Yana's Surgery Update 1 - Prayer Requests

If you read Stephanie's post from February 25th, you will recall her mentioning Yana's upcoming surgery.

Well, this morning, Yana and Stephanie left for Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, located in Wilmington, DE (http://www.nemours.org/about/location/nchaidhc.html).  Yana will be having surgery tomorrow to repair a heart defect known as Atrioventricular Canal (AV Canal or AVC).  You can read about this condition @ http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/cardiac/avc.html.  The expected hospital stay is 7-10 days.

We had known of Yana having a heart condition before the adoption; albeit we did not know the specific condition and its severity.  We are praising God that He ordained us to become her parents, and that He has blessed us with the ability to have her condition treated properly.  God is Good!

His timing is also perfect; as Yana’s condition would eventually have proven fatal, and the likelihood being small that she would have been given further treatment in her birth country.

Would you please consider lifting my household up in prayer? 

I have listed some specific prayer items; I am certain that many, many other items exist that I am not thinking of at the moment. 

May it be the Lord’s Will that:

(1)  they safely arrive to the hospital. [as I write this, Steh just called me to say they made it to the hospital!]

(2)  Yana survives the surgery, and that the doctors are able to fully repair Yana’s heart

(3)  Yana’s recovery has no complications

(4)  Yana realizes the presence of her mother and is comforted by Stephanie's presence.

(5)  Stephanie is able to be comforted and encouraged through His Word, prayer, and being able to communicate with her entire family (church and us).

(6)  for the Fruit of the Spirit to be evident in my behavior as I play “Mr. Mom” during the time Stephanie and Yana are gone.

(6)  this trial draw our household even closer to the Lord and each other.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Our Beautiful Daughter - Yana Kathleen

The court decree naming Corey and me parents of Yana became official January 23.  We took her out of the institution two days later, and she's been with us ever since.

She is such a beautiful giggle box!

The first day we met Yana we were told that she had open heart surgery at thirteen months of age, and might need future surgery.  We were also informed that she took a daily heart medication.  The day before we left her birth country we received a translated copy of a cardiology report dictated November 2011.  After reading this report, I knew her initial surgery didn't correct her heart defect, and the surgery was for something different than what was told to us (or at least lost through translation).

Four days after arriving home, I took Yana for an evaluation with a pediatric cardiologist.  An echo cardiogram was performed and it revealed her heart defect to be "AV Canal".  This defect is a combination of several abnormalities in the heart, and is present at birth.  Her initial surgery didn't correct this defect, but without it she currently would be inoperable if she were still alive.  We praise God that she had this initial procedure performed.

On March 1, I will take our beautiful daughter to have this defect corrected.  We are so thankful for her life, and thank God for taking us to her.  She would have sat in the institution and died from this defect.  We are grateful to have an outstanding team of doctors, nurses, etc. to care for her during this time.  I will be with her during the entire hospital stay, and Corey will stay behind to care for precious little Mila (more about her in a future post) and our other children.

No words can describe the joy in watching her blossom.  She is quickly coming out of her shell, and it feels like she's always been part of our family.  Please pray for her and our family during the next couple of weeks.  Pray that it is God's will for her to survive the surgery, and to have a speedy recovery.  Also, please pray for little Mila as I will need to be away from her 7-10 days.

Too Cute For Words!

Double Trouble

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

How "Radical" is our Christian Sacrifice??

Hebrews 10: 32-36

³² But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³ sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴ For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.



If you have been following this blog, you may recall me mentioning the Bible Orphan Ministry.  Stephanie and I were blessed with the opportunity to spend time with them during our mission to Ukraine.  This is a group of brothers and sisters that many of us, I am certain, can learn from regarding Christian service.  They have faced many trials during their service; recently, they experienced a pretty large trial - you can read about it by going here. 

There is much more to this story, but I am not a liberty to share.  What I can say is that their recent trials have made me consider the passage above and others related to the topic of what Kingdom service is and how obedient am I with regard to what my Father in Heaven commands. 

Please visit their blog, and learn about how they serve the Lord.
Pray for them...
Donate to their Kingdom work...
Contact them and encourage them...


So, ask yourself, "How radical is my Christian sacrifice?"  Do not compare yourself to other Chrisitans; compare your service against what God commands.  I commend the following message to you.  Yes, it is 65 minutes long, but isn't being subjected to Truth worth every second? 

I place the video below, but you can also go here to view it




Hebrews 12:1-2

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

If You Were Mine Adoption Workshop

If you are what you consider to be an acceptable driving distance from Lancaster County, PA, and you want to learn more about adoption, then this is for you:

Greetings Everyone!

