Decisions...

This past week has been a very stressful one for us as we have had to make some very important decisions concerning the future. After asking lots of questions and researching this and that, we believe that we have made the best decision. In two weeks, we will be leaving for Germany and staying there until after the birth of our baby. Even though we believe we are making the right decision, it is very difficult for us at the same time. We had so hoped to be able to have the baby here, and we definitely do not want to be gone from here that long. I’ll try to explain as simply as I can (although it can be quite confusing) how we came to make that decision.

This past June, we were issued a one-year visa for Russia. Yet, every 6 months, we are required to leave the country and re-enter in order to renew our registration. All along, we were hoping that we could make a day trip ‘south’, cross over into Mongolia and then return. This past Monday, David went to the Mongolian embassy here in order to get visas to enter Mongolia. While there, he learned that it is not possible for us to cross into Mongolia from T-land, as the two border checkpoints are for Russian/Mongolian citizens only. There are two international border checkpoints into Mongolia, yet in order to get to either one, it would require several days traveling by plane/train/taxi/bus. If it was just David and I, we may be up for the adventure! But with two little ones (and a big belly), we decided it would be best not to do this. Plus, the checkpoints require standing in long lines outside in the cold, and with the kids, we just don’t think this would be the best… as it is now quite cold here.

So, now what to do? We are required to be out of the country by December 7th! Well, due to some other circumstances, we have decided that we will make that exit/re-entry trip to Germany. We had hoped that after a week we could return and continue on with life here. Well, after doing some more research, we have found that, if the baby would be born here, it would be very difficult… if not impossible to get the baby a visa. (Imagine, as soon as you are born, you are considered to be illegal!) Lots of things have changed since Nina was born, and it is no longer possible for us to get the baby a visa in Moscow, we would need to be in Germany. (And, without a visa, the baby would not be allowed to leave Russia to go to Germany and get it!) So, due to that fact, among several other confusing paper-work items, we have decided that it would be best for the baby to be born in Germany.

Once the baby is born and we return here, we are not exactly sure what all will take place. Just this past October, Russia passed a new visa law that makes things look quite confusing concerning the future. We have lots of big question marks in our minds. We were hoping to be able to apply for permanent residency here at the beginning of the year (the time we were told we have the best possibility of getting accepted for it). Yet, after we found out that we would all need to re-apply once the baby is born and has a visa, we decided that we need to wait. We are hoping to be able to apply for this once we return after the baby’s birth, yet our chances of getting accepted for it are a lot slimmer (as we would be applying a couple months after the New Year).

(We are SO very thankful we found all this out now… instead of after the baby’s birth!)

Even though we believe we are making the best decision in going to Germany for the birth of our little one, our hearts are very heavy. We now consider this to be our home, and as there are lots of things going on here, we really dislike the thought of leaving for several months. And, as much as we don’t want to worry, we can’t help but be apprehensive about the future with the new visa law that has just been passed.

All this to say, we do not in any way view the arrival of our little one as an inconvenience or an interruption to the work here. We could not be more thrilled with the baby that is being created for us to love and nurture! We know that, long before this little one was in our thoughts, s/he was already in the Creator’s. And now is the perfect time that he decided to bless us with another little treasure, a precious child. It is all in his plan… and we are SO excited!!!

We’d appreciate your thoughts for us as we prepare to leave here for a few months, for our diligent co-workers who will be continuing on here, for the safe arrival of our baby, for all the baby’s paper work to be quickly and properly completed, and for the opportunity to continue on working here in the future. We know the future is in his capable hands and his will will be done! And, even though it is difficult, we really like being in this place… a place where we can’t do anything but trust and watch him work!