First Update & A Cry for Prayer

I have been here for a month already, the time has truly flown by! I was expecting to write an update much sooner than this but for the longest time I couldn't quite figure out what I wanted to say. But, the last few days have brought some hard news and with that a sense of urgency to write and ask for your help.

But, before I get to that, I wanted to take a minute to write about the moment I first met our little boy.

March 23, 2017

Joel, the country director for our agency, picked me up from the guest house to take me to the orphanage. My head was spinning with emotions and I was trying hard to fight off the lingering jet lag. The moment we arrived at the orphanage I felt like I was in a dream. I honestly couldn't believe that I was there in our child's orphanage seconds away from meeting him. It was surreal.

We greeted the nannies, and they led me up the stairs into the baby room. I waited, and moments later one of his nannies walked out holding our son and handed him to me. I honestly couldn't believe the moment I had been dreaming about and longing for was finally here. I was holding my son, physically touching him! Let's just say there were definitely some tears shed. (I am very thankful to Joel for capturing this moment for us!)

I would love to tell you it was this incredibly magical moment for both of us. But, the honest truth is, as much as my heart was filled with joy, it was quite scary for our little guy. They had woken him up early from his nap, it took him a while to adjust to everything he was calm and let me hold him for a while. He just stared and stared, taking it all in but then the tears started coming, I knew he was scared, and I knew we would have plenty of time together. So, I handed him back to his nannies and we left shortly after.

I felt it was important to share this piece, because as adoptive parents it is very easy to love your child from the very first picture you see. I have had a year and a half of loving him, seeing pictures of him, and preparing for his arrival. We can get so caught up in this that we forget that children need more time, and his reaction was confirmation that coming here to spend time with him in HIS environment, and in HIS culture, is exactly what will help us bond closer together as a family.

Fast forward to today: On Thursday, we received news that MOWA (a branch of the Ethiopian government in charge of adoptions) has put a stop to ALL adoptions, effective immediately.  For those that want more information you can read about it here on the state website.  We don't know how long this ban is for or the effects it will have on our case. We do know that this is a scary circumstance. This ban could be temporary or it could be permanent (Which would mean never being able to bring TJ home). We also know that we serve a good God, and he is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask for.

BUT.

We need prayer and we need a lot of it! So we are asking that if you are a person of prayer, please pray with us. This not only just affects us, but hindered of families, and ultimately the millions of orphans taht are here in Ethiopia.

*Pray that this ban is temporary

*Pray that this doesn't have a drastic affect on not only our case

but the other families waiting to bring their children home as well

*Pray that we would be filled with peace during this time

We know and believe that God is able and that he can do BIG things, especially when we pray!