 

Please give prayerful consideration in helping us support the following event. How can you help?

 

(1) PRAY that the Lord would use this workshop to raise up His Children to serve His Kingdom with regard to the orphan.

 

(2) Consider the following questions, and consider attending this workshop (for those local to our home area)!

 

· Is adoption part of God's plan for your family?

· Do you know what God's Word says about Him being the Author of Adoption?

· What are God's expectations for His children (the Church) regarding care for the orphan/fatherless?

· What questions should you ask in choosing an adoption agency?

· What financing options are available?

· What paperwork is involved with the process?

· What can you expect once you bring your child(ren) home?

 

'If You Were Mine' is a DVD based workshop created by Hope for Orphans that explores the 8 basic steps of the adoption process.

 

Come join us for this two-day workshop as we explore what God wants us to do in response to His call to care for orphans. Through this biblical and practical video workshop, we’ll learn the processes, challenges, and joys of adoption. It’s a workshop you’ll not want to miss.

 

When:

Fri, 02/17/2012 - 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Sat, 02/18/2012 - 8:30am - 4:15pm

 

Where:

Lancaster Evangelical Free Church (LEFC)

419 Pierson Road

Lititz, PA 17543

 

Friday check-in begins at 6:30 pm

Saturday check-in begins at 8:30 am (only necessary for families who did not check in on Friday evening)

 

For more information and to register, please go to:

http://www.team127.com/if-you-were-mine-workshop-2012

 

 

EE MIssion Day 57 - HOME !!!!!!!!!

Well, the plans were all set.  We had the travel Visas for Mila and Yana, we had out flights booked, we had our pickup at the airport arranged.  All was in place to arrive home Friday, 2/3. 

That was not how it worked out.  The Lord had ordained a different itinerary home.  Let me just say that we got dropped off at the airport Friday morning at 330am (Thursday, 8pm US Eastern Time), and did not touch down at Philadelphia International Airport until 330pm US Eastern Time SATURDAY.

Here is a description of what happened:

(1)  During the last 10 days of our stay, Ukraine was hit with severe cold temperatures; we're talking minus 20 to minus 30 degrees Celsius.  The day of our flight, it hit -33 C at the airport; it was -28 C when we arrived.

(2)  Apparently, the type of de-icer that the Lufthansa Airbus fleet uses is rated to somewhere between -25C and -28C.  Any colder, and it is not effective.

(3)  During our drive to the airport, we already knew that the flight was delayed (due to the cold temperatures) until 730am.  No sweat, right; our 5.5 hour layover in Frankfurt was now reduced to 3.5 hours.  Still enough time...

Once again, the Lord blessed us with the opportunity to spend time at the terminal with other American RR families.  Admittedly, I sometimes take this for granted.  I praise God for the opportunity to repent of this attitude.  Being able to have support from other brothers and sisters is something we should NEVER take for granted.  Amen?

(4)  The "delayed until 0730" turned into the "delayed until 0930".  Uh oh, our layover "time budget" is at a danger level.

(5)  The "delayed until 0930" turned into the "delayed until 1030".  Hmmm; maybe they can hold the plane to Philly???

(6)  The "delayed until 1030" turned into the "delayed until 1130".  Okay; we just lost the PHL flight.  Okay; there is a flight to Dulles that leaves at 1700; maybe we can get booked on that one.  Just get me out of Kiev, please

(7)  Check in starts (Praise the Lord the flight was not cancelled); after the controlled chaos of getting through passport control and security, we get to terminal waiting area. 

(8)  We don't start boarding until closer to noon.  We get in our seats, and start taxiing to runway.  Part of the pre-takeoff check is to rev up the engines.  During this check, a malfunction is detected in the right engine.  We proceed back to tarmac parking spot for troubleshooting.  Fortunately, we are told to stay on plane.

(9)  Plane is checked out, re-fueled, and taxis back to runway for engine check.  If it passes, we go; if, not, we head back to terminal.  At this point, the people around me must have heard me praying out loud.

(10)  Engine check PASSES (Praise the Lord!).  It is now 3pm, but we finally take off.  Looks like we are spending a night in Frankfurt.

I must interject here that Lufthansa's flight attendant service was excellent.  There was one woman in particular that kept talking with Stephanie, provided us with baby food and comforting words.

(11)  Before landing, Lufthansa announced the flights that had been re-booked.  Our flight to Philly was rebooked for Saturday (US Air 701 leaving 1245pm).  They also announced that hotel vouchers were being provided.

