I am so excited to tell you that we got our Final okay to book our flights and we are leaving for China next Thursday, May 6th. Thank you so much for your prayers. I had prayed that God would be glorified in the timing and He definitely was. God has honored the prayers of my heart and I am humbled. It looks like we will be holding Hope on Monday, May 10th, but it will be May 9th here - - Mothers Day!! How cool is that!
We have one more weekend on the road. We wrap up our 82 city Until The Whole World Hears Tour this weekend and then head to China 4 days later. Wahoo!!
At the same time, my To Do List is severely longer than the number of hours available to me. #prayerrequest
Praying that God will continue to prepare our hearts for Hope and that He will whisper in her ear that her family is coming to get her.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!
Comments
We'll be praying in Oklahoma. Dave T told me a couple of weeks ago that you all were heading to China soon. Oh, you will fall in love with Hope even deeper than you are now. God planted a chinese beauty in our home several years ago and now when she sings worship songs (with her eyes closed) it makes my heart almost explode.
So excited for you guys. And how great that you get to finish the tour and then go. You will be able to get it all done. Remember that you have people around you who will help you.
The best advice I can give as a BTDT is to "embrace the chaos". One of the moms in our group said that as we were going up the elevator to meet the babies and it stuck with me on the whole trip. The Chinese people are so wonderful - you guys will have a blast!
Praying that everything goes smoothly!
Louanne in Texas (I will be at the concert this Saturday working the World Vision table)
Wow! Praise God! I haven't been on the Casting Crown sites or your blog in a long time, so I didn't know you guys were adopting from China. Just brings tears of joy knowing that God has a special little girl for your family. We went to China back in 2003 and every day when I look at my 8 year old daughter, I'm amazed at how God puts families together. I will be praying for safety, good health & smooth transitions for you all. We have a pastor friend & wife that just left yesterday for their adoption trip. I think fondly of your hubby. I have to say that Mark was so kind to respond to an email I sent after a Houston concert a few years ago, that I was so touched. He really challenged us that night at the concert. I can really see a man after God's own heart. Thanks for sharing him with us so that we can enjoy the worship music he brings. Can't wait to see the baby pictures & more information about Hope. Take care!
Very cool! So very happy your prayers were answered. We have adopted 2 beautiful daughters from China.....the youngest who was also from Jiangsu! She also has a a congenital heart defect along with a CL/CP. We were just in Nanjing last November. It was at a Stephen Curtis Chapman concert.....where we also heard Casting Crowns live for the very first time.....in November of 2004 that the Lord first spoke to our hearts about adoption. Both of our girls have blessed our lives more than we ever could have imagined. God is good!! Praying for your safe travels. The weather should be nice in both Jiangsu and Guangzhou for you.....maybe a little warm though!
God Bless you on your trip to China. Our youth pastor in our churh here in Asheboro,NC adopted a little girl from China and she has been a blessing to the family and the congretation. I will be praying for a safe trip for you!
Saw Casting Crowns for the third time in Greensboro, NC last Saturday and it was very inspirational as usual. Keep up the Lord's work!
R King
Asheboro,NC
How exciting to hear that you are off to China very soon . We have done this three times and it is an awesome experience. Our girls are 9,10 and 12 .. in fact we wrote recently as we were in State College to hear you guys. Enjoy every moment of your trip . We as a family will be praying for you and Hope .
How exciting to hear that you are off to China very soon . We have done this three times and it is an awesome experience. Our girls are 9,10 and 12 .. in fact we wrote recently as we were in State College to hear you guys. Enjoy every moment of your trip . We as a family will be praying for you and Hope .
So very happy for you! I have 2 girls from China. The Lord knows what He is doing when He brings families together! We are so blessed to have these girls. Prayers and blessings to you as you go on this journey. You will be forever changed!
Congrats! We are waiting to get the ok to travel to get our son!