We received a much-anticipated & long-awaited update on Josh this week….actually we received two updates. The first came yesterday (3/25) and contained some information on our his health, personality and schedule. We were really excited to get this update but also bummed because there were no updated photos. However….this afternoon we got another email from our agency that contained his immunization records and the picture below! We were really excited about that!
Some highlights from his update:
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“His health is good” – yeah!
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“He is not very introverted, but is shy with strangers, but since his foster-mother coddles him, he is a bit stubborn” – sounds like he’ll fit in fine at our house.
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“He will not be returned to the orphanage” – this is a HUGE praise. In some instances children are taken from their foster family & placed back into the orphanage before the adoptive family arrives. This is not ideal for because it exposes the children to what can be one more traumatic transition. We feel really thankful that Joshua will get to stay with his foster family until we are able to bring him home.
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“He is not picky and can eat all kinds of food” - Encouraged that he & I will have at least that in common.
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“He can say simple sentences and understand what is said to him”
Wu Chang Shun
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Lord would continue to watch over our Chang Shun - that his heart would be protected, that he would feel loved and cherished, that he might thrive in his current environment.
- Please pray that we would be able to bring him home as quickly as possible. We trust in the timing of our God….but our hearts long to be with this little guy.
- Please pray that the Lord would begin to prepare him for our house – with all our chaos & idiosyncrasies. That in some way – the transition from foster family to Leventhal family might not be as traumatic on his little heart as I imagine it will be. Would you pray that he might be prepared to be dropped into the middle of a house full of active, loving & rambunctious children?
- Please pray that the Lord would continue to prepare our (especially me & Missy…but also Daniel, Caroline, Abigail & Lillian’s) hearts for him. Having been through one adoption we have a greater sense of the potential difficulties we may face. Our deepest desire is that we would be able to love this little boy, created in the image of a holy and loving God, as unconditionally as possible. But we also know our hearts – the impatience, the desire for normalcy, the parental fears & insecurities. Would you join us in asking the Lord to lead us to a ready spot for Joshua.
- Please pray that Christ would have his way in the hearts of every member of our family (including Chang Shun)…that we might become more reflective of the servant-hearted nature of our Savior.
It is true joy to pray for all of you while we wait on God. I know that God is faithful. I know that God has a heart for adoption, because He has adopted me. I know that He will prepare, protect, and give strength to your family through this transition! I am so thankful that I am a part of your sweet family too! Waiting with great anticipation for my new grandson! Mamaw Abbott
He is such a handsome boy amd looks like his Dad to me. Thank you so much for sharing your faith to encourage those of us who also wait.
Tears of Joy are strolling down my cheeks. Much Love.
We just returned from China last week with our son, David Heshi. I do know how precious those updates are while you wait! Praying for your family as you wait and prepare for Chang Shun’s arrival! I’ll be following your blog!