We finally made it!!!! I'm going to try to update each day - so here goes.....
As a first time world traveler (ha!), never knew how a day can seemingly last forever, currently ours isn’t even over yet.
Starting at 12:45pm on Tuesday……..it began. Between Rhonda and I, we had four 50lb. bags of luggage to check, two rolling carry-ons and two backpacks. Most likely appearing very high maintenance to the other travelers. After getting all checked in, our initial flight to Toronto was delayed almost 2 hours - which is a problem when you only have a little over an hour layover at the next destination. You guessed it, we missed our connection. We were told that someone would meet us BEFORE immigration after we landed at our gate to let us know what was going to happen since we were now flightless. What we were not told is that we would unload on the tarmac and then have to speed walk seemingly a MARATHON distance before arriving at the said location. I can’t lie. If we weren’t a bit freaked out about messing up the whole journey right as it started, it would have felt like we were on the Amazing Race. Rhonda and I rocked it - I was SO thankful for long legs and a sense of urgency in a travel partner! Thankfully the airline was able to put us on a flight to London that left 2 hours later, which was perfect because we originally had a 12 hour layover, so we had the time to spare. After each of us slept less than 2 hours on the plane that evening on the way to London (who on earth gets good sleep on a plane? ugh!), we arrived to try to navigate the massive airport that is Heathrow. Honestly, the biggest mass of people and nationalities I have ever experienced. Wow. Since we had a long layover we stored our bags and hit the city. In a mere 4 hours we were able to take an express train to the underground Waterloo station then walk to see the London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abby and even have lunch outdoors at a cafe. Cool. Even with 2 hours sleep we were refreshed from the movement. Headed back to the airport to check in with Ethiopian Airlines and finally boarded the plane at 9:30pm London time (3:30pm Wednesday Missouri). We finally arrived in Addis at 7am - spent a half hour getting our visa, going through cutsoms, getting our baggage. At 8am we finally met up with our driver to head to the guest house.
Whew. 36ish hours from beginning to end. Freshly showered and about to head off in the next 15 min. to meet our babies for the first time. EEEKKKK!!!!!
If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you probably are aware that I am a planner of extraordinary proportions......and I have been in full on plan mode since purchasing my plane tickets to Ethiopia last Wednesday.
I spent time last week scanning the Facebook adoption forums I've been a part of for SO long for traveling tips, packing tips, donation tips - even tipping tips! Ha! The results have been list upon list. Oh how I love a good list!
Since my last blog post - I've had some super fabulous people come along side us in this journey. People are donating needed items, lending us huge bags to use for the trip, making plans on helping out my family in practical ways while I'm away, giving money to pay for extra baggage fees so we can bring over all these donations.......it goes on and on. We are humbled by the love and support shown. We are simple amazed by the giving hearts of our family, church & friends.
My niece Ana with Tori at her pop/cookie stand last Saturday - Ana raised $160! She was super excited about shopping for the needs of Orfins in Ethiopia.
This week, as I was shopping for some socks & undies to take to Embracing Hope Ethiopia, I had one of those - "Wow, that was awesome God" moments. 10 min. before needing to drop off my youngest kiddo at preschool, I ran to a store that was having closing sale. I got there right when it opening and, because I was a woman on a mission, had the merchandise I needed in moments. This store was having a morning meeting - so they directed me up to be checked out by the woman at customer service. Since there were extra discounts, it took her a while to ring up all of our stuff, in the process she noted the fact that I was purchasing a lot of socks & undies. I told her excitedly that I was taking them with me to Ethiopia next week and they would soon be on little Ethiopians :) - she looked at me in complete shock and said "Do you know where I am from? I am from Ethiopia!" WHAT? How cool is that? She grew up in Addis Ababa and came over to the U.S. as an adult. We talked for awhile (therefore making us late to preschool - so much for a quick trip). I was blessed beyond belief. She seemed blessed beyond belief. I walked away.........Praising God.
God is good. So good. Can I get an amen? Let me tell you how overwhelmed I am that I get to go to Ethiopia. I get to be the delivering hand giving to those in directly need. To meet needs with what others are sending. It is humbling. It is incredible. I am so amazed with how this all started with wanting to adopt a child that needed a home - and over the course of this process, through the waiting, through the delays, God has opened our eyes to the need. Given us a love for a country that we've never even visited. We are experiencing first hand how our God is in the changing hearts business......we would have never guessed that a totally changed heart was going to be the outcome of the step of faith we took in the Summer of 2012. Even with the pain in the process, even though it feels far from over, how glad we are that God didn't leave us as we were!
If you'd still like to donate, it isn't too late, but for packing purposes it would be helpful to have everything by Sunday afternoon. The biggest needs we still have at this point is for clothing (used is fine) particularly sizes 12 to 18 mo. - we also could use infant & children's ibuprofen, tylenol and vicks vapor rub.
Please be praying for me as I continue to prepare for this trip. Continue to pray for our adoption process as well......we are still waiting on paperwork so we can move to the next step. Pray for our little gal's health and safety as she waits for us to come get her for good.
I am leaving for Ethiopia in a week and a half - EEK!!!!
While in Ethiopia, besides loving on my little miss at the foster home, I will also be visiting another nearby orphanage and a few ministries (Embracing Hope Ethiopia and Connected in Hope) and am HOPING to be able to bring a bunch of donations with me to meet some immediate needs and show some love!
Want to be a part?
What is needed?
So glad you asked!
For the orphanages
One major need is medical grade formula, such as Enfamil Enfacare or Nutramigin. These are formulas for preemie babies - but are literally lifesaving for malnourished babies. This type of formula is not available at all in Ethiopia, which is why bringing it in to orphanages in the country, it is like liquid gold. Anyone who is in good with a formula representative or a pediatrician might be able to get there hands on a lot......for free. Any help with this one would be GREATLY appreciated.
Other big needs are:
*Over the Counter medications, such as: children's Tylenol, ibuprofen, cough medicines, vicks vapor rub, antibiotic ointment, children's vitamins, anti-fungal meds, etc.
*Bumbo baby seats - (USED is just great!) baby to nanny ratio is too high for the younger babies to get all the uprightedness (like my new word?) that they need. This helps get them upright more often!
For Embracing Hope Ethiopia (I contacted them yesterday and this list below comes directly from them) Want to know more about what they do in Ethiopia? Orphan prevention at it's finest.
Please check out their video here. Things we are really low on right now include:
12mo. & 18 mo. short sleeve shirts
12mo. & 18mo. long sleeve shirts
12mo. & 18mo. pants
12mo. & 18mo. sweaters, sweatshirts, and hoodies
12mo. through 4T winter coats We can always use:
9 mos - 4T
short sleeve shirts,
long sleeve shirts,
pants,
sweaters, sweatshirts and hoodies
socks
underwear.
Connected in Hope - actually I won't be taking anything this trip donation wise, but we will visit. However, remember those scarves from this blog post? Shipping is crazy expensive, so oftentimes they use people traveling to bring scarves back with them to ship locally to the office in the states. I will be using my suitcases, that are now empty of donations, to help bring some of these back!
Fun Stuff - we would also like to bring some fun kid stuff to bless these kiddos with. Things like:
Jump ropes
Punching balloons/ balloons
Stickers
Sidewalk chalk
Tiny plastic hairbands or hair accessories
Soccerballs or balls that can be deflated for travel :)
Well, there you have it folks. One complete list! In the off chance that I end up getting more than I can physically take over, no worries! Jason & I will be going again and between the two of us, could bring even more stuff. Oh my.
You didn't. We are still waiting on our gal's paperwork, but IT IS TIME.
Our family has been through a rougher than normal process that has made our wait somewhat abnormal. In fact, the entire process has changed since we started. Because of this change everyone now waits longer after referral to meet their child. Ugh. Then since we are experiencing a paperwork delay after our referral, we are waiting even longer (than the new long normal) to meet our gal. THEN because of the same paperwork delay, it is very likely that we won't make it to court before courts close for the rainy season (therefore automatically adding 2 more months to our timeline). So we are waiting even longer to meet our gal. Add all that time up? It is a lot of time.
The positive to the process change is that the time between court and embassy has gotten significantly shorter. The process used to be two trips. One trip for court and then 6 to 12 weeks the child would be issued a visa by embassy and cleared to go back to bring home (because now they can legally immigrate to the US). Since it is now expected to be only 2 to 5 weeks between court and embassy, I plan on staying the duration until I can bring our sweet gal home. So we had planned on four round trip plane tickets and now only need two. Quite the difference.
Hmmmm......so add these things up? Money allocated already for adoption + a crazy wait + dying to meet my gal + another close friend in the same situation + an amazing husband and support system back home to help = ONE THRILLED LEAVING IN 2 WEEKS MAMA!
Although I've been stewing on this for awhile, this literally all unfolded in the last 12ish hours.
This pic below can not capture the excitement and squeals as Rhonda and I sat together booking our tickets! (pardon the blurry - it was taken by a 5 year old :)
I am hoping to find out from our agency what some of immediate needs may be so we can bring over a bunch of donations. If you'd like to help out or see a list of what might be needed, just contact me!
Please be praying as I prepare for this trip.....it's coming up fast!
Ever feel like you keep experiencing the same thing over and over?
We are currently in the midst of another bump, hopefully a quicker moving one, but still a bump.
