On my last update we were waiting for another document from Addis MOWCA (this is equivalent to a state document) in order for Federal MOWCA to approve our case. The needed document was something we already had in our documentation and our agency explained this to our federal MOWCA expert, the one who reviews our case and issues a positive or a negative recommendation on our case. Ideally, you receive a positive recommendation, the head of Federal MOWCA signs your letter, and then a family travels and goes to court to finalize the adoption. Our case has never been ideal or "normal." Seems as though we have hit every bump in the road and had the worst possible timing at every single step. Anyway, our federal expert finally made a recommendation for our case on June 1st. Negative. His reasoning was because he didn't believe Addis MOWCA (where Tyson is currently living and his guardian, the orphanage social worker, is currently living) had jurisdiction over him. Our agency has never had a case where a negative was issued when the regional approval was from the same region where the child was living. The thought behind the negative was that Federal MOWCA was wanting us to gain regional approval from the South Region, where Tyson was born (not Addis region where he is living. To get approval from somewhere other than where the child lives is NOT the norm). The problem with getting this new approval is that the South has been closed to international adoption for over two years. And, that route would likely add years onto our wait. Literally. Years. With no guarantee they would issue it.
Needless to say, we were devastated and knew a negative recommendation in no way meant or means that the adoption can't happen, it simply means we have to figure out what paper work we need to get to satisfy all questions or concerns addressed by the expert. Our agency immediately did something they have never done before. They filed a formal written complaint against federal MOWCA, the head minister, and our federal expert. In the formal complaint, our agency cited a case of another child who was born in the South (same region as Tyson), was in Tyson's same original orphanage, was transferred with Ty from that orphanage to his current orphanage, and that child's case received a positive review at the beginning of the year (when we were originally expected to travel). The two cases should have needed IDENTICAL documentation. So, our agency cited the gross inconsistencies in these cases, asking for federal MOWCA to re-review our case and to overturn their negative recommendation. Literally, the difference in the other case and our case boils down to the expert who reviewed each one. Had our case gone to another expert, we easily could've received a positive and already traveled and been back home.
Since June 2nd, when the complaint was filed, we have been waiting for a response from Federal MOWCA. Two weeks ago our agency was able to secure two different meetings in the same week with the head of Federal MOWCA to discuss cases (one being ours). The head minister was aware of our case and stated that as long as Tyson's transfer from his original orphanage to his current orphanage was legal, the negative would be overturned. Remember the child who had the same transfer at the same time? All signs point to that transfer being perfectly legal (the Ethiopian government was, after all, the one who closed that original orphanage and therefore forced the children to go to new orphanages). So, our agency continues to go every day to federal MOWCA to inquire about our case. One HUGE factor in all of this is timing... remember, ours has never been, I don't know, timely? Ethiopian court closes every year for rainy season from August to October. That means that from August 5 (approximately) to September 30 (approximately) no adoption cases will be heard in Ethiopian Federal court. NO TRAVEL. That's another whole week, right? Yes, but it takes about a week from a positive recommendation to a court date. Meaning we have.... TOMORROW.
IN STEPS JOSHUA.
Listen, we have heard our fair share of "you inspire me with how you handle all of this," and "you've taught me so much about endurance and patience and God's timing by watching you." That is all really nice and we are genuinely grateful that in the mess and tears and frustration, God can somehow still shine through cracked jars of clay. BUT WE ARE READY TO BRING HIM HOME AND NOT BE TEACHING SO MANY LESSONS ON PATIENCE :). I haven't always handled this well. I haven't always trusted God well. I haven't always taken it and wholeheartedly believed that all this was working out for the good of anybody or anything. My bed, floor, war room, and bible have more tear stains and taken more fist poundings than I care to admit. But, I often in those moments of doubt, open my bible to Joshua 10. In this process I have read this passage enough that if ink faded by the mere passing of the eye, it would be faint to the point of being unreadable.
