know more?  Good news!  There’s a lot more...

Dan getting notice of his deployment really just started the whole travel companion ball rolling.  As soon as we knew that Dan was indeed going to be deploying before we would receive our Travel Approval I had to make one major decision – Would I travel alone or find someone to travel with me?  In the grand scheme of things, traveling alone really was/is an option.  The actual adoption part of this whole thing is really just a matter of paperwork and hurdle jumping that both Dan and I have done before so that really didn’t concern me.  Going to China is also something I have done before – twice – so that doesn’t really bother me either.  The part of the trip that did make me just a little bit uncomfortable going it alone was the actual traveling part – multiple airports, LONG flights, small child, etc.  Could I handle this on my own?  Yes, absolutely.   But it would be much easier with two adults rather than one when you consider baggage, layovers, potty breaks, language barriers, tired four-year-old, etc.  All that to say I came to the decision pretty early that I would prefer to take someone with me if possible.  So the next question was – Who to take?

After thinking it through for a while I finally decided my sister was probably the one and only person that made sense.  No offense to anyone else out there who might have wanted to be invited, but she is my sister and all….  And she does have an affinity for China, has traveled there herself several times, would love to see more of it than what she’s already visited, and did share a room with me for many, many years so living together in a hotel room for two weeks would be far from an unusual experience for us.  But there was the timing to consider.  My sister is a teacher so in order for her to go our travel plans would have to coincide with her summer break.  Luckily, she resides in California where school doesn’t get out for the summer until mid-June and thus doesn’t start back up again until early September.  This was a definite PLUS in the able-to-go column.  

Then there was the next question – Would my sister want to go?  So, I asked her.  Actually, I sent her an email (our main form of communication given the different time zones thing) that after explaining Dan’s new deployment adventure read, “Here is the crazy part.  I know this is insane – I mean I just told you it was a crazy idea – but would you be at all interested in a free trip to China?”  Great email, huh?  Well, the rest of it went on to say I knew that this might not even be a remote possibility on her end and something about our parents freaking out when they heard Dan was deploying in the middle of our adoption, but luckily she didn’t think I was insane.   Quite the opposite actually as her response came back as, “Absolutely I’m interested!”  Whew!  At least one person out there doesn’t think I’m crazy.  =) 

Basically the deal broke down as this:  Yes, she was interested in going.  Yes, she could work it out to travel during the summer.  Yes, she could work around getting ready for the new school year to begin.  (Yes, that means teachers really do work during their summer days off.)  But yes, she needed to be back in San Diego for any actual students-in-the-classroom days simply because not being in your own classroom for any part of the very beginning of the year is a really, really bad way to get the ball rolling with your students.  So there we were.  At this point in time it looked as if our Travel Approval would arrive sometime in mid-July setting us up for late July or early August travel so all things looked good.  As long as paperwork kept moving on schedule my sister could and would travel with me.  Hurray!

Now the question is – did you catch the problem with this plan?  Anyone who has been following this particular adoption journey for any period of time should have seen the looming bound-to-happen issue I just mentioned with this whole thing.  Did you catch it?  You know, that whole “as long as paperwork kept moving on schedule” part?  Yep – definitely NOT something to count on in this journey.  Wouldn’t you know that dang paperwork just couldn’t keep up with the plan and here it is now the end of July and guess what – we still don’t have Travel Approval.  Can I say I’m really surprised by this?  Well, of course not.  I’ve been following the paper trail of this adoption from the front lines from the first day – I don’t think anything surprises me anymore.  But as our LOA arrived a good week later than expected, things began to look not so good for my sister being able to travel.  So the next question was – now what?

Ironically, there was another name that had popped into my mind the very first time Dan and I started even talking about whether I would find someone to travel with me if it did turn out he could not go.  But the whole idea was so crazy that I quickly moved past it and began searching for an idea that made sense – thus my sister.  You see, that very first conversation went something like this…

Dan:  “Who do you think you might ask?”

Me:  “You know who should go with me…. Katie Green.” 

Dan:  “Who is Katie Green?” 

Me:  “Katie Green.  Asher’s mom.”   (Asher was a fellow MBHOH resident with Jack who came home to his forever family in December 2010.)

Dan:  “Oh, okay.  You should ask her.”

Me:  “I can’t ask Katie Green.  That’s crazy.  She doesn’t even know me!”

You see, although we had began chatting often on Facebook after meeting through common Show Hope channels several months earlier, and although we had slowly branched out into naptime phone calls at this point Katie and I have never actually met in person.  Not to mention, Katie is also a mother of four young children very similar in age to our own so just the idea of asking her to pick up and leave the country with me was (and may still be) a bit on the crazy side.  But apparently, crazy is exactly what God ordered.

