Guess what?!?!?! . . . more waiting!

So, we still do not know if we are going to be able to travel next week. Our agency expected confirmation from the US Embassy today, and we received an email from them basically saying they're still not sure, but to prepare our hearts as it is looking more likely that our travel will be delayed. They are having some type of a meeting with the US Embassy on Monday and said they would email us Monday letting us know what transpired.

Some of you may have seen a story that was recently aired on CBS regarding an apparent "bad" adoption from Ethiopia, where it seems there was recruiting of children that went on and at the very least, some significant misunderstandings. (This was not through our agency.) That story aired in Australia, I believe, about a year ago, at which point there was concern among adoptive parents that Ethiopia might close their doors to international adoption. But rather than ignoring the problem and just shutting the world out, as other countries in similar situations have done, Ethiopia continued to realize the need of their, literally, millions of orphans and instead stepped up their game with more significant investigation into every adoption. I don't know all that this entails, but I do know that for each adoption court hearing, they search for any known living relative to testify as to the legitimacy of the claims that the child was either a true orphan, abandoned, or willingly given up by the parent(s). That relative is required to be at court in order for the case to be passed. Apparently now, the US Embassy is lengthening their investigation process before issuing visas for these adoptions.

So, the boat we are in at this point is that Isaiah is legally our son through the Ethiopian court, but without approval from the US Embassy, we cannot receive a visa to bring him back to the United States. Lord willing we will hear on Monday whether we will travel as planned or have our travel delayed. We are resting in God's goodness . . . this has not rattled Him, He has not changed! Whatever the news on Monday, He IS good!!! Please pray for us as we wait through another long weekend!

These verses are all too familiar, I know. So much so, that it's easy to glaze over them in our reading. But, as I'm sure you have experienced in your walk with Christ, there are times when God makes our eyes ready and able to see His Word in a new and deeper way . . . these verses have been my heart's prayer and lifeline throughout this adoption process! I just love how this passage starts out . . .

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint."

> Isaiah 40:28-31 <