Adoption update

Here's the latest with our adoption endeavors....
Last week, we received a DVD of the twin girls that we have been considering. We had asked for a DVD of them so we could see where they were at in their physical development. It was very fun to see them-they were just playing outside of the orphanage and inside their room. They looked like typical 2 year olds. It made us want to bring them home soon!

Our other exciting news is that we were able to mail in our dossier today. This is the packet of paperwork and pictures that will represent us to the Filipino government. We worked on it for about 3 months. We had to order original birth certificates, marriage certificate, get state background checks, get letters of recommendation from our pastor, employer, etc., get a psychological evaluation, get medical exams (all 5 of us), tax records, take pictures of each room in our house,... Some papers needed to get notarized, others did not. Needless to say, it was a great feeling to mail it in today. We were supposed to send in $3300 with it, but don't have that money yet, so they said they would hold it til we got it.

We have applied for several grants and are in the process of applying for several more. (Which means....you guessed it...more paperwork. Financial statements, statements of faith, personal testimonies, doctrinal questions, different letters of recommendation, etc.)But we are confident that the Lord will provide in His time through various ways.
One answer to prayer was our request for a financial subsidy through our agency here in the states. They granted us a $5000 subsidy if we adopt the twins. Praise God for that. Another agency called and interviewed me and said that they would recommend that we get the largest grant possible. We are still waiting to have that confirmed. So, in the meantime God is stretching us, humbling us and causing us to grow more dependent on Him and less dependent on ourselves and our bank accounts. Praise God for the lesson that He teaches us through trials.