One wrinkle here; Mila and Yana are not yet American citizens; they are Ukrainian citizens who do not have a travel Visa to Germany; only to USA.  Technically, they cannot leave the terminal.  This means spending the night in the transit area of the terminal.  NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Again, must interject a note about Lufthansa customer service.  After getting to Frankfurt, we are directed to their service counter.  The man helping us, after hearing our pleas about our daughters needs, explains to me that the Federal Polizei (Police) can offer 1 day visas for the girls, since we as their parents can leave the terminal.  He walks over to the police station and brings one of the officers over to us to talk to us.  PRAISE THE LORD, yet again.

(12)  After about a 90 minute wait (getting our new ticket, filling our the forms for the girls' one day visa, and waiting for the visa to be processed), we leave the airport with hotel voucher in hand!

(13)  We arrive at hotel about 8pm Frankfurt time (18 hours after leaving our apartment in Kyiv).  My description of this hotel is it is like an oasis in the middle of a desert.  We are able to get a good meal in, a good 7 to 8 hours sleep, a shower Saturday AM, and breakfast before heading back to Frankfurt airport. 

Part of my thoughts went to those that could not leave the terminal.  It made me even more aware of the fact that we did not deserve to get to this hotel.  This was yet again an act of Grace and Mercy from the Lord...

(14)  We get to US Air check in counter about 1015am Saturday morning.  Our boarding passes have the 4 of us kind of split up; 2 are next to each other, but the other 2 are separated.  I explain to customer service rep that this will not work, for somewhat obvious reasons.  She tells me to see cust service rep at gate check-in to have them changed.

(15)  I arrive at gate check in and explain that we need seats changed.  Agent tells me that flight is "full",  but they have some blocked seats (then it is not really full, is it?) and they will do what they can.  She tells me to wait where we are sitting and someone will come to us with an update.

(16)   After about a 45 minute wait (about 15 minutes before flight is supposed to start boarding, a woman from US air comes over to us and hands me a new set of boarding passes.  Row 13, the 4 seats in the middle.  Just what I was hoping for; 4 seats in the middle...

Once again, another act of Grace and Mercy from the Lord.  What did I do to deserve to have these seats changed?  Absolutely nothing...

(17)  Flight takes off on time.  After about 8.5 hours in the air, we land at PHL airport. 

(18)  We proceed to US passport control.  After waiting about 10-15 minutes, we hand over the passports and the special brown envelopes to USCIS agent.  He walks us to secondary interview room, and tells us that he will put us at the front of the line to minimize our wait.

Once again, another act of Grace and Mercy from the Lord. What did I do to deserve getting moved to the front of the line? Absolutely nothing...

(19)  We wait only about 15 minutes; I am called up front to receive the girls passports that are now stamped.  This means they are now US citizens and we are told we are free to go.

(20)  We proceed, now with a new burst of energy, to baggage claim.  I get luggage cart and wait only about 10 minutes to grab all 4 of our bags, which are intact.

(21)  We proceed to custom officer who takes our pre-completed declaration form; he immediately tells us to move along.

(22)  We now walk the 100 yards of so to the International Arrival Hall in search of our church family members who offered to pick us up.  They snapped a few pics...

One of the few times Steph walked faster than me...

Hmmm; I wonder what is causing me to smile?

I never realized how beautiful the American flag was until seeing it at PHL airport

(23)  One of the many lessons learned on this adoption mission was just how much I yearned to be "home".  It makes me think, however; do I really yearn for my true home?  Not the temporal place I call home in Pennsylvania; my REAL home.  The place being prepared for me by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Our Heavenly Dwelling

¹ For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

⁶ So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

EE Mission Day 54 - Jumping Ahead to the Blessed Part

Yes, we have much of the story to be told yet, but I wanted to post this now...

We Are Now Free To Move Out of the Country...

...No; that is not Southwest’s slogan, that is my new slogan for what these pictures represent:

These mean that we can honor our booked flights for Friday and “get outta Dodge!”

 

56 days….2 flights, 8 overnight train rides, 11 apartments, 4 different drivers, 2 weeks of Metro subway rides, dozens of orphanage visits….all this and more to bring our daughters home.  Worth every second; worth every penny…

DON 'T LET ANYONE BUT US IMMIGRATION OPEN THIS!

PRAISE THE LORD!

Thank you all that have participated in His Kingdom work of ordaining these girls to become part of the Kimble Household.  We will be spending many days of our remaining life here pondering all that occurred.  There are many stories to tell, and more yet to be told with regard to how God may use us to be a Witness for Him in Ukraine.

Please continue to pray for strength, good health (for us and all of our children and caregiving families), good flying weather, safe aircraft, on-time flights, quick ride through immigration and customs, and a safe ride back to Lititz…

SOLI DEO GLORIA!