Delectable Thought

Who wasn't listening for the sound of something like a train or the crash of trees this morning? Who knew we were so dependent upon the Emergency Sirens? When I woke up at four this morning, there was no email from the Embassy. I thought, "She didn't make it." And then I began to wait for an email telling us our case was being sent to Nairobi. Instead, I received one that said our case had cleared and we had permission to travel! We received an appointment with the Embassy for February 14th. Now we'll begin preparing to travel! Praying God's will continues to be done and that we glorify Him in everything!!

It's now 5:44pm in Ethiopia. We just heard that the Finder is en route to Addis Ababa. It is roughly a five hour journey, so please be in prayer for her travel and her safety. The plan is for her to spend the night in Addis and meet with Embassy officials tomorrow morning. Thank you for your continuing prayers! Stay tuned!!

It's 4pm in Ethiopia right now. I imagine that if all is going according to the plan, someone from the Tikuret orphanage staff is driving to the Finder's house to pick her up. Perhaps they wind through the broken down streets, swerving to miss a group of goats or a skinny, leathered man trying to master the donkey pulling his cart. Perhaps she reaches the Finder's house and the Finder has not disappeared, but is ready and willing to travel the five hours to Addis Ababa to spend the night and appear before the Embassy Wednesday morning. Maybe this is happening right now as I begin my daily chores of cleaning bathrooms and ironing clothes. I hope that maybe the orphanage staff will talk with the Finder about our case and maybe they will talk about the ONE true Finder. That is my hope. Perhaps someone will come to know HIM in all of this...maybe. If all goes according to plan, maybe we'll wake up tomorrow morning and have an email from the Embassy (my penpal) tellin...

If I had only one thing to tell people on this day, it would be that God is on our side in this battle of good versus evil we call life. He wants us to make it! He fights for us! We heard today that the orphanage has made contact with the finder and the plan is for them to take her to the Embassy next Wednesday if the Embassy will give them an interview then. Please continue to pray that above all, God's will is done. God hears the cries of His people. He breathed life into Melaku and chose us to be his parents. He is writing this story. May He be glorified. You all are a part of this story. Cry to The Lord for this boy to come home to his family.

Today I'm reminded that God controls ALL things, even people's hearts. Today, I'm asking God to change the heart of one person--a woman in Hawassa, Ethiopia. This woman is our finder---the person who discovered Melaku when he was three months old. The orphanage contacted her by phone and asked if she is available for an Embassy interview this upcoming Monday. They heard nothing back and have not been able to get in touch with her because...wait for it...she has turned her phone off. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that she doesn't want to travel the five hours to Addis to interview with the Embassy about a baby she was unfortunate enough to find on the steps of her workplace. The orphanage personnel is going to travel to Hawassa and attempt to speak with her in person and persuade her to come. They'll never persuade her because we (humans) cannot change people's hearts---only GOD can. I believe there is a delay in our case for a reason. I do...

Forgive me two posts in one day, but I wanted to let everyone who is interested where we are in the Finder/Embassy/Agency/Orphanage saga. I hesitated to use the word facts in reference to anything I'm about to tell you because I'm just not sure of anything really. First, Zack and I were really disappointed when we learned that the Finder interviewed schedule for today didn't happen. Our disappointment doesn't equal unbelief or wavering faith----we were just plain ole disappointed. Not in God, just the circumstances. Second, I immediately contacted our case manager who is a sweet girl who works at our agency's office in North Carolina. She is always helpful, though a little awkward at times. (I can probably be described in the same way---helpful, but a little awkward at times.) She contacted our agency's office in Ethiopia fondly referred to as CWAE and also the director of the orphanage that Melaku resides in known as Tikuret. We learned many things from all...

We woke up off and on last night to check our email hoping to find one that said we were clear to travel. There was never an email, so I took a chance and emailed the Embassy myself. I got a prompt and kind reply. The Finder did not make it to the interview and our agency did not contact the Embassy to tell them why he didn't. Today as I drink my cup of disappointment I will rest in the fact that God is faithful. He is always on time. He never just doesn't show up. Today, I will be looking up at Him and not at my circumstances! Please pray, pray, pray that God will supernaturally bring things together so that Melaku can come home. We appreciate ALL of you and your faithfulness to us!

I'm not going to lie--I doubted his existence. Alas, he does exist and has an interview with the Embassy January 16th. After this interview we will know more about our case and if we'll travel soon. Please pray the interview goes well and that Melaku is home soon! Thanks for taking this journey with us. We are so grateful for each of you!