I am going to be honest, I hummed myself to sleep on Tyson's bed last night and didn't wake to blog. At some point I woke up, realized everyone else was asleep and Mark had covered me up. Right there on the twin bed with our brown-eyed boy, I took my first "nap" with him. This morning I reminded him that "Mommy fell asleep on your bed." He smiled big and said, "I know. You sang. You sleep. I sleep." Pretty much.
All that humming and sleeping came after a fun Sunday! We woke and went to church (back to IEC for the third Sunday). There was one pretty crazy, awesome thing that happened. So, six years ago, our friends, Trent and Carmen Post, moved to Ethiopia to live as full-time missionaries (go check out their ministry, Make Your Mark, at myminternational.org). We had met Trent and Carmen when we lived in Charlotte, NC. We went to church together there and it just so happens, Carmen did my hair while we lived there, too. We have been in touch with them throughout the years and kept up with one another on social media. Trent has even worked closely with Sebilu (the Africa country director for Bethany) on an orphan alliance panel the past several years. Due to all the political unrest in Ethiopia right now, the government isn't allowing a lot of wifi or any communication via Facebook in an effort to minimize protests. Because of very limited wifi (thankfully we have it nearly all the time in our guesthouse), Trent and Mark have had a tough time getting in touch with each other since we arrived. Until day before yesterday. So, Saturday night we called Trent and Carmen to see if they had a free night to come hang out with us at the guesthouse, as we knew we weren't "supposed" to leave without a Bethany employee with us (understandable in many ways given the political climate). However, remember how Trent knows Sebilu? Well, unbeknownst to us, Trent contacted Sebilu to ask if he could pick us up and take us to their house for dinner tonight and bring us back. Sebilu agreed and so, that's what we did tonight. BUT, when we went to IEC Sunday and the music started, guess who was leading worship? CARMEN!!! Isn't the Lord SO kind? Even more, as we sat at dinner tonight Carmen asked me what orphanage Tyson had been at. I answered and she said, "Oh goodness. There is a little boy there we have prayed about adopting for 4 years. We are waiting to see the Lord work it out." Guess who the little boy is? THE ONE TYSON GAVE HIS SHOES TO!!!!! They are the best of friends. I could hardly contain my tears when she said his name and that they might be his family. ONLY JESUS.
I am just still sitting in His goodness. His details. His timing.
After church we went back to the fancy shmancy nice hotel for lunch. Then, we grabbed ice cream at the cute ice cream parlor with swings. After we had our tummies full, we headed back for a night at the guesthouse of playing, talking, and the kids watching "The Lego Movie." Since Tyson and I had an early morning today, we had him go to bed around 9pm, but needless to say, he wasn't the only one who fell asleep!
So, this morning Tyson and I had a driver coming at 7:30am to take us to the hospital to begin his medical exam for his Visa. TRAFFIC WAS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH After over 2 hours in the car (NOT EXAGGERATING), we pulled up in front of a Starbucks Kaldi's and saw a familiar face... Mengistu. He motioned for us and when we got out of the car, he explained that since traffic had been so bad, the Bethany nurse went ahead to the hospital today and got permission for us to have Tyson's TB skin test done at a closer clinic, just behind the Kaldi's. We entered (after going through metal detectors and being frisked, of course), we were given "Visitor" badges to wear, and then we saw the Bethany nurse. She had already gotten us registered and they were ready for us (silver-lining to 2 hour drive). Tyson had his TB skin test done, so we were finished in like 35 seconds quickly. As we walked out Mengistu asked if I wanted anything and given that we had just been out of the car for a few minutes I suggested we (Tyson, me, Mengistu, and the nurse) go grab a macchiato at Kaldi's. They were outta milk (yes, a coffee shop with no milk), but we all found something to drink (and Tyson scored a chocolate donut). While we sat there, we began talking about the Lord and His timing. Mengistu had some specific things we are joining him in praying over.... and waiting on the Lord, no matter what you're waiting for, can be hard! I am just seeing the tip of the iceberg on the blessing of trusting Him in the wait...that HE REALLY IS WORKING IT ALL OUT FOR HIS ULTIMATE GLORY AND OUR ULTIMATE GOOD, despite how we FEEL about it before He reveals it all.
I was grateful for the time sitting around that small wood table in the dead center of a bustling coffee house. We talked about His faithfulness in each of our lives, about how His plans don't always make sense, about the narrow way that leads to abundant life. And, I was able to look at both of them square in the eyes and tell them that I am praying 100-fold blessing over them for the way they FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT for the sake of the orphan. To let them both know that their faithfulness to not only do their job, but to do it with passion and conviction and leadership from Holy Spirit was an answer to our prayers and the prayers of other waiting families. I didn't want them to think it was not noticed or that it was taken for granted. THIS ISN'T AN EASY ENVIRONMENT WHEN YOU ARE WITH WHITE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME as an Ethiopian. Just this week while we were out people made comments to Mengistu about being with us and about us having an Ethiopian son. Yet, they wake up every day and arm themselves with the only armor that will do in this fight. The armor of God. They are active in the fight, not backing down, despite the attacks of the enemy. It was in this conversation that I was trying to encourage them both and I said this:
I WISH OUR WAIT HAD BEEN SHORTER, BUT NOT AT THE COST OF WALKING AWAY WITH SOMEONE DIFFERENT AS OUR CHILD. HE WAS MADE FOR US.
His timing. His way. His Glory.
We just had church right there and several times during the 45 minute conversation one of us or all of us were in tears at the faithfulness of Jesus. Recollecting His faithfulness in the past and hearing testimony of His faithfulness to others, grows our faith to trust Him in the unknown. Hallelujah! I am so thankful He is trustworthy and good.
We arrived back to the guesthouse in much shorter time (THANK YOU MENGISTU FOR KNOWING SHORT CUTS. WHERE WERE YOU AT 7:30 THIS MORNING?). So, from here on out, the plan is for the TB test to be read at the same clinic Wednesday morning. Immediately following that, we will head to the hospital we were supposed to go to today and have the official medical exam. That hospital will forward all our documents to the Embassy. Then, we will give them time to review it all and assign us an Embassy interview time. Since Veteran's Day is Friday and the Embassy is closed, we are thinking we will have an Embassy appointment next Monday or Tuesday and then HOME. When we have exact dates and times I will certainly let you know.
So, we ended today at Trent and Carmen's with a DELICIOUS TRADITIONAL MEAL and the kids played basketball outside while Tyson played in a hammock, a swing, and rode a tricycle. He also played inside and brought me one toy car saying, "This one is remote control, but dead." Um, I think he will pick up on the language quite fast. It was a beautiful night recounting the goodness of Jesus to redeem and adopt us. We are praying over Make Your Mark and over the street boys whose lives are being transformed by the saving power of Jesus. And, I was reminded of hearing Carmen leading us yesterday as we sang "No Longer Slaves," and singing with confidence that He "split the sea so I could walk right through it." WAY-MAKER. I am just undone by Him.
Tomorrow we are having a day of just hanging out around town, having lunch out, and then back to the guesthouse for dinner. We will be praying for our country as everyone gets out and VOTES. I will update tomorrow night (depending on wifi and if I sing myself to sleep!). I already can't wait. So much love for you people.
Until WE'RE home,
carrie
Again, thank you for sharing. It is such a blessing!
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