Made it to the "Lock Box"!!

We wanted to give you all a quick update!! We just received our I-797C paperwork from Homeland Security. Our paperwork is in what they call the "lock box" as we wait on the Cable letter from the National Visa Center.  This is the first part of this paperwork we were waiting on as we wait on Travel Approval....see below:

- Once we get our LOA We will submit our 800 Provisional paperwork.  We will then get a receipt of our actual 800 approval. This will take approximately 2 weeks.  - JUST GOT THIS PART!!!!

STILL WAITING ON THESE:
- After we receive our provisional approval we will then wait for our cable letter from the NVC (National Visa Center). 

- Once we receive our cable letter then Lifeline will submit our Article 5 letter to the US Consulate.  The takes approximately 2 more weeks.

- After our Article 5 letter is picked up, the CCAA (Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs) wll initiate our TA (Travel Approval process) Our TA should arrive 3-4 weeksafter our Article 5 letter arrives at CCAA.

- Once we have TA (Travel Approval) it will take approximately 2 business days to get a confirmed CA (Consulate appointment)

- Once we have our CA we will likely travel 10-14 days after it is scheduled.

So...it looks like we are still on schedule to go in May.  Praying all the paperwork continues to come through smoothly!!

PRAYER REQUESTS:
1.  We mailed our Visa Applications off yesterday.  Please pray that we get our Visa's back in a quick manner.

2.  Please continue to pray for our finances to come in.  Our social worker told us we will need to wire $16,000 to China once we get our Travel Approval/Consulate Appointment.  We have $4,000 of that $16,000. (we still have $7000 for airfare on top of what we have to wire as well.) We are waiting on 2 grants we have applied for.  Pray for favor and that these organizations will give our family a grant toward these expenses. God is faithful.  Our faith is SO stretched...but we trust in the Lord and we know that where HE GUIDES...HE PROVIDES!! Thanks for your prayers for this!

3.  Please continue to pray for Shepard and that his foster family is showing him our photos and talking to him about us coming.  Pray that God prepares his little heart for the changes coming.

4.  Pray for all of us as we prepare our home and hearts for adding a new little one.  While we are all very excited...we know that reality sometimes isn't always easy.  But we know God will cause all of us to grow in our faith and trust in Him. 

Thank you all for keeping up with our process and for praying for us as it is getting really close to travel time.  We are all excited...and nervous too!! We are so grateful for all that God is doing in our hearts.  Our faith is being stretched...but we know God is faithful and being in the center of HIS will and trusting HIS heart in this process is where we want to be!! We wouldn't want to be anywhere else! 

We will keep everyone posted when we hear something else! Thank you so much for your prayers!
Blessings,
Mark & Buffi