Wait

We have had several new developments this week in our adoption of Sofani.

Staci, Avery, Jackson, Anna and I are on Spring Break this week in Florida.  On Sunday, (Jackson's 10th birthday) Staci's cell phone rang when she and Avery ran up to the room to grab some lunch.  They had been on the beach all day.  Staci answered the phone and to her excitement Girmay, Deborah and Sofani were on the other end.  This was the first time that Staci has ever heard Sofani's voice.  They caught up and learned that Sofani was flying with Girmay's wife, Atsad, on Monday to the transition home in Addis Ababa.  This was Sofani's first time flying.  He admitted to being a little nervous about leaving his home, relatives and familiar things in Mikelle.  He said he was excited about becoming part of our family in the months to come.

On Tuesday our dossier arrived at the international agency that we're using in Michigan.  This is way ahead of the estimated schedule when we began this process in January.  Today it is being sent to Ethiopia.  For those of you unfamiliar with international adoptions, the dossier is our officially approved document that will go to the Ethiopian government for final review and approval.  We have nothing to do in the process besides waiting for our scheduled court date, fly to Addis for court and pray for the process to continue on the smooth course that we've been on since day 1. 

We are very appreciative of the interest that so many people have taken in our adoption of Sofani.  We can't wait for everyone to meet him.  Many people have asked what they could do to help, support us, etc.  I would suggest prayers for Sofani.  Here is a young man that has just hopped on a plane leaving everything familiar to him to check himself into an orphanage camp for the next 4 months while the adoption process runs its course.  Sofani has demonstrated tremendous courage, faith and hope to become part of our family.  I admire this little guy so much.  I can't imagine what he's thinking or feeling.  My prayer is that he is filled with joy, happiness, hope and confidence.  Please join me in praying vigilantly for him.

Moving Right Along!

Staci and I received our approval letter from the US Center for Immigration Services in today's mail.  This is the document that we need in order to submit our paperwork to Ethiopia.  That should take place in the next week or so.  When we first began this process in January, the people at the adoption agencies said that if things went well we would get this approval late in April.  Obviously, we're way ahead of schedule.  We're very excited and wanted to share the good news.