Remember the what happen's next post from a few weeks ago? The very first step in the process after referral typically takes two to four weeks. We are currently past 6 weeks and still haven't completed step #1. We are not able to submit to USCIS because we are waiting for our gal's paperwork to come as it needs to accompany our I-600 application. This paperwork is specific to our child (things like her birth certificate, life history, contract of adoption and other paperwork that is significant in her story). Although she was what they call "paper-ready" at referral, a few docs ended up needing to be adjusted due to circumstance to reflect something her region was requiring. So here we wait.
Have you noticed a recurring theme throughout our process?
Another no-timeline type wait.
Could happen tomorrow, but probably won't.
Since we've already experienced weeks that turn into months before - we have the experience of knowing that what we face isn't an adoption issue, it is a trust issue.
This print below has been hanging in my bedroom since early last Fall.........
It has been so encouraging to me.
This context of this verse is in the midst of the story of Moses and the Israelites fleeing from Egypt after years of slavery. Long story short, they were finally free however Pharaoh decides a few days(ish) later that he made a mistake and lost his free services and went back with his army to go fetch them back. The Egyptians have the Israelites right where they want them, as they are sandwiched between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. Sounds like a perfect tactical situation for the attacking army to be in, as there is literally no place for the Isrealites to go.
They all start freaking out and basically saying things to Moses like, what did you do? Bring us out here to kills us? Were there not enough graves in Egypt? Moses answers them "Don't be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again........the LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
A lot of you all know what happens next - Red Sea is parted, Isrealites are able to walk through on dry ground safe to the other side, Egyptians enter the same parted sea and God brings it crashing down on them. Problem solved. Amazing show of God's strength, power, glory!
Can you imagine? Can you imagine how STRONG your faith would be after witnessing a miracle like that? Wow.
To me this runs quite parallel to the referral wait for us. Although no one was trying to actively kill us, it was quite the trial. We knew God must
be up to something......and He was. When our referral finally came, the
way He orchestrated the whole thing was absolutely mind-blowing. Her
name. Her birthdate. How and when we got the referral. All of it. (even the fact that she could, most possibly, be one of the cutest babies on the planet)
It was a Red
Sea parting kind of moment. Watching how God moved. The kind of moment that makes you think -
"whew, that was hard! Glad we don't have to go through a trial like that
again. Should be smooth sailing from here on out."
Oh, wait. Hang on. Back to our story in Exodus..........
All of this Red Sea amazing-ness happened in Exodus 14, and literally right after they sing their long song of praise in chapter 15 (it's in there - you can read it :), by the end of that chapter they are in another trial. What? Another trial already? Come on!
Three days. In the desert. No water.
Three days - can you imagine? Don't worry, they make it through. God provides despite their grumbling.....
Can I just say out loud (or in written format) I am an Isrealite.
I
am just like they are. Shocked to be slogging
through another trial not being able to see the other side. Trying desperately to avoid grumbling. I can't make
things speed up. I just have to walk it.
I am
learning like never before, that trust is a funny thing. That my focus
can't be on what I'm going through or what lies ahead. My focus needs to
be squarely on the rear-view mirror. Looking back at how God has
faithfully, mercifully worked out all things for my good. How He has
provided for my needs as they've arrived, and how He has provided the
grace and strength I needed right when I needed it. It is only when I focus on what God has done when I can give it to him, knowing He's got this part figured out too. He's not left us. We haven't used up all that He can do. We simply have to just wait on Him and trust. So as I hang onto that Exodus 14:14 verse still - knowing that the Lord is still fighting for us, as we have already experienced - I am not perfect. My trust can falter my focus get off. I am so thankful for the Word when that happens. Should I give up? Should I feel guilty? Absolutely not. I cling to this.
Psalms 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Please be praying this bump in the road to be resolved as quickly as possible - how we would love to be progressing and not stuck! Continue to pray for our girl's health and safety as she waits too.
Because it's a Tuesday - wink, wink......a new song fav!
All to Him
New Life Worship
For every mountain that is high He is higher
For every burden that is great He is greater
For every valley that is deep He is deeper still
More than we can know
Our promise is Jesus
Our answer is Jesus
All to Him
All to Him we owe everything
Our savior is Jesus
Our future is Jesus
All to Him
All to Him we owe everything
For every fear that closes in He is closer
For every doubt that comes on strong He is stronger
For every battle that we face He has conquered all
More than we can know
We know the great God
We serve the great God
We owe the great God
Everything all to Him
Although we won't be able to show the full extent of our gal's cuteness until after we pass court, this week's update pics were too amazing as we got to see her precious little toes for the first time!
(which was what Gram C was waiting for) Y'all need just a little sneak peek.........
Please keep praying for our sweet gal - for her health and protection. Also for the timing of the rest of our adoption process - we would SO love to be able to travel late Summer, however because of yet another delay (that's adoption for you :) I am preparing myself that we will hit the court closure, which would mean not traveling until the Fall. Trusting that God's got this thing worked out!
