Courts Open - Prayer Needed

Now that October is here and courts have reopened in Ethiopia, my heart and mind are often drawn to the many families that have been waiting SO long for this time to arrive! Some of these families approaching court have children in Ethiopia that we met when we traveled this last spring to bring home Arsema. (sidenote - yes we still call her by both her names. I used to think that might be awkward for kids, but I now see it is not. I have a feeling she'll always be called by both names. She smiles adoringly at both, so why not?)

Would you join me in praying for the many families who are waiting to pass court? It can be a very nerve-wracking time as a waiting parent when it feels you have NO control over your soon-to-be-official-child's life. What a comfort it is to know that someone IS in control though! He has every detail fully taken care of. He asks us to trust Him and cling to Him.

Pray for extra strength for the staff workers of all the different agencies working on behalf of orphans in Ethiopia. Pray for accuracy in paperwork. Pray for provision for these families, both in their upcoming travel expenses, as well as God's mercy to get through each day. Pray for health for the children.

I'll never forget receiving the call that we "passed" and made it through court. I think I asked sweet Mary at Gladney like three times, to be sure I heard her correctly. Now soon it will be time to go to court again for us here in the states to make everything final on the US side.

For you waiting families ..... my heart goes out to you in abundance. For some of you the wait has been extra long. May I just encourage you that the Lord has not forgotten you or your child(ren). He cares SO deeply for you. Our family will be rejoicing in abundance with you when we hear you've made it and will soon be on those planes!!!

May you declare Psalm 130:5 . . . "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope."