Time to Pray

In the last several days I have been heavily burdened for Lulu and the entire Ethiopia adoption process. My concern started as I reviewed the number of people in line for a girl who are ahead of us - around 18 families. If all the families ahead of us are indeed waiting for infant girls then we have a long wait ahead. The last several months AWAA's referral rate of infant girls has been aproximately - 1 per month! If it continues in this manner it will be a LONG time before we receive a referral. I'm talking - at least a year from now. I trust in the Lord's timing, but I am still sad as the wait is hard enough without realizing it's about to possibly be a lot longer. This December will mark 2 years since God put this adoption on my heart and 1 year since we started the paperwork. To date, we have been waiting almost 4 months since our paper work was submitted to Ethiopia. The wait is currrently at 9 months for an infant girl, but unless some changes take place (which is what I praying for!) it will be much longer. Having said all that, let me say again - I trust God in this matter and know from experience that the child God has for me is without a doubt worth whatever the wait may be.

Second, AWAA has - out of necessity - decided to increase some of the fees. While I am not concerned about the money because the Lord has provided, I am a little surprised about how much they are increasing fees - close to $4000.00! Not only that - but $3750 of that is due by Jan. 15 for families who have already submitted their dossier - meaning us. Again, we have the money, it's just surprising that around Christmas time when the economy is seemingly going downhill we've been given this very fast approaching deadline and I know there are so many families who CAN NOT do that without a miracle. My heart is so sad for those who are overwhelmed by this burden. This is coming at a very hard time for many families. Please be praying for them. The increased fees truly are a necessity as AW is doing everything they can to both keep their doors open and make sure that all ET children in their orphanges and transition homes are cared for properly once referred. But the increase, as said before, is way more than any of us were expecting.

Third, tomorrow is a BIG court date for several AWAA families who have been waiting patiently through court closures and are eager for a successful court date so they can go get their babies. Please pray for the following people who's court date is tomorrow - Oct. 8:

October 8 court date:

Redfern
Wempe
Wistrom
Schmidt
VanWetten
Lusse
Hutchinson

Lastly, and this one is a huge prayer request - the following message was posted on our YG by the Forrest family who is waiting for a court date so they can get their baby:

Please pray for our little girl.... Duni just called to say
she has pneumonia or an upper respiratory infection plus diarreah....
She is 4 months and according to last weight check still only 6.8lbs.
PLEASE PRAY. We appreciate it.
Hilary and Jacob Forrest

Today we received another update from this family saying their baby girl is on oxygen with pneumonia and remains in the hospital. The families of AWAA know too well the hardship of this situation and what is on the line. Please, please pray for God to heal this baby girl! And pray for her parents to be comforted in this time.

Thank you for reading and taking all this to heart.
For His Glory,
Cindy