As Joshua led the Israelites to victory over their enemies in Ai and Jericho and had killed the kings over both towns, the king of Jerusalem became insecure and fearful of Joshua and his army. To add to the fear and intimidation for Jerusalem's king, Joshua had joined forces with the Gibeonites, a large group of strong warriors. Larger and stronger, even, than those of Ai and Jericho. So Jerusalem's scared king joined forces with 4 other Amorite kings in an effort to destroy Gibeon. The combined attack forced Gibeon to call on their allies the Israelites. So Joshua and his entire army set out for Gibeon. The Lord told Joshua that He had given victory to Joshua over the Amorites and there was no need to fear. In a surprise attack, Joshua took on the Amorite armies. The Lord caused the enemy to be panicked and Israel was able to kill "a great number of them at Gibeon" (Joshua 10:10). Joshua and his men kept going killing the enemy. As the enemy retreated, do you know what God did? I just love it. He destroyed them with a hailstorm! Talk about a bad day! Verse 11 says that "the hail killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed by the sword." This particular part of the passage always forces a second read from me. It reminds me that all my best efforts in my human power don't compare to what He can do in destroying the enemy. No one could've seen a hailstorm coming! And yet, He was able to do more with an unexpected hailstorm than Joshua's whole army could do with swords, preparation, planning, and strategies. The command of His voice ushered in destruction that no human could stand against. Isn't that powerful? So often God asks us to do what we can with the resources He has given. He wants us to obey and walk in the Spirit so that we are positioned for His blessing. But, there often just comes a time when all our human effort won't get the job done. The enemy is still bearing down and still trying to come against us. That's when we have to step back and let God do what only God can do.
Good grief, wouldn't it be nice if God would tell us what He has planned sometimes? A heads up about the hailstorm He is sending to destroy the enemy, for instance. But, as I read about Joshua, I find that because Joshua was faithful with what resources God had given and because Joshua continued to stay connected to Him in prayer (rather than being self-sufficient, relying on his well-laid plans, depending on his well-trained army, etc), God did what only GOD could do to bring the victory. The verse that gets me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. is verse 12-13:
"On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, 'Let the SUN STAND STILL over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.' So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies."
AND THE SUN STOOD STILL.
I can't even type it without crying. God heard. God cared. God listened. God answered. His people needed more daylight! They needed a miracle and more time. I know God is capable of giving us that recommendation letter tomorrow. And, that is what I am praying for.... for a miracle and for the sun to stand still to lengthen the day tomorrow in Ethiopia. He is able.
I am also praying that if He chooses to wait that we will trust Him more than what our eyes can see. I am praying my greatest desire will be nothing short of HIM. HE IS THE GOAL. On the days I struggle to walk 4 steps without hitting my knees in desperate prayers for Him to move mountains, HE HEARS. And on the days I am able to go through the day with full confidence and hope, HE SEES. For all the days in between HE CARES. And, I know He will answer. As I have studied and leaned into what He wants to teach me in these days, I continue to be drawn into "His ultimate glory, our ultimate good." That boy won't walk through the doors of this home with his family until it is the time God will receive the most glory and it will be for our ultimate good. NOT ONE DAY SOONER.
That truth eases the hurt of a broken heart, but it doesn't' numb it. This road is hard, long, and most assuredly not the road we expected. If tomorrow comes and goes with no positive recommendation letter, we know the earliest we will be able to travel is October (and no guarantees then). That will be just 3 weeks shy of us waiting for this final document for one year. One month from the six year mark of starting this adoption. But, He hasn't left us alone for one millisecond of it. We know He is asking us to do what we can do with the resources He has given us so that we are positioned for Him to do what only He can do to get the most glory. Tonight, I am praying for the sun to stand still. For Him to grant us more daylight and for the miracle to come in whatever form He chooses to send it so that all eyes are on Him. This is HIS story and we are grateful He has chosen to write us in.
We are forever grateful for your prayers over our family in these days. We are also grateful for your prayers over Tyson. I so wish I could post a picture of his RIDICULOUSLY cute face for you to see and pray over. This fight isn't in vain and the enemy isn't anyone in any government or agency. There is one enemy and this process has his name all over it. He has come to steal, kill, and destroy. But, the Lord has told us to march on, look the enemy in the face, and remind him that GOD HAS GIVEN US VICTORY OVER him AND WE AREN'T AFRAID.
I will update as my heart allows. forever indebted to you for the time you have spend in prayer on behalf of our family. we love you.
until he's home....
