Wow…where to begin. How about with the words, “God is good. So, So, Good!”
I know it sounds cliché, but I can’t help my ‘giddiness.’ Not after what I’ve seen and experienced these past few weeks. Actually, I could go back as early as September 2008 when we first decided to enter the journey to adopt from Ethiopia. But, why don’t I just focus on the past few weeks for now. :)
So let me back up for a second and give you all a little background.
The weeks before we arrived in Ethiopia, there were many rumors that MOWA (Ministry of Women’s Affairs in Ethiopia) were at odds with the court system and were threatening to write 90% LESS letters of recommendations each DAY for the adoption cases they see each week.
Without that letter no family can ever pass court and in essence that would mean many years before you can take your kids home. In one word, disaster. Orphanages would fill up and the adoption cases would be backed up for years.
The group of families having court on the same day as us would be the very first group to experience the new changes in court. To say that we were all “freaked-out” is the biggest understatement of the year. I belong to an amazing Yahoo Group part of the agency we are utilizing for our adoption (AWAA.org) and these amazing individuals began to take turn to pray every hour for weeks. I haven’t met or talked to any other adoption group more devoted than these people. They were on their knees CONSTANTLY!
The day of our court appointment, the in-country director for our agency basically sat us down and told us, “don’t expect to pass court today. Maybe one or two families at the very most will pass today.” There were six of us, from our agency, and at least 30 other families from other agencies around the world having their court appointment on the same day as us, and waiting anxiously to pass. As we waited to be called in to see the judge, the anxiety was almost too much to handle.
The first family from our group that went in to see the judge came out with a lot of excitement so we knew they had passed. Although we were thrilled for them, we immediately thought, “there goes our letter!” hehe We knew the odds of any of us getting another letter and passing court that day were as probable as me waking up one day and speaking Amharic fluently. Basically…impossible. We all sort of resigned to the fact that we were going to hear negative news on that day and we would just deal with it and trust in God for His perfect timing.
Long story short…not just one family but 5 families from our group eventually passed that same day and the other family received great news that it won’t take long for their son to be legally theirs forever. Did we experience a miracle on that day? You bet we did. The hand of God was SO evident, and I wish I could give you a great explanation as to why I think that happened but all I can think of is, He is “a Father to the fatherless,” and “sets the lonely in families.”
I could write so much more about the many ways we have seen God move in the tiniest details of this whole process, but the bottom line is God will ALWAYS make a way when we open up our hearts to those in need. When we follow after God’s own heart and take care of the widows, the poor, and the orphans for HIS honor and glory. To say that this whole journey has been exhausting, stressful, and at times almost something more than I can handle is the second biggest understatement of the year. But if you ask me if it was all worth it…boy, is it worth it!
Not just worth it, when I hold my baby’s tiny fingers or snuggle up for a sweet afternoon nap. But when I see complete strangers become a family in an instant and without reservations or when I see an 11-year-old kid counting down the days until he gets to go to his forever home in a place he has never seen or been to. I am grateful, SO grateful to have a front seat, enjoying seeing God’s hand in action defending the fatherless. Did I mention? - God is SO good!
P.S. I should probably mention that although our group was the recipient of an amazing miracle on that day, there are still a lot of families waiting to pass court and embassy. Also, the situation between MOWA and court is not completely resolved yet and I would encourage you all to keep this situation in prayer. I know in my heart God is pro-adoption. In fact, He adopted ALL of us. If that’s not prove enough, I don’t know what is! So please join me in praying for the families who are waiting to bring their kids home, for those wondering right now whether adoption is the right choice for them or if they should financially support a family who is adopting. Let’s also pray that one day Christians from every nation can stand united against poverty, hunger and we cannot rest until every mouth is fed and every orphanage is empty! That would be a great day!
