Countdown to China

In nine days we will be boarding a plane for China! So much yet to do - last minute packing, copying important documents to take with us, checking and re-checking that all official paperwork is in order, awaiting visa approvals, buying "light-weight, yet sturdy" luggage. The list goes on and on and with it, increased nervousness. Surely, we will forget to pack something major, maybe flight errors or delays will occur and connections missed, some last minute bureaucratic issue that to this point has remained unnoticed. When these times of anxiety come, we need to remind ourselves of God's faithfulness. During our move of a family of six with too numerous to count animals, home school library, etc, we were reminded that God moved a whole nation out of Egypt into the promised land. Surely, He could accomplish a move such as ours!

Once moved and unpacked, we set about meeting the required updates, interviews, and inspections for our home study. During the interview process, our assigned social worker asked us what current support system we had in place at our new home. Uhh, good question! When we moved, we left our visible support system behind - wonderful friends and church family, knowledge of medical community, excellent pediatrician, etc. With all available time devoted to getting unpacked and making ready for the home study re-evaluation, very little time had been spent getting to know people. Our search for a pediatrician had resulted in several closed doors. It was a bit frustrating since the "recommended" doctors were no longer accepting new patients. One day when I was bemoaning this situation to Michael, the words were no sooner out of my mouth, when an image came into my mind of a very young expectant mother traveling by donkey with her betrothed to a distant land to meet the then-bureaucratic requirements of a foreign ruler. Scripture tells us that "while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:6-7) And Scripture also states, "So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger." (Luke 2:15-17) Without appearing too facetious, one can not help but wonder what a social worker would say about this support system - betrothed, animals, and shepherds! So, what support system do we have in place? An incredible One! Though we are sinful and undeserving, we have God.

Interesting side note: During a homeschool conference this past weekend, I ran into a fellow homeschooling mom who also used to be our pediatrician. She referred me to a web site that lists Christian doctors and dentists. Upon returning home, I checked the website and found that of the numerous pediatric groups in our area, only one group is listed on this site and it is the very one that I have an appointment with today - a consult appointment made several weeks ago. God is indeed faithful.

9 Days to China - 13 Days to Lydia Grace
For the Glory of His Name