This year, Mother's Day was spent on the continent of Africa, the land that our daughter will come from. My prayer leading up to this missions trip to South Africa was that the Lord would sustain my emotions. I did NOT want to be a walking tear ball the entire time we were there. I wanted to be effective for the sharing of the Gospel and ministering/loving on the people of South Africa. He held me together! He really did. I just knew I'd be a basket case stepping foot in the plane but I wasn't!! I can't really describe what I was feeling. Receiving the news of our $20,000 grant the DAY BEFORE we left was INCREDIBLE. He's so good that way. He allowed me to travel to her place KNOWING this process is covered!!!
The first night we were in Musina, South Africa, we were eating dinner with Debbie, our contact in Musina. The topic of adoption came up and I told her we were in the process of adopting a little girl from Ethiopia. I've said that same thing to many people but it just occurred to me that I said it for the first time to person actually from Africa. She just sat and looked at me for a minute with the most compassionate eyes. Makes me tear up thinking about it. She went on to tell me that she has an Ethiopian family who rents from her. I said "REALLY!!?!?" I got all excited and just blurted out "I'd love to meet them!!!!" She said she would call them and organise that.
So the next day was Mother's Day. She told me what time to be ready and picked up me, Hayley & Emilee. On the way to their house my heart was beating a MILLION miles an hour. I seriously felt like I could squal at this point but asked the Lord to hold me together!! I didn't need to cry the whole time we were there!
We pulled up and out stepped this tall gentleman onto the porch. My hands were shaking as I opened the door to the car. When I got out of the car and started heading for the porch out stepped his wife and their PRECIOUS daughter. OK, at this point I am SERIOUSLY trying not to make THE cry face, you know THE one.
They welcomed us into their home, brought out juice & glasses and Deb introduced us to them. They were SO incredibly nice. Very tall and thin, pleasant smiles, friendly & what I really wanted to do was latch onto her neck and not let go!! The mother was BEAUTIFUL and the daughter took my breath away. Literally. Her name was Danite. (like Delight with an "n") "Dan" from the son of Jacob and "nite" for a female. She was about 2 yrs old. Very shy and began warming up to us as it was time to go. Deb began to tell them that my husband and I are adopting from Ethiopia and I REALLY held my breath for their response. I mean telling an African was one thing but telling someone from ETHIOPIA?!?!? I just didn't know what to expect!
They smiled, and said that was nice, asked a few questions and we talked for a while. I don't really know if they understood 100% what "adoption" meant. Deb described it as this "her country has an agreement with your country for a baby girl. They are going to give her one." Either way their response was positive.
These are some thoughts I had while sitting on their couch:
This is what she will favor when she is grown. She.is.BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!
LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!! Am I really sitting in this room with an ENTIRE ETHIOPIAN FAMILY!?!?! Who just happens to have a precious baby girl.
Who am I that you would arrange this JUST FOR ME LORD. Just for me............. on Mother's Day.
(Danite)
{thank you Hayley for these pictures. I'll cherish them forever!!}
We left and as we drove away it happened.
The flood gates poured over in thankfulness, humbleness of what had just happened, and I seriously felt the Lord pouring His love just over and over and over me. Such a special day for me. Such a special day. He knows me so well and that He orchastrated that 45 mins on Mother's Day was so special to me. That the Creator of the universe allowed that to happen for this momma. So special.
He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.
Deu 10:21
When I lay my eyes on you my baby girl the first time oh what a day it will be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am happy to tell you that today we mailed off our I600A. (Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative with the USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services)).
So once we receive our Fingerprint Appointment cards we can head down to Jacksonville, be finger printed and as soon as those clearances come in we mail off our Dossier!! Our FINAL package of paperwork!!! It will take a couple of months to be translated and approved but once it is we will officially be in WAITING!! We will wait anywhere from 6-12 months. What ever length of time the Lord sees fit. It's getting closer!!!!! GEEZ WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A side note on the grant. That money is given directly to our agency. We don't ever see it and our agency pays for the costs directly. Isn't this whole thing so interesting?!?!?
A special thanks to Nooks & Crannies Cleaners who donated a portion of their May income to help bring Lily home!!!! If you need a good house cleaning from a Christ follower who seeks to honor the Lord with her business, please contact Jenna!!!
Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.
Ps 79:13
May the things of Earth grow strangly dim in the light of His glory & grace,
Kim
