Sweet, Amazing, Supportive, Prayer Warrioring Friends-
We received an email this morning not only answering prayers, but exceeding them – it said our case was submitted to the US Embassy on 12/30! That means we are potentially a week ahead of what our hearts have been prepared for – the exceeding faithfulness of God is overwhelming. We still have miles to go, but this puts us in the final stage of the marathon, and we are celebrating. Celebrating another opportunity to wait, another day to surrender, another hour to whisper, “I trust you, Lord.”
From here we are awaiting an email from the Embassy. An email we are believing and hoping will tell us we have been cleared to travel back to Addis and bring our Lulu home! Our agency has said the response time of the Embassy has varied once a case is submitted – from a few days to a couple weeks. They could respond in one of a few ways. 1. We could be cleared to travel. Obviously this is the goal and most favorable response. 2. They could respond saying they have received our case and are reviewing it. 3. They could email and say they need more information or harder yet, they are requiring further investigation in our case. This news could delay our bringing Lu home for weeks or even months.
Given it has almost been a full week since we were submitted (unbeknownst to us) our hope is full to receive the news we have been waiting so long for, very very soon! There are still potential hangups and delays as mentioned above, and while we have to prepare and pray for continued peace regardless, we know first-hand the promises of God are just that, promises. So, as wild and chaotic as it could be to organize, please join us in praying we are cleared to travel in the next few days. It would be the most incredibly welcomed chaos, and our home would be bursting with unorganized joy! Thank you faithful ones – hearts are full today, made fuller by the very real experience of the days when they have been emptied out. The struggle makes the joyful moments real and full and so so worth the fire.
With all Faith, Hope & Love,
-Sarah
dabney - Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!!!! Will continue to pray for God to move those mountains!!
Anna Rebecca - Sarah- I’m so happy for you! I will keep praying that everything goes smoothly!
Kathy Clark - I live in Saltillo, Mississippi and I am the librarian at our primary school. A dear friend in Idaho sent me the beautiful painting of Africa that Emma painted. It is framed and in our library. I thought she would be proud and thankful to hear that. I adopted 3 children from China. I remember the great joy and anticipation of each adoption. God’s great blessings to you all. Kathy Clark
sarahrichmond - Kathy- Wow, thank you for writing. We are blow away by God’s weaving of this story by way of a fired-up 1st grader. 🙂 Emma loves reading and the library and she is going to be thrilled to receive your note. Thank you so so much for being a part of the journey, we are humbled and grateful. – Sarah