Symanzik Family Update

I awoke this morning from a dream in which I was sharing with one of my sisters who'd been telling me that she didn't feel good enough to be accepted by Christ. I shared with her what God had told me:

"Just as you love Jerard just as he is, so I love you just as you are. Just be."

"Just as Jerard melts into you when you hold him I want you to melt in to Me. Rest in Me. Just Rest."

There is no "good enough" to earn God's love - we just receive it as a wonderful gift, unmerited, from our gracious Abba Father.

We are in the 'ber' months and we experience some moments of cooler temps and also moments of torrential rain. This is what our street was like yesterday afternoon for an hour or two! (These photos come from a friend who lives a street or two up from us.)

James and a friend of his were swimming in the street!

The water came over our yard up to our house about 2 or 3 inches. Thankfully, not in the house!!!

November 1 and 2 are big holidays here in the Philippines.

The cemeteries become like fair grounds with people camping by the grave of a loved one, vendors selling food, plastic light up toys, candles, flowers, balloons....families having reunions at the graveside of loved ones.


It's quite a spectacle.

We walked around the cemetery where Jerard is buried yesterday. We placed flowers on his grave but didn't camp out or have a picnic there, though we did enjoy some of the edible delights of the vendors.

Hopefully I can post some pictures soon. (The pics above are from a local website posted from this holiday weekend here in Davao).

Kurt took some photos on his tablet. I'm waiting for him to load them onto the computer. I'm really praying for a camera for Christmas!!!

James' immigration visa was denied for several reasons, the main one being, in the legal eyes we have not had full legal guardianship of him for two years. The foster care license we had was insufficient. His adoption will be two years old in February of 2016. Our lawyer has advised us to reapply then through the USCIS branch here in Manila at the US Embassy. We will do that then. Please keep this all in prayer! Thanks!

We received email notice today from the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services)......

"On October 13, 2015, we denied your Form I-130, Immigrant Petition for Relative, Fiance(E), or Orphan, ....We mailed you a decision notice that explains why we denied your case and your options. Please follow the instructions in the notice."

This is extremely disappointing news to us.

So, we are waiting for the letter that explains the reasons for denial.
We have an immigration lawyer to contact to help us get James to the USA.

We'd appreciate your prayers.

Psalm 62: 7-9
My salvation and my honor depend on God (so does getting James to the USA and all our life.) He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.