I know, I know, I said I was going to put adoption stuff on the adoption blog, but I thought this might have a wider application than just "here's an adoption update."

We got the news today that one of the boys at our new daughter's orphanage died and was buried today.   He was three years old and died of dysentery. The thought always comes..."that could have been our girl that died."  We got the medical report for her; she's "healthy"--which means that she doesn't have any life-threatening diseases (thank you, Lord!). But she had malaria this month (very common there), and when she was measured last week she was 87 centimeters tall. If that is accurate, it means she's slightly shorter than Deirdre, who's over a year younger! I posted a picture a couple weeks ago, showing where the kids at the orphanage sleep. Several people commented how very sad it was to see the kids sleeping like that. I agree. And yet, as Ghanian orphanages go, it's a good orphanage! The kids have more than a handful of rice everyday to eat (which is more than can be said for a lot of Ghanian orphanages!), and volunteers teach school to the older kids. Really, they're at about the same standard of living as most people in that area, or even better. After all, they have cement instead of dirt for their floors.

At any rate, I have moments of panic when I think, "What if something happens to her?" Our paperwork still has not been sent...we're waiting for her birth certificate, which should come this week. I'm hoping she'll be able to come home around May. But of course there's no way of knowing. And it's very hard to be separated from her for these weeks and months, knowing that she is exposed to all sorts of dangers and diseases that I want to protect her from.

BUT God is in control. That is so comforting! If He wants her to be kept safe until she gets home, then she is as safe there as she would be in our house. NOTHING can harm her. Isn't it great to serve such an awesome God? He's even in control of the paperwork and the timing of it all. It is such a relief to rest in His wisdom.

But don't stop praying.