Translation, Certification, Submission?

There have been a couple of new developments since my last post. We received our approval from USCIS (US Immigration Services). This means that when our adoption is finalized in Russia, our child will automatically become a U.S. Citizen. This is an important step in the process, and is an absolute necessity for proceeding with the adoption. We are very thankful to have this completed, approved, and ready to go!!

So, I've considered September 1st to be our "soft" deadline for the next big chunk of money. The DOE (Department of Education) in Russia will be opening up for intake of new adoption applications anytime now. And, the next big chunk pays for translation, certification, and submission to the DOE.

Well, the 1st came and went and we only have $2,000 of the $4,000 needed for the next step of the process. I felt the need to be up front with our Agency, so I e-mailed our agency case worker and told her that we have only raised half of the money needed. I asked her whether I should go ahead and sent the $2,000 in now.

She wrote back and said that we could go ahead and send it, and she would being the translation and certification process- and that she could even move forward with submitting the documents to the DOE; but she also said that once the paperwork is turned in that things could move very quickly, and that we must have the money in hand when our referral comes in.

So this is another opportunity to trust God.... I am mailing the check tomorrow and the process moves forward; and we continue to pray that the Lord will provide the money, not only for this step, but for the steps to come.