Service Makes Me Smile!

I just wanted to give a little update today. Chelsea and I requested our proof of life insurance yesterday and received a response that we had to contact their legal department in order for them to process our request. I contacted the legal department today and they were awesome in terms of customer service! They immediately were trying to get the proper documents in place for us. Lord willing, the documents will be placed in the mail tomorrow and headed our way. I love organizations that place an emphasis on customer service. I think Chelsea and I are suckers for customer service...but then again who isn’t?

Chelsea's Take- We have been given the run around several times and when we were told we had to contact the legal department we figured it would still take weeks to process the information. David calls them and they HAVE to have information from me. So instead of making us call back, etc. they put David on hold and call me at work. She verifies the information she needs, doesn't take up a lot of my time while I am at work, and is extremely nice and willing to help in whatever way she can to get us what we need. Not only that, she says she will get the rest of the information from David and get our letter out that day! So if anyone needs insurance we know an all around GREAT company! Davids right, we are suckers for customer service b/c it seems like it's hard to find. But, another company I have been extremely impressed with during our adoption is KBS. I have loved working with Kate so far. When we were told our homestudy woudn't be for two weeks we wanted to start our dossier (typically you do your homestudy and THEN move on to the dossier). Gladney gave us the go ahead so we called Kate that day (around 5:30pm) and told her that we wanted to start our dossier. She actually called us back about 30min. later and discussed the whole process (even though it was outside of her work hours)! The next day when I went to work she had already e-mailed the information we would need to fill out. Since then her service has not changed one bit! When I send her something and she lets me know when when it arrives so I never have to worry if she has received something that I have sent. She also updates us on where we are with our dossier and answers any questions we have right away. I am sure she is extremely busy with other peoples dossiers but she never has been too busy to help. She always takes the time out to help us in whatever way we need for our dossier. She has really good customer service and I would recommend her services too http://www.kbsdossiers.com/ .

Back to Davids thoughts- We have been very excited throughout the process, even if the paperwork seems annoying at times. We know the reward is a relatively short distance from us and that with God’s continued blessing all things will work out. I must say that it’s not always easy to understand His time frame, nor easy to always see the big picture. However we remain confident knowing all things work out for those who diligently seek after Him.

On that note, I find it interesting that with Kenya now in chaos, every country surrounding Ethiopia now seems to have a travel advisory according to the U.S. State Department. That is interesting because at least two airlines make a stop in two separate countries: Sudan and Kenya. Africa is still very fragile in many ways…keep the people in your thoughts and prayers as they desperately need it.

As for us we are eagerly awaiting the time and date for our home study as well as our I600 to be approved after our home study. That will be a tremendous amount of relief for me, but I’m sure will be quickly replaced with anxiety as we wait for everything to be authenticated here in the States and then translated into Amharic. I am clueless when I think about what kind of emotions or other feelings I’ll have when we receive our referral. All I know is that I’m going to be a dad :)

We ask that you continue to remember Chelsea and I in your prayers: that the process will continue to move forward, that we’ll be great parents, as well as general prayers on behalf of our child, as there is a good chance that they are being carried in pregnancy at this time, and if not, that their stay in an orphanage, or whatever situation they’re in may go as well as possible. Help is on the way! We continue to thank you all and God for the support we’ve received as we couldn’t press on without the love and kindness of our family, friends, church family, and our God - may He always be the receiver of praise for His awesome works.

I want to add that- Also, we ask for prayers on behalf of the families having to give up their child. David and I can't imagine having to give up a child. It breaks my heart to think about the decisions that have to be made. It would be so hard to know that you won't/can't be there for all of those precious milestones in life. I pray special blessings for the family/mom. I know in many situations the family has died, or is dying, poverty, abuse/rape, etc. have occurred and that is why these families have to give their babys up. I know the families/moms have such big and great hearts to make such a sacrifice. I am sure that their hopes are even stronger that this child will be cared for in a way that they cannot provide. I am glad that they can hope and know that someone is out there loving and caring for their child. Our prayer is that God blesses their lives in ways we cannot even imagine.

Keep your heads up, and your eyes above, soon enough, you’ll see His love.