Read this from 'Word for Today' bible notes today and thought it was appropraite and helpful!

Lessons from Lazarus 30 Aug 2009
'That the Son of God may be glorified through it' JOHN 11:4

Here are three more lessons from Lazarus: 1) God has a bigger and better plan in mind. Lazarus was four days dead when Jesus arrived. When the Lord waits, it's for two reasons: a) That He may be glorified. The Pharisees believed that your spirit left your corpse on the fourth day after you died. So if Jesus had intervened earlier they'd have said, 'He wasn't really dead.' Hence He told His disciples, 'This sickness is ...for the glory of God' (John 11:4 NKJV). It's in looking back that we clearly see God's hand at work b) That our faith may be strengthened. Jesus said, 'I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe' (John 11:15 NKJV). In life, crises come and go. Your next crisis will be different from your last one, but the thing that must remain strong is your faith. 2) God will ask you to remove the hindrances and deal with the stench. 'Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Martha...said to Him, 'Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days' (John 11:38-39 NKJV). Are you praying for an answer in one area, while God's telling you to take away the stone and deal with a 'stench' buried in another? Surrender, you can't win! When your heart's right with God your prayers will be answered. 3) God wants to make you a living testimony. Everywhere Lazarus went, without even speaking a word, his life declared that Jesus is Lord. And the same should be true of you. God has saved and raised you up to be a testimony to His grace and goodness.
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We know God is doing more than teaching us patience! We are learning to trust His will for our lives, and our faith is certainly being stretched! Maybe this will help others too x

As you know, we often buy a little memento when we reach a significant stage in the process. This time was no exception!

The famous English story of the bear that travelled from Peru of course!!

We feel a little in limbo, waiting for our papers to be checked and told to proceed with collecting the next things to add to our dossier. But waiting needs to become normal I guess!!

Please pray that the paperwork is checked soon, we can find the help we need to get everything in order, and that we continue to trust God timing and purposes for us. Will keep you posted x

FINALLY!!!!

We have been away for a bit, and have not posted here for lack of news, but finally we can confirm that Peru WILL accept our application!

It has been many weeks, and we have benn calling our government on a regular basis, but a conversation and an e-mail yesterday confirmed that we can proceed. Peru are still suspending adoptions from the UK after us and may in the future only accept adoptions from people with Peruvian heritage!!

The picture our friends had was spot on!! They prayed and saw us getting through like Indiana Jones under a closing door- he might loose his hat but he makes it! And others who prayed with faith saw us being accepted at the right time. Maybe at the end of this we will better understand the timing, but we know God's timing is perfect.

Now we have to wait while our paperwork is checked by our government, and will need to collect together a few extra things specifically for Peru, such as a chest x-ray (!) We are officially in the 'paper chase' and will need to do a bit of phoning and writing to get everything ready. This could take about 6-8 weeks. Then our papers can be sent to Peru.

Thank you God for bringing us closer to you and our future this week x