Timeless

Some days it's emotionally harder to update than others. Today is tough. We DO, however, have a bit of good news since my last post- we recieved our US PAIR approval paperwork, one of two papers neede for us to travel. Therefore, we are literally waiting on ONE PIECE OF PAPER. It's called a MOWCA (Ministry of Women's & Children's Affairs) letter. On the one hand I CAN'T BELIEVE IT....ONE PIECE OF PAPER. We have come so far!!! On the other hand, I have fought serious frustration and deep sadness (and safe to say anger). That one lone piece of important documentation is the same one we have been waiting on for over 13 weeks. We were originally told it would take 4-6 weeks. Recent trends are showing these letters are taking 4-12 weeks across the board, with all agencies, to get. I'll try to explain it as best I can (ahem, as best I understand it). Our first federal court date is actually one for birth family. You might remember our sweet boy's birth mom showed up for that important date on October 27th. At that time, the MOWCA office was having a turn around time of 4-6 weeks from that court date to give their recommendation, negative or positive, on each case. This recommendation is the MOWCA letter. The MOWCA office contacts our agency with a hearing date for them to come and pick-up their letter of recommendation. We have had two such hearing dates and both times our letter "wasn't ready." We are currerntly still waiting for another hearing date to *hopefully* get this ever important document. This week there has been another Ethiopian Holiday (Timkat), making federal offices slow and quiet. We would be so grateful for your prayers regarding this letter and movement towards getting another hearing date. There appears to be no rhyme or reason as to what order these are issued. Some families have received their recommendation at the "normal" 4-6 week mark. Others, like us, have waited months. Our agency continues to send a representative everyday in the hopes of getting this moving. They continue to advocate for us and our son. Please pray for them, as well, as they navigate how much to push and how much to ask for and the timing of their requests.
So, what happens when we DO get that all-important letter? Once we get a hearing date scheduled, get the letter in the hands of our agency, then, they will submit our documents to the federal court to apply for OUR court date (TRAVEL). Typically this date is assigned within 48 hours of submitting the documents and that scheduled date is usually about 10-14 days later. As you can imagine, no one expected us to still be waiting for this one letter at this point. That is why we, as well as our agency, thought we would be traveling by the end of January. Obviously, that isn't going to happen. I have been on the verge of tears for the better part of this week feeling like our hands are tied. Talking with our beloved Jamie (agency case worker in Grand Rapids) this week, I explained to her that I feel like all those laboring women who were READY to push, but we were waiting on the doctor.  I'd have to stand beside them and encourage them to NOT push in the hopes the doctor would make it (for those who couldn't wait, I was honored to deliver them!), when everything IN her was saying, "It's time." I feel like everything IN me is screaming,"It's time," while everyone involved in the process is saying, "wait." The hardest thing to do is often to simply wait. In my flesh, I grow so frustrated and mad about this situation. Then, I hear Holy Spirit whisper, "I am the Timeless One....before time, out of time, yet also aware of time." He often reminds me that His focus is singular: working all things together for His Kingdom's good. I trust Him- even when I cry. And, when I feel like I am wavering on distrust, I'm working hard to confess it quickly and ask Him to forgive me...and I don't always get it right. I'm so grateful His love isn't dependent on my actions, emotions, or faithfulness. He is Faithful. He is Gracious. He is Kind. He is Timeless. I am grateful.
Until he's home....