Another article on Ethiopia

Here is another link to an article on Ethiopia. This one is AIDS ministry by SIM and MTW. Funny that this was in our other magazine (on line) that we get and overlapped a bit with the World article.
http://byfaithonline.com/page/pca-people/aids-ministry-serves-as-a-means-of-reconciliation

Interesting World article and PBS show

We just got our World Magazine for the month of June. Front cover is Ethiopia!!!! Of course I sat down to read it right away. Here are the two articles. We are pleased to discover that our church denomination mission board (MTW) is cooperating with the mission board we served with (SIM) on an HIV project. Very good.
http://www.worldmag.com/articles/14057
http://www.worldmag.com/articles/14071
http://www.addislive.com/content/view/11107/46/

Also PBS just aired a special documentary on women's health issue called Fistula. Here is the link to that one. I guess you can watch it on line.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beautiful/

I am encouraged that the world is looking at Ethiopia. Things are getting better there. Time will tell, but things are looking up.

Enjoy.

What's new?

This is an interesting article on adoptions in Ethiopia. Cut and paste into your browser window.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/04adopt.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

In other news, Information from Ethiopia has come that one of the boys we had hoped to adopt is not at the time available, however, he will remain at the orphanage while they get his papers together in hopes that things will fall into place for him to be adopted. So, we will be adopting two of the originally referred three. We are happy to know who we intend to bring home as our sons! Now, we wait for our dossier to be translated into Amharic. This week it should go to the correct government official who will then set a court date for the boys. A court date is to show that their papers are in fact ready and accurate and that no remaining family are able to care for the child. In the case of these boys, this should not pose a problem. We also wait for the immigration paperwork which allows us to claim an orphan as immediate relative to be processed. That was received by USCIS on Friday May 23. So, we hope that the boys will get and pass court by July 10. We hope that our immigration papers for them will come in shortly after that. IF this happens we could potentially travel in late July or early August. This is what we pray will happen. If not, the boys will be assigned a court date after courts open again, early October and we would be able to travel in early November. Not ideal. Please pray with us that we would indeed be able to travel by early August.

What do we do while we wait? Finish that basement!, make photo books to send to the boys to pre-introduce ourselves to them, sew, start to make their Life Books (like a baby book or adoption book that tells all we can know of their story, we hope to learn more when we are there), read all the books we are half way through on Ethiopia and adoption, learn Amharic phrases, get an idea of things we want to see and do while in country, finish school and take swimming lessons, VBS, some camping?, Wait.

The Joy of Building

The other night I (Dave), was waxing philosophical on the joys of building stuff. I had just polished off the stack of framing lumber that had been delivered to our house a few weeks ago. No longer were there just a bunch of sticks of 2x lying outside in a tidy (mostly) bundle, but they turned into walls, door jams, base plates, and shower enclosures. Anyone who has built something knows this feeling of taking what is an inanimate pile and turning it into something that is yours. Conceived in your mind, built with your hands, and eventually enjoyed by your family. God made us to be builders because He is the builder. He takes what is formless and lifeless and conceives, crafts, and builds what is beautiful, enjoyable, and His. So many aspects of life mirror this building quality of God, yet none more than family. That God sees fit to bless us with spouses, and children, pets, plots of land, careers, hobbies and gives us the opportunity to start building is an amazing picture of His grace in our lives (Jeremiah 29:4-7). Whatever phase of life and building we find ourselves, I pray that we build what will last after we are gone, that we will build on what really matters. Was it a coincidence that Jesus made His living as a framer?

construction

progress

Well, the basement is almost framed. The plumbing has been roughed out. I have ordered carpet and tile and secured a tile installer who will also pour the shower pan. We got a sink base out of a "bones pile" at a fancy kitchen and bath store. It was $100 and would ordinarily sell for about $400. Cherry wood, beautiful finish, two sets of drawers. Getting bids on electric and drywall. I have been collecting things for the room. I found just the quilts I had hoped for on close out at Ross. I had to go to several stores to find two, soft fleece blankets too, plastic laundry baskets, etc.... I read in one of the books that buying the things for the child makes it feel real. It sure does. But having somewhere to put them other than the living room will be great too! Soon enough.
I am sick at home today. In bed most of the day. I have had a rough spring with sickness. I am usually never ill. Oh well. This too shall pass.
Olivia is writing a wonderful poem, she is sick too. Better than I am at this point.

