Hoping for a Miracle

Please pray with us that we will somehow finally be granted a speedy process for getting Penny's immigrant visa next week. We have only two business days in which we can get the paperwork processed as the US govt. offices will be closed starting Wednesday. On Christmas day we joined my missionary friends, the Fujiis, to go to Lumphini Park, where there was a huge gathering of Thai Christians reaching out and sharing the Christmas message through music, dance and testimonies and free food that was all gone by the time we got there. Our stomachs are gradually getting better after eating rather uncooked eggs at our last hotel. We've really enjoyed our hotel that we are presently staying at (Novetel Bangna). But, tomorrow we'll move back in closer to the center of the city so that we can get up early Monday morning to show up at the USCIS office to ask for our immigrant visa. The good news was that our Thai DSDW social worker did fax us the form that we think will satisfy the CIS officer. The CIS has also received our updated I-171-H. So, we think they should have everything they need by now. But, who knows with this one particular woman?! We hope and pray that she won't find one more thing she doesn't like with our file.

Yesterday we went to the Zoo. We were all feeling a little worn out at first with the heat and humidity. But, after the cooler indoor snake exhibit we began to feel a bit better. When we left we saw a number of political protesters dressed in red and yellow shirts, with masks, waving Thai flags as the zoo is right across the street from the Parliament and there is a planned rally there for tomorrow (Sunday). That was a bit unnerving and then two empty taxis turned us down (probably because they saw we were foreigners and were afraid to speak English to us?). But, the third guy didn't turn us away. He did a great job finding routes that weren't too backed up and even spoke a little English.

Today Penny tried swimming for the first time. She needed to use a life saver donut, as the water was too deep for her and I'm not a strong swimmer. But, even though the pool wasn't heated and she was freezing she really wanted to try. She is extremely persistent. She never gives up. That'll serve her well in the future. We're already feeling more like a family each day. And we're thankful that she makes friends easily. She had to say, "Bye!" to her Dutch friends this morning as they are heading to Pattaya and won't be back before we head back in to the Bangkok Christian Guest House. Our plan is to stay there so that we'll be close to the Embassy and hopefully get everything accomplished so that we can fly out on the 31st.

Might go see a movie this afternoon. Just trying hard not to worry too much or get too homesick. It's hard knowing that we have so many things that we want to share with Penny but have to wait until we get home. Just thankful for together time right now.