I'll start with asking you to pray for the ongoing saga of getting Raia a birth certificate. Right now we are waiting for two documents: the apostile from the State of Florida, so that we could try again in Moscow; and a new doctor's letters, so that we can attempt to get a birth certificate here. Please pray for both to come through the mail safely.
We're really hoping that we can work this out here in Kovrov!
July 24
For those who are following those documents in prayer every step of the way: what we need from the State of Florida is definitely being processed in Jacksonville now. The next step will be Tallahassee.
July 25
It’s already on its way to Tallahassee!
July 27
Praise the Lord! We got our doctor's letter today, so we will probably be going to try to get a Kovrov birth certificate tomorrow. Please pray about that, and ask everyone else to pray with you. Also, our Florida documents have made it to Tallahassee, so there's progress on that, in case we do end up having to go back to Moscow.
July 29 (morning)
Well, we did go, but the registration office was closed. We'll try again today, so please keep praying.
July 29 (later)
Today they're only doing weddings at the registration office. The next time we can try is Tuesday. Also, my parents have received the document that we would need, if we're going to get the birth certificate in Moscow. Now we'll just have to pray that it will get here safely, if we're going to need it.
August 2
They were very nice and helpful (an answer to prayer!), and all we need now is to have the doctor's letter notarized. We're getting closer!
August 3
We had thought that Will would have to get the letter notarized in Moscow, but now it looks like he can do it here. He's going to try today. If he gets it, then he'll go straight on to the registration office to try and get the birth certificate. Pray!
August 6
No, Will couldn't get the letter notarized. We've heard that another notary office is more accommodating, so we'll try that next. Ideally Will could go there Monday, get the birth certificate Tuesday, and take it with him to get the passport on Wednesday when he goes to Moscow. If that doesn't work, he can get the letter notarized in Moscow, but that would mean another Moscow trip later to turn the birth certificate in at the embassy.
August 9 (and 13)
See Will's prayer update above for the latest.
August 21
Please pray that Will will be able to get a notarized letter from a doctor when he goes to Moscow in the next few days.
August 24
Will was able to meet up with a doctor in Moscow. She was very nice and helpful, but apparently notaries can't do anything with documents like what we need. This is getting ridiculous! Please just keep praying that we'll find a way to get this birth certificate. (And before Raia's ready to go off to college!
)September 19
Will's working on it again. He spent a good part of today going to notaries. There's definitely nothing they can do. He finally found a friendly one, and she was able to give him advice, but nothing more. So, he's "putting a case file together" and going tomorrow to talk to the head of the registration office with all the documents we have, plus pictures of Raia right after her birth and any other proofs that he can think of. Please pray!
September 20
PRAISE THE LORD!!! WE FINALLY HAVE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE!
