Busy days since last I wrote, busy days.
On Wednesday of last week we picked up Little Miss's freshly made passport from immigration, which was made much more interesting than normal because of location of the office, near the center of town. Earlier this week dozens of Ethiopians Christians were killed, for their faith, by ISIS in Lybia and Ethiopia has understandably been in mourning - Wednesday morning a rally was taking place at nearby Meskel square. Shops were closed and people were pouring into the area. We were a little closer to than we wanted to be to what was going on, but were in good hands and stayed safe. It is definitely a sad time to be in country, as this country is so relational that the pain from what happened is felt and seen throughout the country. Our hearts go out to the Ethiopian people during this time where evil, pure evil, takes the lives of their countrymen.
Little Miss's medical exam done for embassy on Wednesday, soon after having her passport was in hand. This is typically a quick and easy process - the medical report is the last thing needed before being submitted to Embassy (and being able to come home). Once the medical appointment takes place the required report takes a day to courier over to embassy, (which means we 'could' have had our visa interview the next day, Thursday, as I had been in contact with embassy since we are in country and they would allow an appointment the same day). However, at the medical appointment, the doctor (after telling us with a straight face that Little Miss was underweight and short, to which we almost laughed out loud, um yes. We know) decided to require a chest xray......(which is NOT standard for kids under the age of two years old for this type of medical). While requesting it, she told us that regardless of result that it wouldn't delay anything (even if it showed something) - except that the xray itself does delay the process, due to the fact that a radiologist has to read it - and radiologists aren't just around and readily available, so it adds DAYS to the process (for no reason). Originally the doctor told us that we would have to come by for the xray appointment on a different day, but due to the amazing persuasive skills of our favorite in country staff person, Little Miss was getting the required xray within about 15min., so grateful! Please do not take any of the above as complaining, just as frustration. We are truly making excellent time between court and embassy (especially considering the 3 business days off for the Easter holiday and days of mourning), however, it is so hard not to be frustrated with a totally unnecessary 4 to 5 day delay that is keeping us away from our other kiddos longer. We miss them so! Sigh. However, we have HIGH hopes that we will be home by the end of the week, please be praying to that end!
Thursday started off with a bang when we heard of a dilemma after breakfast that was near and dear to our hearts, adoption, and that at the time no one else (but us) could help with......which meant by late afternoon, the hubs was catching a flight to Dubai. It is quite the story, one that is best told in person and one that shows how amazing God connects all of our stories. Please ask us about it when you see us - it is a fun story to share (but because of the sensitive nature, and it involving other families stories, I don't want to share publicly here on the blog). Jason was back in the same country as Little Miss and I by Friday afternoon AND he brought me a souvenir.....cortisone cream for those pesky mosquito bites - there is honestly nothing that could have made me happier!
On Saturday we loaded up in Ephrim's van with Benji (the caretaker of the home we stayed in last time who Megan and I became friends with) and Judd & Becky (new friends of ours) to head out of town about 3 hours to see the Portuguese bridge and see an amazing gorge (think Grand Canyon). It was INCREDIBLE. Not only did Little Miss do amazing on this 10 hour daytrip, but we got to see much of Ethiopia that we had not yet seen. Baboons, Mud huts, little kids herding the family goats, lines for water, dried cow-pie piles for fuel (which were amazingly stacked), the gorge which is impressive, and on and on and on. We hiked down to the bridge and all around, but because it is the dry season there was no water flowing through - however you can see where the water line is......wow. We might just have to come back a different time of year ;) There was a small restaurant at the top of the bluff with huge windows so you can see the panoramic view while you eat - we feasted on a traditional Ethiopian meal (yummo and inexpensive, a full meal like this? $4/person. What a deal). It was fun to not only experience something like this, but to get to bring Benji along with us. It was perfect - as we got to visit the whole day, rather than just a quick meal and he was also able to go somewhere he'd never been. It was also amazing to see him interact with Little Miss (especially since he heard so much about her last time) - safe to say that Benji had her won over!
Today we were able to head to church, at IEC (International Evangelical Church) for the first time since taking custody of Little Miss. She did great, especially considering it was nap time ;) It was our first time dressing her up (in a dress) and oh.my.word. cuteness. Pure cuteness. She napped through most of it - but it was amazing to be able to worship singing "How Great Thou Art" in English and to also hear it in Amharic, while holding our long awaited daughter in her own country. God is good. So good.
The mosquitos have made a resurgence and it is safe to say that I am their favorite target (probably all my victory talk from last week). It has become my after dinner entertainment to take a bug zapper (that looks like a tennis racket) and take out my frustration with them by frying them......thankfully I'm tall, but I've been known to stand on a chair or two to get that pesky mosquito who thinks he/she is avoiding me by staying on the tall ceiling. Safe to say that this has also been the after dinner entertainment for others, such as Jason and Yeshi, who happen to watch me every evening......as I take just a wee bit of pleasure getting rid of these pesky bugs!
Please be praying for us - that everything gets wrapped up this week and we can head home soon, we SO badly want to get back to the kids (and there is also a certain little baby boy about to be born to one of my favorite people that I am so hopeful not to miss!) We are more grateful than words can express for the time spent here, but are looking forward to getting Little Miss home and into our quiver of children - it will be a good change for her as well - to not be the center and only ;)
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