Graveley News

Flying on Short Notice to Manaus

Hello Friends and Family,

As some of you know, these last few months have been full of moving and many changes. It all started with the move from our apartment to our own home at the end of January. I feel like we had just started to settle in when I received a call saying we needed to be in Manaus within the next five days.

Flying to Manaus is never cheap since it is cut off from the rest of Brazil by the Amazon River, but traveling on such short notice made it even more expensive. Thankfully, I was able to find passage within the given timeframe.

For those of you who don’t know, this visit to Manaus was not a leisure trip or a visit with friends. I was called because we had been matched with a potential second child. I needed to arrive to review documentation and have a quick visit to see if we wanted to continue with the process.

Our time in Manaus went very differently than I expected, and the process of adopting this second child has been nothing like the process of adopting Davi. However, I have been praying that God would guide each step of the way and give me wisdom and discernment in everything, so we proceeded on.

We needed to stay a month in Manaus until I had guardianship and permission to travel. Then the three of us flew home, where we are still continuing the adoption process.

Unfortunately, until the adoption process is complete, I cannot share pictures, and I am hesitant to write out her full name, so we will call her K. K is a very spirited and strong-willed 2-year-old. She is learning what life as part of a family looks like instead of life in the abrigo.

We are all adjusting to what our family life looks like now, and we would love your prayers as we settle into this new normal. Please also pray that the rest of the adoption process goes smoothly.

So Was This Rushed?

No, this decision to adopt was not rushed. It has been years in the making. Let me take you through those years.

In 1990, when I was 15, God laid it on my heart that I would adopt two children when I was older. Whether I was single or married did not matter. This was my first calling to serve Him.

Then in 2006, God changed what I thought that would look like by calling me to the mission field—my second calling.

In 2009, before I finished missions training, I contacted the Brazil field leadership. I let them know that I planned on adopting when I was in my 30s because God had called me both to missions and to adoption. I asked if they would accept me as a possible single mother, and they agreed.

In 2013, I went to the field. In 2018, I received the green light and blessing not only from the Brazil field leadership, but also from my home church, to adopt two children.

My first child came in 2023: Davi. Then in 2026, in His timing, God completed another part of my calling by giving me K.

This week, the president of Missão Novas Tribos do Brasil reminded me that they are with me in this process. God has not given me a husband as of yet, and He may never do so, but He has given me two families, here and back home.

Prayer:

·  For everyone as we get use to our new normal.

·  For Mom coming to visit.

·  The Adoption process

·  Wisdom

Praise:

· For some unexpected gifts to help with new costs.

·  For safe flights to and from Manaus.

·  For your prayers!

·  Wisdom

Kids Korner: The kids are learning to share and play together, and it has been fun to see what they have in common. They can both spend hours playing in or with water, and they also both enjoy drawing and coloring.

Of course, they have their ups and downs like any normal children, and some days are harder as they adjust to having their lives completely changed. They both love airplanes and did a great job flying..