How I Wish I Were A Bird
By Olivia

How I wish I were a bird,
I could fly o-so-high,
But not just a little normal bird, but a big hawk
instead I would try to help the gardeners get rid of all the rodents
and have a tasty breakfast, lunch and dinner,
but I am just a little helpless worm,
who lives under the ground trying not to be seen by a bird
Oh, how I wish I were a bird.

Well, off I go.

video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSdP6PqsbJY
I saw this on another site. I like the song and video. Rawanda.

giving

If any one is interested in the pennies project please contact us personally at jillanddave@yahoo.com. TCA and FPC are participating.
Jill

nothing new

We are still waiting to hear about the status of one of the boys we are hoping to adopt. If he is unadaptable due to paper issues we will still have two. This will not be a problem. I do not know if there is such a thing as foster care. I wonder if it would be possible if a child is not able to get the right papers for adoption. Hmmm?

I was wrong on the time frame of my last post. Our dossier went to DC Tue. It is expected back Fri or Mon. Then the whole package will go to Ethiopia that same day or the next. It takes about 4 days fastest post to get there. Then it will be translated and attached to the dossiers of the boys and then on to another government roller coaster. Then the boys get court dates and we hope they pass first time, then two weeks to complete paperwork and then we travel.

Well, we are still waiting on word regarding the status of one of the boys. I am not a good waiter, learning.

referral

Well, after a great deal of prayer and searching and question asking (information gathering) of friends and those who are home with Ethiopian children, and of our agency...... we feel that the best situation for our family and for the boys will be to have two sons. Picking the two was not hard, we had known for quite some time which two we felt a stronger "connection" to, if that is possible with a photo, I understand it is. :) Due to a signed agreement, I may not post photos or the names of our boys until we have finished our embassy work, in Ethiopia after we go get them. This is going to be a long time.

Well, a little info. Both of our boys are approximated to be about 3 years old. They seem to be quite lively little fellows and have winning smiles and happy countenances. We are so excited to go get them and have them home at last.

Both boys were totally cleared for adoption. One may have some new issues due to some policy. We do not know any details. We are praying that it will be an easily resolved issue and that things will still move quickly enough for us to travel in August. Please pray with us.

We just saw a little video bite of one of the boys and he is just so very endearing. I can not wait to call them mine, kiss their little heads and faces and give them love and mothering. We are very aware of the difficulty that will come as we all transition. We are pleased that a company which does a lot of publishing regarding adoption has finished a book and cd set on Amharic for adoptive families, done by native speakers. Yippee!!! We will start learning as soon as it gets here. I want to tell my boys how much their mommy loves them right away. I hope they can understand me.

I am doing another State Department run Mon and Tue of this week to speed along papers. I think Wed. we have a good chance of having the dossier sent to DC, that should take 1-2 weeks, we are hoping for one. Wed. or Thursday we should be able to send our papers for immigration approval as well. At this same time all the papers will be drawn up for the boys, to attach to our dossier.

Well, things are moving. Staying interesting for sure. Our faith in the wonderful work of God and His direction in our lives in all aspects is a very good thing. Sustaining, reassuring.

Brave (long)

Today I drove in a blizzard to Denver to drop off a paper at IAN and to drop off the dossier for notarization. I asked myself while going about 25 on the highway all the way from Castle Rock to Denver, why I did not just wait until tomorrow. I guess there are a few reasons.... 1. I said I would do it today, and I do what I say. 2. If I wait until Friday then I have to wait until Monday to pick it up (yes, I a doing it again tomorrow to pick it up). 3. because I am a mom, and just like I love my girls and would do nearly anything for them.... I love my boys. So, I got there, got everything done and got info on the three boys who are waiting. ( I MAY NOT share info about them on this blog or on line anywhere until after they are ours -that would be after the embassy date in Ethiopia). Sorry. I want to follow the rules because, I am a rule keeper and I want things to continue to go well for other families.

