If you're the praying sort ...

the Old Oligarch and I could really use a few today. Thank you, thank you, in advance.

UPDATE: 7/27/04: Our initial conversation went amazingly well. Eerily well, I must say, such that it is clear to me that God was involved here. The O.O. tells me that we have received what is technically known as "actual grace," as opposed to several other different flavors of grace that have been described. But we have a few more days here and are hoping things continue to go smoothly with the relatives. So if you can continue to pray we would still greatly appreciate it.  Thank you!