Second Request

Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22

I am combining 2 days into one.  Partly because my activity to report this weekend is inconsequential and partly because what I want to tell you about is so important.

Prior to the tragedy of Friday, I had planned a weekend with Amelia and Melissa in Lilongwe.  They have had a very tough few weeks and needed a change of scenery and some relax time. So, we booked a night at a very nice hotel in the city where the kids could swim and play and we could relax.  On Friday night, I was really believing it to be poor timing but as the day unfolded on Saturday I changed my mind. Granted, I had moments of feeling guilty with the indulgence of the day, but for me to have stayed in Nkhoma would not have assisted anyone and we would have just been emersed in the sadness, but not have been intimate enough to help or participate in funerals.  So, I am glad we were here.

We enjoyed a day of laughter, relaxing, reading, talking to family back home, and eating great food that we did not prepare or clean up after.  It was wonderful. Right now it is Sunday morning and we are looking at several hours of the same before we head home.

As I have been writing, many of you have commented that it is hard to keep all the people I mention straight. I will try to include pictures this week to at least give a reference point.  But today, I want to tell you all about the Smith family and ask for your assistance again.

Melissa and Jeff Smith live in Orange County, CA.  Jeff is in software development and Melissa is an ICU nurse. They have two biological children but in 2018 felt God’s call for them to adopt.  Melissa had previously lived in Africa and has a deep love for its children. The process began. Melissa and Jeff left the USA on March 1, 2019 to travel to Malawi to finalize the adoption of their twin four year old daughters.  The expectation was a three week trip and to return together as a family.  

On March 18, 2019, they applied for the visas for the girls.  However, the cases were sent to adjudication with USCIS on April 3rd. That is when the waiting started.  In mid April, Jeff had to return to the states for his job and to be with their two children there. Melissa has continued to live here in Nkhoma.  The Smith’s and their legal team responded quickly to the USCIS request for information and waited again. They also went back to court to have the judge clarify the adoption order again to ensure everything was in order.  And then more waiting and waiting. Melissa lost her job back at home as with the length of time the hospital could no longer hold her position.

Two weeks ago, USCIS issued Melissa an intent to deny letter.  This was shocking. After all the the work, the documents gathered to answer all questions raised, and the adoption order held up by the judge, the United States is still not granting the girls visas and intends to deny them.  The situation is that by Malawian law, these girls were orphans and have been legally adopted by the Smith’s but the US government won’t provide the visas for them to travel home. Melissa and the girls went before the Malawian judge for a third time Friday, and he upheld the adoption order again including some amendments to address US concerns.  He was amazingly gracious as in reality this is the US government questioning his authority in his own country. The responses will be submitted to USCIS this week and then more waiting.

Melissa has been here with the twins for almost 8 months.  That means she has not held her children in the US for that long.  Can you imagine? She missed the start of school(kindergarten and first grade), picture day, first sleep over, summer, Disney Land, etc.  The list is long and breaks the mama heart. She and Jeff are both single parenting and upholding households on two continents and missing each other.  Video chats are the closest they have to family time.

Melissa is a loved member of the Nkhoma family.  You can find her helping at the children’s home, donating blood for the hospital patients, helping visitors get groceries, phone cards, and find their way around.  She is my personal transport most weekends. She does things like get our visas updated while she is at immigration. She is my emotional support at the end of a long day.  And all the while, she is bonding with precious daughters in a tough environment and teaching typical four year old things like colors, shapes, and how to be in a family.

So this is where I make my request.  Jeff and Melissa have a sweet church and supportive friend base, but this step of obedience has been long and incredibly expensive.  I am asking that if any of you could help donate to them in any way large or small, please do so. The knowledge that people are praying for them and joining with them would be an incredible boost for them. Additionally, if the financial stress could be lifted at all it would be a testimony of the global church’s support.  Please follow their story on instagram msmith1189 and donate at www.gofundme.com/tdkpz-the-smith-family-fund . Also, please share this story and blog. I would so loved them to be inundated with contact from the Texas/Arkansas/Louisiana community.

I am honored to have gotten to know such a godly woman who is willing to sacrifice so much to do what God has called her to do.  I have also been so blessed by the love and giggles of her girls!