While all of the waiting for our LOA had been going on and I believed my sister would be travelng with me Katie and I had several conversations about the whole travel companion issue.  In one of those interactions she had shared with me, “Do you know that my first thought when I read that he wasn't going to be able to go was? ‘She's going to need travel support. I should go with her!’”  You can imagine my surprise at such a comment.  I couldn’t do anything but laugh.  How crazy is that?  My first thought – Katie Green.  Katie’s first though – I should go with her!  And thus, a new plan seed was planted.

When it became clear that the travel window of this whole adventure wasn’t going to work well for my sister, I decided that perhaps I should have paid more attention to what God was telling me on the front end.  Not that I wouldn’t take my sister with me in a heartbeat, but perhaps I really was supposed to ask Katie all along.  So, that is what I did.  I asked.  And she did not tell me I was crazy.  Whew!  That makes two people who don't think I'm crazy.  We may have discussed how this entire situation is crazy, but we definitely acknowledged that God must have had His hand in putting the plan together or we would never have randomly come up with the same plan at the same time.  I must add, however, that I’m fairly certain that Katie’s take on the whole thing back then was still something about “It would take an act of God” to pull this off.  Hm...

Well, as luck would have it, God decided to act.  After much prayer and deliberation Katie's husband, Josh, gave her the go-ahead and let us know he was okay with her traveling with me.  This came with a condition - Katie needed to make sure she had a plan for childcare while she was gone (kind of important since Josh needs to show up for work on a daily basis) - but okay with her going, he was.

So, here we are.  In less than a month (hopefully) my dear friend, and fellow adoptive mother, Katie Green will be spending two weeks of her life traveling to China with me and being my travel buddy as I complete Jack’s adoption process and bring him home to the U.S.   Hurray!  We still need to nail down the childcare plan for her as she has several leads but no definite commitments given we are still waiting on actual travel dates, but we both feel confident that our traveling together is what God has intended to happen so everything will work out fine.  That said, we would ask that you keep Katie and her family in your prayers as our travel dates get closer.  As much as we trust that the situation is in God’s hands it would provide much peace and comfort to those involved to have some concrete idea of how things will play out before the last minute insanity of travel approval begins and we are rushing around searching for plane tickets and departure times. 

And speaking of departures, if you are hoping to catch a glimpse of us on our journey we shouldn't be hard to spot.  We will be the two American women sporting Show Hope t-shirts everywhere we go.  Which by the way is a very good thing, because in case I didn't mention it Katie and I still have not met in person as she lives in Florida and I am in Maryland, but once we each reach that gateway city it shouldn't be hard to pick each other out of the crowd.  All we have to do is look for SHOW HOPE!

Oh!  And for those who may be wondering, my parents are coming to stay with our girls so that is all taken care of.  But prayers for a peaceful two weeks would be greatly appreciated on this end too as having both Mom and Dad out of the country at the same time is already weighing a bit heavy on the hearts of some of the smaller Shipleys.  Thanks!

The Lost Updates

June 29

Process Updates:

Okay, so I totally missed the Monday update this week, but I have posted four blogs in the last two days so I haven’t been completely uncommunicative.  Please check them out if you have not as one of them includes the Jack video we received last week.  Yeah!   http://foraplace.blogspot.com

On the home front, here’s where we are…

We received our I-800 Approval letter in the mail last Thursday.  Yeah!  I quickly had my neighbor scan it into her computer so I could email it over to CCAI.  The directions we were given from CCAI were then to wait a day or two and call the National Visa Center and find out exactly when our I-800 information had been forwarded by them (via computer) to Guangzhou.  Being who I am I really didn’t feel the need to wait that long so I, of course, called the NVC late Friday morning.  The woman I spoke with was very nice, told me that our paperwork had arrived at the NVC on Thursday and should be inputted into the “shared computer” sometime Friday or Monday.

On Monday I once again contacted the NVC and was informed that our paperwork had been inputted earlier in the day and our notification would be forthcoming.  This is GREAT news!  It would be even better news if I had been able to convince the NVC to email me this confirmation information, but I was unable to do that so we are now waiting on the NVC letter to arrive in the mail.  It did not come today, so we will hope for tomorrow.  =)

For those trying to keep all of this straight, here is the final rundown:
- Once we receive the NVC letter we forward it to CCAI.

-Once CCAI receives the letter they will forward it to their staff in Guangzhou .

-The Guangzhou CCAI office will then deliver our documents to the US Consulate so we can receive “Article 5.”  (Typically a 2-2.5 week processing window) 

-Once we receive Article 5 status we begin the final wait… for Travel Approval.