So a new development arrises, we are approved for 4 kids 0-7. We said we want 2 boys under 5. There are 3 boys under 5. Our hearts say to keep them together, they are buddies. That counts for a lot really, when you are talking about a lot of loss.............

On the way home, I drove praying about this, with a really heavy heart. I had several verses rolling around my head and a bunch of songs that are meaningful to me. God's providence and care for each of us. Our path so often comes to us through difficult circumstances and that is certainly the case in adoption. Our hearts desire has names. Names are real.

These are just a few of the verses rumbling in my mind. I have so so many more.

1. Mark 10:27
   Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."
   

Ephesians 3: 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

So, then I decided to hear the radio. This song came on.

Brave

(Nichole Nordeman, Jay Joyce)
For Charlie, who rearranged my fearful heart.

The gate is wide
The road is paved in moderation
The crowd is kind and quick to pull you in
Welcome to the middle ground
You're safe and sound and
Until now it's where I've been

'Cause it's been fear that ties me down to everything
But it's been love, Your love, that cuts the strings

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I am small
And I speak when I'm spoken to
But I am willing to risk it all
I say Your name
Just Your name and I'm ready to jump
Even ready to fall...

Why did I take this vow of compromise?
Why did I try to keep it all inside?

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

I've never known a fire that didn't begin with a flame
Every storm will start with just a drop of rain
But if you believe in me
That changes everything
So long, I'm gone

So long status quo
I think I just let go
You make me want to be brave
I wanna be brave
The way it always was
Is no longer good enough
You make me want to be brave
Brave, brave

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

These and many others are some of my most cherished verses. I am a person naturally given to fear of the unknown. I am also a person who has a desire to unearth the unknown, maybe so that there is less to be afraid of, but it is also fun. How do I do anything, let alone unearth the unknown or do the interesting things I long to do if I am afraid of the unknown? In our life together so far Dave and I have done more and seen more than most people our age.

I team teach ladies Bible Study at church. In January we ended the book of Jonah. Now, I got a really unusual take home, practical application. I read about Jonah not doing what God wanted him to do. Then he did it but not willingly. He missed the blessing that could have been his. The question for me was this: "What are you not doing that God has asked you to do? Why?" At that point we had been talking very seriously about adoption for at least a year or more. I was struggling with being comfortable. Too comfortable. Yet not feeling settled at all really. Something is missing. I knew it but was not willing to go forward. Why? Fear of the unknown, all that could go wrong....... I ask myself if that is a good reason for not doing what I KNOW I should be about? Am I Jonah? Yes, I have a reason to be afraid. But, God says "Do not be afraid". I came home in tears of gratfulness for that release of fear to do what is right, what deep down I longed to do. Ok.... we are on our way, full throttle forward. Find the boys, bring them home. I love them dearly. I am not afraid. I am realistic, but I am not afraid.

Fast forward to today. Three? I am afraid. Part of me thinks to myself; "Say what girl? I thought you were over this! God talked to you, did he not? You got his hand, go forward." The other part of me says, "But... what if... where...how...?"

I remember all the verses, I remember countless song lyrics. Then this one comes on the radio. Tears spurt out of my eyes. Fear stress coming out. I know it, it has a name. Fear must go. I will be brave. My sons are brave, my daughters are brave. I too will be brave. If God wants us to have three then it WILL work out. Financially something will make it possible. I know we can love three. I know we need them and they need us. Why? How? But......... "with God all things are possible" "Do not fear, for I am with you", "and Jesus said, let the little children come.", "The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want... yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (and my boys have) I am with you...my cup overflows, surly goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..." . Yes, God can do it.

So, on to living free of fear.