[UPDATED* AS OF 10AM] Lord willing, the visas will *did arrive via FedEx this morning [praise the Lord with us!], and three Fosters will be boarding a plane for Russia this afternoon! Ed and Robin Foster are leaving today with Alex (a.k.a. Losha, Lyosha, Alosha, Alexsey, Aleksey, etc.). They plan to stay in Russia for three weeks, in order to finalize his adoption. Alex has been living in Illinois with the Fosters since May, and he has really settled in with them and with all that is going on at their church. You can click here to scroll through some of the Foster family’s photos from the last ten months.

Since Ed is a self-employed tradesman, the loss of three weeks’ work will be an additional financial burden to the family, on top of the expenses already incurred during Alex’s adoption process. This past Sunday evening, Morning Star was able to collect about $1500 toward the Fosters’ needs. Two of the three airline tickets were covered by someone’s donation of frequent-flyer miles, and the bookings were able to be rearranged so that the Fosters could travel together rather than on separate flights (which was originally the case).

We are rejoicing to see these details come together! Everyone is excited to see Alex’s adoption become official and permanent. Please join us in praising God for all that He has accomplished over the last couple years to bring Alex into this family! And please join us in prayer that, three weeks from today, Alex’s “hope to stay” will have come true and he will be coming home for good.

Alexey “Alex” Kharl Foster

Visit Alex’s HOPE TO STAY page.
Keep track of updates about the adoption.
Read what Ed and Robin Foster have to say.
View photos of Alex with his family.

Hannah’s Heart (the adoption-fundraising division of Global Grace) can facilitate tax-deductible donations, if you would like to give toward the offsetting of the Fosters’ travel costs and many other expenses.

Jeremy and Pastor Bixby took a gentleman back to New Orleans. Jeremy called me and said that New Orleans had been hit hard in the section they went to . . . I guess I’ll let the pictures tell the story. Downtown New Orleans obviously didn’t get it as much as this part did.

Here are just some photos from The Acadian Baptist Center–where we’ve been staying while the RV was being repaired. This camp center’s Eunice, LA, which is about 45 minutes from Lafayette. Thursday there was a chance to get to know the family who is moving back to Rockford, so you’ll see some photos of them. Friday, Jeremy and Pastor went to Baton Rouge to pick up the RV (the fuel pump repairs cost about $1200). We got our volunteer passes, too, so that we can visit and try to help the evacuees remaining in Lafayette.

We would appreciate your prayers as we travel today and tomorrow down to Lafayette, Louisiana. Here are some photos from last night’s commissioning service and the “downsized” reception following.

These cuties are our twin nieces, Bethany and Brianna. The kids liked the lizards Henry brought back from the work trip to Mississippi.

We are in “downsizing” mode, and we figured some “downsized refreshments” were in order. So, following the evening church service, we served mini-cookies and mini-drinks and gave tours of the RV.