I've realized by some of the comments coming in that we haven't been clear on our next steps. Little Man is not home yet.
The process is such that we travel two times to Ethiopia. The first to appear before a judge attesting to the fact that we met the child, accept the child and pledge our commitment to raise this child as our own. That's what we did last week. It allows our names to be put on a birth certificate, which then allows for a U.S. passport to be prepared. THEN, we are invited to travel the second time.
We don't get to bring him home until that next visit -- what we all call "the Embassy trip." Yes, I said, "embassy," -- as in,
"19 US posts to remain closed this week as lawmakers say terror threat 'specific' and 'serious.'"
Those embassies are in the Middle East and North Africa. I never realized how close Ethiopia is to the Middle East until we began to make flight arrangements a couple of weeks ago. One of our layovers was in Dubai -- where the U.S. Embassy is now closed for the week.
(As an aside, we also received a rejection when we returned for some U.S. government forms that weren't filled out properly, so that will be a further unexpected delay.)
I'd be flat out lying if I said these things didn't give me cause for concern. Of all the places in the world for there to be trouble. Of all the times in history for threats to spike. I'm sure the militants have their reasons, but I know they haven't a clue that the fate of a roomful of precious babies is in their hands.
No, wait. I know that's not true. There are a lot of things I don't know. Things I'm not sure of -- so I HAVE to cling to what I know to be true. Otherwise, I'd lose what's left of my little mind.
Here's what I know, that know: God is faithful to complete what He starts.
I don't believe it was coincidence that when I learned of the terrorist threats I was studying the life of Abraham -- specifically, the beginning of his journey when God called him to come out of Ur. God didn't lay out all the steps, the hills and valleys that he'd travel, but we have the privilege of seeing the complete unfolding of his story. The entire point of that day's lesson was this: when God takes the initiative, He brings to completion all that is on His heart. God is not only the beginning (the Alpha,) but also the ending (Omega.)
I learned an old Gospel song a long time ago that has a line like this:
I know not what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future.
That's what I'll cling to in these coming weeks. I don't know the end of this story, but God does.
"For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
He's just got to.
Monday, August 5, 2013
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