This morning!

Thank you, Lord!! How we are praising you at this moment!!!!

Dear Bethany Family & friends, I just thought I would let you all know that Sandi & Hannah were present for the swearing in ceremony this afternoon. They will be leaving tomorrow morning as the adoption is FINAL!!!! Sandi and her family (and her China travel family) are extremely grateful for all you have done on her behalf during this stressful and difficult time. Your actions and God's abundant grace have moved mountains for Sandi and her family half way around the world. We are giving thanks to our Heavenly Father for His FAITHFULNESS and His love! Sandi thanks you from the bottom of her heart. Please do not forget her and Hannah in the coming weeks and months, as they will need our continued love and support! Thanks again for everything! Eva, Patrick, and the China travel family

Update on Sheldon Family

I am part of Sandi's travel group. I spoke to her this morning.She had a meeting at the consulate this morning and was told with 95%certainty that she will come home with Hannah as scheduled onSaturday. I also should've made clear from the beginning that therehas been absolutely fantastic and dedicated bi-lingual agencyrepresentative here with Sandi the entire time who is helping herthrough this process. Thanks to all who helped with the effort tobring her home. Our agency representative said all the phone callsdid make a difference.Rebecca Persick

Thank you!!

Thank you to everyone that made phone calls. We hear that that they are swamped with calls and we have been asked now to stop! LOL they get the picture! We want them home! The last I heard they are working on it. Thank you to everyone who has been praying!!! I will update again when I know more.

Please also remember to keep Tammy and Chad B and family in your prayers and she is having her surgery right now!!!

Urgent request

Please Pray for Sandi and Hannah to both come home!

The US Consulate in Guangzhou has denied Sandi Sheldon permission to proceed with the adoption of Hannah. They want her to fill out a new I-171 and are making no guarantees after that. Sandi, of course does not want to leave China and leave Hannah here because she has no where to go. Sandi needs our help desparately! Please start a massive campaign of calling to her US Congressman and US Senator and urge them to intervene on Sandi's behalf. We have discussed this with Sandi and she wants our help. Please pressure these elected officials to contact the State Department and straighten this out.

Sandi should not be denied Hannah's adoption because her husband passed away unexpectedly. The adoption has been finalized here in China.

Sandi's congressman is Mike Rogers.
His Washington office number is 202 225 4872.
His Michigan office number is 517 702 8000,
he also has a toll free number 1-877-33 3-MIKE.
Sandi's US Senator is Debbie Stabenow.
Her Washington DC number is 202 224 4822 and her Michigan office number is 517 203 1760. Everyone should try to help and call these people until we get final approval. We should continue to pray that her adoption is finalized quickly and that Sandi can return home to Michigan with Hannah. Thanks from everyone here in China. Patrick & Eva

When you contact these offices you can either send an email or call.

This is what you can tell them:

Sandra Sheldon is in China to adopt her daughter Hannah. While on the trip with her, her husband died. The adoption had been finalized before Dennis died. The US Consulate in Guangzhou has denied Sandi Sheldon permission to proceed with the adoption of Hannah. They want her to fill out a new I-171 and are making no guarantees after that. Sandi, of course does not want to leave China and leave Hannah here because she has no where to go. Sandi needs your help desperately! Please contact the State Department and straighten this out. Sandi should not be denied Hannah's adoption because her husband passed away unexpectedly. I know you care deeply about children. Anything you can do to help this family would be appreciated by all of us who have traveled like this to get our children.

Update on Sheldon Family

I just received an update from the Sheldon Family.

Sandi is doing as well as can be expected but the wonderful news is that Sandi and her new beautiful daughter will BOTH be able to fly home as scheduled on Saturday!! Thanks be to God!!
Thank you to all of you out there that prayed!! I know that it will have meant a ton to her!!!

A family needs prayer today!

I am a member of a yahoo group for families that adopted on of the children of Promise through Bethany. We have become quite a close knit group because we really focus on prayer and following the Lord's leading in all of our lives. Today I want to ask for Prayers for a woman named Sandi. She is actually fron Lansing, Mi (which for those not in Michigan is about 1 1/2 hours from where I live). Sandi and her husband are in China now adopting their little girl. This is their first child. We just found out a little while ago that Sandi's husband, Dennis, whent into a diabetic shock and passed away at one of the local hospitals. They have 6 days to go in China. Please pray for Sandi and Hannah. I cannot imagine what she is going through over there. Please also pray that our own INS does not give her a hard time about bringing this child home. The adoption has been approved but we never know what our own INS will do in this situation.

Also I found ou that Sandi's mother and brother are trying to get emergency visas to go and help. Please pray that these come through very quickly.

My heart is so hurting for this family. Thank you Lord that they are Christians.

Happy 9th birthday Heather!!

November 9, 1998!
Happy Birthday Heather!! I am so happy that 9 years ago today
God gave you to us! You are were one of the biggest surprises I ever
had and I am so greatful that you became our daughter!!!

May God continue to bless you!

We love you so much!!!!!!!!!!

Brenda's supposed Look-a-likes

How funny is this!!! LOL

Nate's look-a-likes

Pastor paul is home!!!!

Pastor Paul is home finally from a year's stint in Germany! He was there with the Navy Reserves as an
Navy Chaplain in Landsthul, Germany.
We decided to venture out late last night to welcome him home!! Joy really wanted us to come and we really didn't want to stay home!!:)

These are just some pictures of us waiting!!!

Joy, have I told you how wonderful you are and how much
I have enjoyed getting to know you!!!!

More pictures to follow!! They had the gate locked and
when he appeared they had to still get the gate unlocked!
I seriouly believe that either Nancy or Paul was going to either go
under the gate or break it down!! It was too cute!!!

Pastor Paul continued!!

I just love these two pictures!! Pastor Steve and Pastor Paul!!
for those of you who do not know they are both of our pastors a lighthouse and we
just love them!!!!

This was so touching!!!! Again for those of you who do not know this is Pastor
Paul's daughter. They hadn't seen each other in over a year!!!!

Pastor Paul continued!

Fundraisers

I know that it is 8 months away before my next mission trip to Haiti but I really need to start thinking about it and raising money.

Does anyone have any good fundraising ideas??!! I would love to hear from those out there that may have done this or really anyone. I will have to send out some letters but I really do not want to send one to someone that has already very graciously donated to me. I would love to do my own Avon fundraiser but not sure how that would work out.

These are the last of the pictures. I know you are are reading this backwards but it was easier for me!!! LOL

The kids slept most of the way home. They were so good on the way home.

Diane and Tori!!!

We feel so blessed that we were able to go on this trip to visit
the Livesays and meet some new friends. I am so sad that I did not get pictures of a wonderful
woman named Karla that we met. She is from Illinois and it was fun hanging out with her too. She has
two beautiful daughters from Haiti and we were blessed to get to meet her!!! Thank you to the Livesays
for letting us crash their party!!!! Diane and Tori we had a ton of fun with you guys and are so glad you
could go with us!!!!

Troy holding his "scabies Cake"

Nate and Lydia

Brenda and Lydia

Okay Troy hung himself with this picture. We actually left our Camera at
the church and Troy kindly brought it back for us. However as a lot of people know
I love trying to get goofy pictures of Troy. Well he took this himself thinking he would
be funny. However it kind of backfired on him because he then realized that I would indeed
post this picture!!! Here ya go Troy!!!

Britt and Britt's Grandma! This is Tara's mom!
Britt came back to our hotel and opened up her cards and gifts with us! It was a fun time!!

Britt!

Paige!!

Tara's dad

Is she cute or what!!!!!!!!!!

These were taken during Britt's graduation Ceremony. There were lots of tears shed.
Britt is an amazing young woman and you can see God has His hand on her!!!!
We have come to love her very much and cannot see where God takes her in the next 10 years!!!
this is Britt's uncle doing the "commencement"

Minnesota trip con.....

I know you will all be reading this backwards but its too hard to figure out what can first last and so forth so I am just going to start here.

We thought that this picture was comical. The church used to be called "Joy Free" it is now new joy! Look at what the sign says!! LOL

Here is a picture of the church that the Livesays attend. It is very nice and cozy!

We were helping set up tables. These two pictures are kind of neat. I was setting up desserts on the centerpiece and the sun was shining right on it.