We’re Looking Toward January 18th

Hey folks, Nate here.

If you’ve read my wife’s posts below, you’ve seen a window into our hearts the past couple weeks. This whole process is such a roller coaster of emotion…just when we start to allow ourselves to get excited about what seems to be ahead, we get a curveball. It’s tough to put into words what this does to your heart (though my wife has done a pretty fantastic job of it) … the best course, though, seems to be to use these temporary disappointments as “food” for the soul, and to embrace a good God in the midst of it.

That’s the goal, at least.

As you may know, our agency has hit a roadbump on the way towards becoming allowed to facilitate adoptions in Ethiopia (they’ve done hundreds of adoptions in other countries, but their Ethiopia program is new). The Ethiopian government has halted ALL new licenses because of some possible child-trafficking in some European agencies. We were devastated when we first heard the news, but, as with many things, it’s turned out that this “delay” has come at a good time and we’re glad to have some space in our lives right now.

Well, turns out that there is a potential light at the end of the tunnel with the situation abroad. On Friday (the 4th), we got this email from the director of our agency:

Dear Ethiopia Families,

I have not heard anything lately in regards to the license. However, our facilitator was sick for about 4 days and had to reschedule his appointment with the official who approves project proposals. He is rescheduling now. I wanted to let all of you know that Dan our Director of Ministry Outreach, myself and a camera man from Desiring God Ministries are making a trip to Ethiopia 1/17/08 through 1/28/08. … The most important part of our trip is that we will be meeting with officials at the Ministry of Woman’s Affairs in Ethiopia on 1/18/08. Please keep this meeting in your prayers as we are hopeful that this meeting with move us forward in getting our license rapidly. God is good and he has shown himself faithful as always. [emphasis added]

So we’re standing with them in prayer for this day, and we’d love for you to join us. We’re obviously at the mercy of a multiplicity of factors here, and that doesn’t exactly make the answers easy when people ask us how things are going.

So Here’s What We’d Like From You
(if you’re willing) …

- If you’re the praying type, would you pray for that date? (and even if you’re NOT the praying type, we’d love your thoughts and prayers!) Pray that the license would be swiftly approved! (And all the other good stuff related to that )

- We also don’t want to just focus on OUR situation in this… please pray for the nation of Ethiopia and for the orphans there. We believe that God is doing something far greater than just this adoption in our hearts and want to sow into the prayers that many have prayed and will pray for healing over that great land.

Thanks again for your walking with us (even if you’re a first-time visitor to this blog…thanks to you too!). We think that prayer can change things and that this meeting is a big deal.