God's Perfect Timing

Sorry we haven't had a chance to post a new blog until now. What an experience we've had so far. We got to our hotel Monday night at 7:00pm Vietnam time. Just got settled into 2 rooms. Phone rang. Our coordinator called. Interpretor(Tham) will pick you up at 7:30 am to take you to Vung Tau orphanage to get your daughter. Paper work not finished on son. We all Pray and go to bed. Phone rings at 10:00 pm. Our coordinator calls. We are to move hotels at 7:30 am then go to orphanage. We are all very tired, but the move would put us all together on same floor and give us more room and a swimming pool. Ask for pictures of this when we get home. Up at 6:00. On 2 1/2 hours drive to orphanage by 8:15. While driving interpretor says that we will not be able to see Eli at all. We smiled and said OK and prayed. Jeff and I had more peace about the situation that day than we have ever had to that point. Arrive at orphanage, can't discribe feelings. Nanny is holding our Emily on balcony as we drive up. We aren't sure but we think it is her. We walk up to balcony. A woman meets us and asks us to sit. We can't communicate with her at all except through signs. Tham is some help. Pretty soon they bring Emily. Feelings to difficult to discribe. Lots of tears, and pictures thanks to Trinity. Director desides to bring out Eli. More tears. He is scared. We give him a toy and tell him we'll come back and get him soon. They take him away. We leave. (All happens in 15 min.) We go straight to giving and receiving ceremony. (Ask me to discribe this later) Emily officially ours. We are leaving Eli in good hands the director and facilitator and nanny's seem to love the children very much. Tham and Tao(Tham's daughter) and our driver take us to a very beautiful place to eat. I hope our pictures will do it some justice. Reminded me of Maui yet much different. While we are eating, being entertain by food preparations at our table and the food itself, watching the fishing boats and enjoying the overall beauty of God's amazing world, Tham receives a phone call. A huge smile comes on his face. He puts phone down and tells us, "Let's get boy,!" Told we could take Eli to hotel but all paperwork not finish yet. MIght be 3 or 4 days. More tears. Eli not ready yet so we drive around VungTau. See amazing, amazing, amazing beauty including a giant 4-5 story statue of Jesus. Go get Eli. Not quite as easy as Emily. While signing paperwork for Eli. Tham's phone rings again. He smiles and hangs up. "Paperwork is done on boy lets go to ceremony." More tears and praise to God! Not a moment to soon He timing is PERFECT indeed! We take Eli. We drive around some more till people are ready at Giving and Receiving. We go to Eli's Giving and Receiving Ceremony. Long drive back to HCM City. We are very, very tired. Order room service. We pray and talk and thank our Amazing God. Not much sleep for new parents. Must be in lobby at 8:15am to go apply for passports and get medicals done on children. (More on this later) Arrive back at hotel around 12:00 noon. Eat peanut butter and bread. Kids babysit while Mom and Dad rest. Jeff goes with Tham to get tickets to Hanoi. We fly to Hanoi Sunday night at 9:30 pm. Not sure when meeting will be in Hanoi but all has gone quickly so far. Pray with us that it will continue. It is amazing what happens when we quit trying to figure things out on our own and just trust God. We cannot tell you how much your prayers mean to us. It is so cool to be able to talk to friends and family who are thousands of miles away. Did some walking around today will do some more exploring tomorrow. Going on a boat ride with Tham on Saturday. We are going to try to find a good greasy cheeseburger tonight. Will try to post more soon. Thanks so much for your prayers, we can surely feel them all the way over here. We love you all.

Jeff and Sherri