Doctors visits – Car Rides – Church visits – Divine appointments – Physical Therapists – Big decisions – Family Fun – Perspective on our lives in Mexico – Strengthening family and friendship bonds – Rest(but not much) – Connecting with supporters

Once again we wish to thank all of you for your prayers and to express the depth of our gratefulness that we are here and done with our adoption. 

the future-  We request prayer for the direction of our ministry for this comming year.  We have ideas and thoughts, but we want to know God’s path for us.

Joel

American boy! We have crossed into the USA. And we have a son, legally. We are filled with thanksgiving. We crossed yesterday at about 4:30 into El Paso, Texas. Then we drove strait to Tucson, AZ, arriving at about 10pm. We fly out to FL tommarrow morning. Thankyou for all of your prayers and for encouragement.

Joel

made it to Juarez.  Had to stop in the road to lest a cyclone pass.  We had a great super fancy pancy Fathers Day meal.  Tomorrow in the morning we go to the consulate.  Thanks for all your support and prayers.  We can’t believe that we are here.

Joel

hours and hour pile up in the car.  we are craning our necks to try and reach our destination.  the old toyota keeps pluggin.  we are exhausted, but excited.  monday morning we hit the us consulate.  keep us in your prayers.

We are in Mexicali- close to Tijuana.  Today we go to the US consulate at 1pm.  Elias and Stephanie are having stomach problems.  Thanks for checking up.

We left the ranch at 5am.  We arrive at Hermosillo by 9.  By 11, we had a passport for Elias.  That really could be considered a miracle.  The only reason that they could do it in Herm.  not Mexico City, is because our case says “Full Adoption” not International.  Well, we are on our way to Tijuana.  Thanks for checking in.  Well love you all.

Joel

We have to deal with corrupt and mean-hearted group of people today.  All they have to do is cancel Elijahs old birth certificate and issue a paper to get us a new one.  These people are usually rude and slow to get anything done.  Please pray that we would have favor with them today.   Thank you so much.

 VISITORS!!!

We love visitors!  Steph’s mom and brother Daniel and sister Emilie came to visit us durring their spring break.  We were so happy to have them.  They got to meet the kids, our friends, and Elijah’s birth family.  Steph got to introduce her French mom to her “Mexican Mom” (Elijah’s Grandma Flora).  It was amazing how well they communicated, neither one speaking the language of the other.  They were both very happy to finally meet each other, as evidenced by some shed tears!  Emilie and Daniel got along so well with Mario and Laura; they were inseperable the whole week. 

Wehave lots of neat blessings and prayer requests to share with you! 

Funny Story:  We went to a Mexican (obviously) restaurant with Steph’s family, and Steph read her mom the menu.  When she said “Chimichangas” Steph’s mom said, “Isn’t that the Chinese guy from the movies?”  (She was thinking of “Jackie Chan”!) We all got a good laugh.

A TRIP TO FRANCE

This year the older kids studied some French in school, and since Steph’s mom was here, we took all the students on a trip to France!  First we had to get the passports made…we had to make our own since it’s really hard to get legal ones here in Mexico.    Then we got plane tickets, boarded the plane (a big van), and took off for France (our house) where the kids got to see the Eiffel tower, famous Roman acquaducts and L’Arc de Triomphe (which the kids had drawn out on huge poster paper).  We greeted each other “french style” (two kisses), conversed a little in French, played some games and ate crepes. The little girls got to model some traditional French dresses from Provence. 

ELIJAH

We continue to take special care of Elijah’s feet (which were a little deformed from birth) and are now also doing physical therapy for his legs.  He is delayed in his developement, and although we still don’t know exactly why, we are doing everything we can to help him.  When we get to the states, we plan to take him to see some specialists. Please be praying that God would heal his body, and that we would have the wisdom to know how to best help him. He is so precious.  We love him so much.

Elijah’s cousin, Hugo, had his eye surgery and it was very successful! Thankyou all for praying. His parents and grandmother were terrified, they were shaking and almost couldn’t walk. They are very afraid of the word “surgery”.  Steph has been reasurring them about the operation for months, and prayed with them before going into the hospital.  Hugo’s parents were too scared to accompany him to the operating room, so Steph went in with him and even signed some legal papers as his “aunt”!  Hugo loved the hospital hat and gown and was a very good patient.  And he came out with two beautiful eyes, looking straight ahead.

Elijah’s uncle Jorge, Hugo’s father, asked for some Christian tapes, so we brought him the Bible on tape and they have all been listening to it faithfully everyday.  Grandma Flora said that the message of the tapes is “beautiful” and makes her feel so happy.  She wants to let her sister borrow them since she suffers from depression.  Aunt Monica said that since she’s started listening to the Bible, her chronic stomach pain has gone away.  They are now asking for Christian music tapes!  Please be praying for all of them to fully understand that Jesus is the only way to the Father, and that it’s not by Mary or any other saint. 

TO BE CONTINUED…

There is more to say and more pictures to share, so we are going to have to put it all in another email so that it will fit!  God bless you all.  We love you and are very thankful for your support and prayers.

love, Stephanie and Joel Conner

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Pray for Elijah’s feet, legs, and overall healing.  Pray for us to know how best to help him, and to have access to what we need in order to do so.

2. Pray for Elijah’s family to come to know Christ as Saviour: Grandma Flora, birth Mom Goya, Aunt Monica, Uncle Jorge, cousin Flor and Aunt Carmen.

3. Pray for our adoption to finish! We are waiting for the court to issue the final Adoption Sentencia (which they already have written, it’s just that there’s a ridiculously complicated legal process to actually get it to us).