Our arrival in Shenyang...

Today started out uneventfully. We walked around the hotel a little, came back and waited for our guide, Joy, to bring us to the airport for our flight to Shenyang. The plane took off as scheduled and, being a short flight, we barely had time to get settled in our seats before we were getting off again. It was hot in the cabin, so I took off my sweatshirt and the passport holder and placed it in the pouch in front of me.

Then it was every travelers worst nightmare, especially those traveling with adoption as their goal. I left the passport holder which held nearly $5000 in cash along with our passports in the pouch and did not think of it until after we had our luggage and had met our guide, Maggie. She ran with me to the police station, and explained the situation. From my perspective, they didn't seem to have the urgency required (of course I couldn't understand a word being said). Two officers were sent in search of the plane we just disembarked. We sat there for over 20 agonizing minutes. Occasionally, the officer's phone would ring and Maggie would ask another question (how much money was in the pouch? Are you sure your seats were 12A & B?). The longer we waited, the more questions they asked, the more we prayed. I realized that it was in God's hands, and I could do nothing but pray. What would happen if that money was gone? What would we do without our passports?

Just as if it seemed there was no hope because it was taking so very long, the phone rang and we were told that it had been found!. A cleaning lady had turned it in. We were cautiously hopeful that everything was intact. Finally, they brought it in for us to inspect. Praise God! It was all there, every last dollar, both passports, everything!

I have to admit that I did not want to share this story. How careless of me! I still can't think about it without getting angry at myself. But, as Steve pointed out, we have to share how wonderfully God worked this out for us. In a way, it was further confirmation that God does indeed want us to bring Zachary home. It is literally a miracle that this potentially horrible story turned out the way it did. God made sure we had the money. He made sure nothing was delayed. He made sure we had no reason to turn back now (not that we would have...) We give Him all the glory for this day!

And tomorrow, we are going to receive another miracle.