We thought it might be a good idea to “resurrect” our blog and use it to update those of you who may still be following it or haven’t otherwise heard the latest news from our family:
We continue to enjoy the many blessings of being back home, in our house, and among family and friends. The kids have settled into school and church and I have been able to make some progress starting up my new counseling practice. We were also able to complete our US homestudy while here and apply to the US government for Teya’s citizenship to be confirmed once the adoption is finalized in Zambia.
We are especially grateful that we were able to spend some time with my grandfather, who passed away less than three months after we returned. We were able to go fishing one last time (he caught the only fish!) and I was even humbled to be at his side as he took his last breath. We were able to heal through the celebration service and spend some important time with grandma as she adjusts to life without her love of 67 years.
We have commented so many times on God’s omniscience in bringing us home when he did and allowing us to settle gently into another “new normal”, albeit back in a familiar place. But we also have some unfinished business to attend to!
One week from today, Tina, Teya and I (Kevin) will be returning to Zambia with plans to finalize Teya’s adoption and complete the necessary to steps to allow her to return again as a US citizen and a legal member of the family she joined 9 months ago.
We plan to spend some time with friends in Lusaka where we will be closer to the many adoption meetings and appointments, but also hope to spend some time back in Nyangwena visiting the Esther School and our many loved ones in that area. We were told by our Social Welfare Officer in Zambia that she has applied for our court hearing to finalize the adoption in Zambian court, but are waiting to hear confirmation on the exact date. Assuming that it is within a few weeks of our New Years Eve arrival, Tina plans to return to the US to be with the boys, who will be staying at home and in school with grandparents who will be taking turns providing care for them.
Teya and I will then remain in Zambia and walk through the step-wise process from Adoption Decree to Official Registration to Birth Certificate, Passport and, finally, the final US embassy appointment that confirms her status and allows her to enter the US as a citizen! We don’t know exactly how long all of this will take, and any in the process will have us there longer waiting for the next step. We booked return flights for 7 weeks, but are prepared to stay longer if necessary.
As usual, we have many potential wildcards along the way. We are never fully certain of what obstacles to expect on the Zambian side, and the Zambian president recently died, leaving the country in the turmoil of uncertainty and with potential for a government shake-up after the election that will happen while we are there in January.
We are also leaving without yet receiving our approval from the US government. Not only are none of these steps guaranteed, but a delay at any point in the process will leave us waiting in Zambia, in transition, disconnected from each other, and without income. We have many reasons to doubt, worry and waver.
But we have nothing to fear. Once again we find ourselves at a point that makes little earthly sense and without clear direction, but with the peace of a conviction that God is in command of this process and will bless it, even if it doesn’t play out the way we would like or can even imagine it to. We have done what we can and will go, trusting Him.
If you are continuing to follow this journey, please join us in praying for key elements of the next phase:
– That every step of this process would go according to God’s plan.
– If it is His will, that our paperwork would be processed smoothly, and decisions would be made swiftly and favorably on both the US and Zambian side of the adoption.
– That each of us, especially the 4 children, would have peace as we are separated for awhile.
– That we will be able to be a blessing to those living and serving in Zambia while we are there.
– That God would choose a man or woman that fears and obeys Him to serve as the next President of Zambia and that the people would progress peacefully and honorably through the upcoming election.
But above all – That God will use our small story to reveal His Great Story to all who hear it.
thanks for checking in – we hope to use this blog once again to post updates efficiently while we are there so feel free to check back in or subscribe to updates as they come.
May the Peace of our Dear Christ’s birth fill your hearts as you experience Him and each other this Christmas Season.
The DeKams-heading-back-to-Zambia
The DeKam Family in Zambia 