When we clattered into the stairwell with three tired children and an overloaded suitcase, a dear neighbor came hurrying to meet us with "I've been waiting for you all day!"
Natalia handed us a notice from the post office... and when I went there the next morning, it was indeed the long awaited summons to court.
The date has finally been set. The hearing will be on the 25th of December. (Merry Christmas, and 'God bless us, every one!')
This hearing will decide whether Phyllis will be deported, and as a result, be denied any Russian visa for the next 5 years, or if she will be pardoned and issued an exit visa, with the option to return to Russia.
To briefly explain for those who are just now catching up with us, this dilemma came about largely because Phyllis' visa expired while we were waiting for Asya's passport. Without a passport for Asya, we could not take her out of the country, and Phyllis would have had to leave the country to get a new visa.
Please PRAY with us and for us. Pray for a merciful judge. Pray that on the 25th, the glory of our Heavenly Father would triumph over the schemes of men who deny His reality.
Note from Phyllis: Obviously, it's hard to make plans when we don't know what the court decision will be and how soon after that we'll need to leave. (And no internet. That complicates things. We came home to find that the local office of our internet server had gone out of business, and our computer has decided not to recognize the fancy modem-thing anymore anyway. We're posting this from the computer center.) Sorry! There's nothing like drop in guests from the other side of the world, right?
We'll probably be arriving in Florida two or three weeks after Christmas, staying with my parents for the first few weeks, and then heading up to Will's parents in North Carolina. That's all we know for now. (Poor Mom! I know that 2,000 questions just jumped into your mind. Your job is just to find three car seats, so that you can get us from the airport, and to try to stay calm. 
)
12 comments:
How can she remain calm when she's rejoicing to see her grandchildren, as are all of us!?!
We will be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in prayer!
Three car seats and a car that can hold the car seats and at least 3 adults! To see you all I'm sure there is no obstacle too big. I hope you are in the U.S. long enough that we'll get to see you. My thoughts are with you through the next steps.
Thanks to the kindness of Iain's family, the car seat and van dilemma are already solved (at least for the trip from the airport). It's the 1,998 remaining questions that still need answers!
Many prayers....much love....
Hi! I am delighted to hear that we will see you all soon and on "pins and needles" about everything else, all at the same time!! (I know! I know!! "Be anxious for nothing"!!! I'm trying!!!) Love you all and we are PRAYING!!! Baba Julie
I know it's a pain what you're going through...but I can't help but be excited for the grandparents knowing how much they will enjoy this time with all of you.
Laura T. :)
Praying that your leave will be very temporary so that you can fully enjoy your time home with family without the worries of leaving Russia for years. We will be praying when we know the sun comes up in Russia! There are some benefits of having insomnia. ;) Of course, we will pray before then too. :-P
God grant you a miracle this Christmas!
I'm praying for you guys! May God be glorified! I'll be praying for a merciful judge!
Praying for you!
I am in awe of your faithfulness to the Lord everyday when I read your blog. I can't imagine that stress that only our Lord can take off your shoulders. I praise him for your family and the light that you are. I am praying for the Lord's will in all of this. Wish we could see you when your back but obviously it is still way too many miles even after we are in the same country.
I have so many things to say, I don't know where to get started!
First of all, I am so impressed that you only needed ONE suitcase! How do you do that? Second, I LOVE the photos you posted. Third, your mother is a very cute and I can certainly relate to what she must be going through. And lastly, I KNOW everything will be okay and work out in your favor. I pray I am right but I just have a feeling the judge will be merciful when he/she meets you and you tell your story. You radiate love and goodness and surely the judge will see this and have mercy and compassion. I pray I am right! Truly, I am not worried. I am worried that you are worried and that you will spend Christmas Day in court but what better day to know everything is in God's hands and He will take care of you! Praying that you will can eat, sleep, pray and have inner peace while you wait for Christmas Day. Offer all your fear up to the Lord and everything will be okay.
Love you and praying for you and your entire family!
Hi Phyllis,
We were just thinking about you this morning while the boys were trying to get coordinated enough to play the guitar and sing Away in the manger at the same time...
While we were working together, my husband decided to sit in on the session, and he decided to try to sing too.
Since you and I have visited about your desire to make a joyful noise with a little more finesse (trying to figure out how to have that voice lesson over the computer - you know?), we thought of you immediately and were prayerful for you and love witnessing God work through your life - so we relished in that for a moment, then went on with my husband's first attempts at trying to grow vocally with his sing-a-lot wife's help.
All of that blug-blug-blugging is just to say that I hope that this Christmas you are able to have a song in your heart and make a joyful noise unto the Lord, even if you are in the last place I'd want to be on that particular day of the year.......
It's so cool that you aren't complaining about the day selected for your court date.
You just want to see God's hand at work, and you want to know that others are joining our hearts together with each other about the various perceived needs that we all have.
May God grant a Christmas Miracle not only in court for you, my dear sister.
May He also grant a Christmas Miracle in your own heart and the lives of your family and friends.
Tender affection and many, many prayers.......
Be at peace, Phyllis! :) You are His sheep, and He never fails.
We'll be praying for your family.
Post a Comment