Harris Family Update
- August 2026 -
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.~ Lamentations 3:22-23 ~
The whole summer has gone by. Rain has finally come, the aspen trees are starting to turn bright green, and yesterday I caught a faint smell of chill from the mountains. Even some of the geese have started their journey south. The four kids here with me in Colorado are hardly aware of the subtle changes, as this is the first summer any of them have really seen. For them, time is passing as an unwatched clock as they rush to play with the good neighbors God has blessed us with, and race to get the window seat on our way to meet up with relatives. Meanwhile, I may be watching the clock too intently, sometimes anxiously, as I sense the changing seasons and try to plan for what is supposed to be next, all the while I’m still waiting for my husband and daughter to be approved to enter the US.
Two months we’ve spent separate as a family, but four months our family has been awaiting permission and direction from the various government agencies as we try to gain US citizenship for our adopted daughter Apiyo, or, as all Apiyos are nicknamed, Apiche (ah-PEACH-ay) Cynthia. Meanwhile, God keeps on providing our daily bread, moving the pillar of cloud as He sees fit, and opening up the seas, all in His good timing.
In His great mercy, God provided a home during this furlough that we have stayed in before, which our kids are familiar with, and whose hosts have been nothing but gracious. God put the DMV right down the road from us, enabling me to walk to my driver’s test and get my license renewed after being four years expired (my UG license is up to date). That did take some time and many kind lifts to church, doctor’s appointments, and even my niece’s wedding in KC, as the DMV here has weeks of wait time for anything. God even provided a van with enough seats for all of us when we are finally together and have the baby. I have had good prenatal check-ups so far, and have been able to receive prenatal chiropractic care, which has helped me so much after all the travel. And for the four kids, God has supplied ample activity, treats, a new school-year, and friends to distract them from the abnormal family dynamic. Although they do miss Matt and Apiche so much, we praise God for the current technology that allows us to talk and pray “face-to-face” every day.
Truly, God has been good to us and has provided far beyond what we expected during this time. There are so many things that have happened, testimonies of God’s grace in our lives that you may hear of in more detail over time. We are thankful for how God has kept us through this long period of waiting. We do ask you to continue praying that God would work compassion into the hearts of all those working on Apiche’s case, that they would acknowledge the validity of all her paperwork, as well as the great need she has to freely travel with our family – HER family. Pray that God would open the door for her to obtain US citizenship very soon, and for the two of them to have smooth passage to America.
This month, please join us in prayer:
For the birth of our daughter, Caroline Faith Harris, which is scheduled to take place via C-Section on September 23rd. Noelle is required to give birth that way because of the complications she experienced at Noah’s birth eight years ago.
That God would bless the new pastors and church leaders who are joining our Bible college this month with an understanding of His Word and a deep relationship with Him.
That God would continue to bless the foundraising efforts for our new school chapel.
May God richly bless you,
In Christ,
Matt, Noelle, Apiyo, Emma, Madeline, Noah, Charlotte, & Caroline
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