And that is about it.  =)  My passport, with Chinese visa intact, arrived in the mail on Tuesday so that is one more thing off my list to do.  I also received updated measurements for Jack today so that will help me with planning for him.  Although these numbers are at best slightly inaccurate, and quite possibly grossly inaccurate, they at least give me a starting point for clothing size, etc., and that is more than I had before. 

Finally, please continue to pray for Katie and her childcare needs.  Although we are confident the Lord will provide in His time, I know that it would give all of her family great peace of mind to know the issue was taken care of and plans had made.  Thanks!

July 5

Process Updates:

Just a quick update for the week…  We received our NVC letter last Thursday and I faxed it to CCAI that evening so that it could be forwarded to China and delivered at the US Consulate on Friday.  From the other adoptive families I have polled it seems that Article 5, the paperwork we are now waiting on, typically comes in at exactly 2 weeks meaning next Friday we should see something.  And then it will be on to waiting for Travel Approval.  Yeah!  Can you believe we are finally down to such a short list?  Crazy, huh?!

On the prayer front, we are still in need of a childcare plan in order for Katie to be able to travel, so please continue to pray that things will fall into place soon.   Also, the chances of us beating the August 1 deadline are incredible slim at this point (our TA would have to arrive much sooner than the last few batches), but it is not completely off the table yet so we continue to ask for quick processing.  And just as a fun note, if everything continues to move forward as it has for recently traveled families, Katie and I should be heading to the airport in just about 6-7 weeks.  Hurray!  Hurray!

 July 11

Process Updates:

37 days!!  37 days!!  That is, 37 days until I plan to leave for China.  Hurray!  Please, feel free to count down with me.  40, 39, 38, 37…

For those of you who haven’t read my blog lately (http://foraplace.blogspot.com), don’t worry, you really haven’t missed anything – other than the fact that I have decided that Katie and I will be leaving for China on August 17.  This, of course, is my decision not China’s, but given all of the timelines my recently traveled friends have followed it should be a fairly decent estimate and my life has been much more manageable since I’ve had a date to work with.  So as I said… feel free to count down with me.  37 days!!  =)

On the paperwork front, I really have nothing new to share.  We are still waiting on Article 5 which should hopefully be picked up from the U.S. Consulate on Friday so I am very much hoping next Monday’s update will bear a great announcement regarding that.  Then it will be the final wait for Travel Approval.  Yeah!

On the prayer front, please just keep it up.  Katie has some good leads on childcare so we pray that as we get past this next paperwork hurdle some concrete plans will fall into place for her.  The chances of that pre-August 1 Travel Approval still exist so we continue to pray for fast processing.   And don’t forget…   mark those calendars for August 17.  =)

July 19

Process Updates:

29 days!  29 days!  That’s a 2 and a 9, mind you.  Do you know what that means?  That means I am officially less than a month from my official un-official departure date.  29 days!  Whoo Hoo!

Okay, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, let me just say that I have apparently lost all ability to send out my Monday updates on Monday.  Perhaps I should start referring to them as Tuesday updates.  Or better yet, maybe I should just call them weekly updates and admit that I will surely run behind again.  But that’s okay.  Does it really matter if I’m running behind when I only have 29 days left until I travel?  Nope, didn’t think so.  =)

Well, in case you missed my big announcement on Friday, we now have our Article 5 paperwork from the U.S. Consulate.  That letter should have arrived at the CCCWA in Beijing on Monday so we are now waiting on that most coveted Travel Approval.  The estimated time for this is 2-4 weeks so it looks like our chances of beating the August 1 regulations change are pretty much shot.  Even if our paperwork was processed in exactly two weeks it would arrive on August 1 rather than before it, but that is okay.  We will simply be in the first group of families that falls under the new regulations – and everybody wants to be first, right?  Anyway, it’s not that we mind do the extra reports, we were really hoping to the beat the date more for our own selfish convenience as the Army will undoubtedly move us a few times over the next five years and to file reports we will have to track down a new Hague-approved agency/social worker to complete those reports for us wherever we end up.  (Under the old regulations we would have been able to complete all the necessary reports before leaving Fort Meade.)  It would seem at this time, as if I have any insight into the plans of God, that perhaps He simply wanted us to be under these new rules – especially since all of the crazy delays we have experience have literally put us just days past the cut-off.  And who are we to question Him?  I’m sure His plan is WAY better than any I could dream up.  =)

So there you are.  All caught up.  I’ll most likely be pretty calm for the next few days – until August 1 that is.  Once we hit the first day of that estimated TA window I’m sure I will start chomping at the bit again.  But for now I will wait.  Oh!  And start PACKING!!  Did I mention that we’re only 29 days away?!!  August 17, here we come!