This Christmas, Becky Morlock and her son Kyle will decorate a tree, listen to seasonal music, watch holiday-themed movies and reflect on the gift that God gave to the world with the birth of Jesus Christ.

They will do all these things, together, from their apartment in Delhi, India.

With Dec. 25 less than a week away, Becky and Kyle are waiting to receive the one thing that will enable them to celebrate future Christmases in the Sentinel’s coverage area – the visa that will enable Kyle to emigrate legally with his mother to the United States, and to join Becky’s family here.

Becky is the daughter of Wayne and Cindy Morlock of Millersburg and is a 1997 graduate of Millersburg Area High School. She has cared for Kyle, now age 4, since shortly after his birth in India (See the full-length story on the Sentinel’s website.)

Mother and son have cleared every hurdle placed before them and fulfilled every legal requirement asked of them, including Becky’s legal adoption of Kyle and securing a U.S. passport for him.

Becky applied for Kyle’s visa Nov. 4, almost seven weeks ago, with Indian authorities in Delhi. After two weeks with no reply, additional inquiries were made. As of last week, the most word from authorities was that they are still waiting word from the embassy and that they will be in touch.

‘‘We are unwaveringly believing in God for a good result,’’ Cindy Morlock said last week.

‘‘But the day-to-day walk is very hard at times,’’ she added. ‘‘I go from being incredibly discouraged to just furious in just a short time.

‘‘Everything that’s been asked of Becky has been done. All the legal requirements have been fulfilled. What is the holdup?’’ Cindy stated. ‘‘(The visa acquisition) should have been a cut-and-dried case.

‘‘So close, yet so far away,’’ she said.

In the past seven weeks, the embassy has received e-mails not only from Becky, but also from an attorney that the Morlocks secured to help with Kyle’s immigration issues, and representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, U.S. Sen Pat Toomey and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey.

‘‘It’s time for the U.S. government to move this forward,’’ Cindy said. ‘‘All Becky wants to do is come back home with her legally adopted son, who she loves and wants to be with in America.’’

Cindy and Wayne Morlock, meanwhile, want to be close to their first grandson. (Cindy had visited Becky and Kyle earlier this year). And Becky’s sister, Annie, wants to see her nephew.

As Becky and Kyle’s story has unfolded, many people have come on board under the banner of ‘‘Team Becky’’ to support the adoption/emigration efforts, both through financial support and through prayers.

This includes the congregation of two churches – The Dwelling Place Regional Worship Center in Gratz, which Wayne and Cindy attend, and New Covenant Community Church, which Becky attended in New Jersey before leaving the U.S. for India. (Addresses to make donations is included with this article.)

In addition, several local churches and many individuals have been helping Becky and Kyle, and the families (on both sides of the world) are very appreciative of this support, Cindy said.

For the two Morlock families the separation does not in any way diminish the message of Christmas.

‘‘The gift was still given, no matter where we are to celebrate it,’’ Cindy said.

‘‘ ... we wait – and pray – and wait some more,’’ Becky said in an e-mail newsletter sent to her stateside supporters. ‘‘We are holding on to the truth that Christmas is a time for celebrating and worshiping God our Father and the precious gift He has given us in His Son.

‘‘The fact that we are still in India when we would much rather be home in the USA doesn’t take anything at all away from ‘The Reason for the Season,’ ’’ she stated. ‘‘And, we know that we need to love and worship and honor God’s gift to us, no matter what the circumstances.’’

Where to Donate

Donations for Becky and Kyle Morlock may be made to one of the following addresses:

The Dwelling Place Regional Worship Center
P.O. Box 34
Gratz 17030

(Write ‘‘India’’ on the memo line)

New Covenant Community Church
c/o Becky Morlock Missions
701 New Hampshire Ave.
Somers Point, NJ 08244

(Online giving is available at the church website, www.newcovenantcc.net