Trip #2, Part III

Hey Friends!

In my last blog post, I told you a bit more about our trip to meet Ellie Claire.  After a couple days of spending wonderful time with her and seeing more of Ethiopia, the long-awaited day had come- court day.

We loaded up the van and began the trek across Addis to court.  I gripped Billy’s hand and we attempted chatting with our new friends who were also headed to court to adopt their daughter, but our heads were reeling and our hearts about to explode.  We were excited, nervous, eager, and quite frankly, there was a bit of dread in my heart.  We were headed to sit before the same judge (in the same room) where, on our last trip, the judge had told us our case was “pending” (in other words, paperwork was missing).  This was the same judge who two weeks after we returned home, declared Addie legally a Baker.  This was the same judge (and the same room again) that had chosen to give Addie back to her biological father. 

We pulled up to the rather ragged court building and the grief that filled me was overwhelming.  This was the spot.  This was where my girl had been taken from me.  I could barely control my emotion.

And then, quite suddenly, I heard His voice- as clearly as I have ever heard Him before- “I am going to redeem this place for you.”  

The Holy Spirit whispered through my inner sobs, and in His tender, yet strong and powerful voice, assured me, in this one short sentence, that He was (and is) sovereign.  He knew my pain.  He cared.  He was working all things together for my good.  He has redeemed me from my sin and made me good- and not only has He redeemed my very life, He redeems every struggle, every tear, every painful step.  

I still clung to Billy’s hand as we stepped off the elevator into the hall, where I had last sat with Addie’s birth mother and biological sister.  I was reliving every moment in what seemed like slow motion. - There I was- on the steps with her sister singing and playing, telling her in English, though she couldn’t understand, that Jesus loved her.  She was sitting in the window swirling my strange hair around my head, and mischievously eating the Skittles I had given her (though she had dropped them on the dirty floor).  I was sitting with her birth mother, giving her a tissue for her tears, showing her pictures of our family, trying to offer what little comfort I could, hugging her, wishing I could just load her up and take her and her children home, too. 

As we continued down the hall and into the room where Woudneh had first pulled Billy into the hall to tell him that Addie’s birth mother had been found, I prayed and remembered- redemption.  We sat down and prepared, like before, to wait to be called before the judge.  As He has done so many times through this journey, the Holy Spirit called to mind a verse I had memorized shortly before our trip- “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” (Psalm 112:7)   We sat there for only about two minutes before our friend, Ebenezer, motioned for us to head into the court room.

We sat before the same judge.  We answered the same questions.

But thank you, Jesus, we heard a different answer this time.-

“Yetnayet is ALL yours.”

And just like that, REDEEMED.  This room that I had grown to loathe took on all new meaning.  This was now where Ellie Claire became mine. 

In front of the "courthouse" after Ellie legally became our daughter

We spent the next day with our girl, soaking up every tiny detail of her that we possibly could.  We were all too keenly aware that although she was legally ours, nothing was a given.  We hoped and prayed that we would return to bring her home, but knew that was not a guarantee.  As always, our one guarantee was that we could trust our good and holy God.

The time came to say goodbye, and I pretty much fell to pieces.  I carried her to her tiny dorm room in the gloomy evening, weeping, assuring her that I loved her and that I was sorry I had to leave.  I kissed her face, held her close, and reluctantly passed her to her daddy, who had the job of handing her off to her nannies.  The nurse, who remembered that we were “Mihret’s family” tenderly said, “Don’t cry, Mommy,” as her nanny took her to get her ready for her bath.  I left the room and trudged back to the guest house, unable to control the sobs. 

A dear friend’s daughter, Hanan, came running as fast as she could across the court yard to hug me goodbye.  She told me she loved me, and I fell apart again.  We went upstairs to the room where the rest of the children were hanging out, playing and singing, and we were immediately swarmed by twenty beautiful faces, pushing and shoving to give us hugs and kisses.  I kissed their sweet cheeks and looked in their eyes, reminding them that I loved them, and that Jesus loved them.  These children, that we had prayed with, laughed with, sung with, danced with, and played with, had stolen  and broken my heart, and I could hardly bare to leave them, either.  Girls and boys of all ages- starving for affection- took our hugs and kisses as if we were offering them treasure. The last little one to break through the crowd, grinned from ear to ear as I scooped him up in my arms- the heaviest thing I had lifted since my surgery, but so worth it. 

They followed us out as we piled in the van.  Another friend’s daughter wiped away my tears and repeatedly told me, “No cry.”  They crowded around the windows and I tried to imprint their faces forever in my memory.  Hanan reached in the window and told me again that she loved me.  I assured her I loved her too, and that her family was desperate to come back for her. 

We cried as we drove through the crowded streets of Addis, back to the airport.  We were broken to our cores, leaving our child behind, but full of hope that we would return for her.

This past Friday marked six months to the day, that Addie's case was first re-heard before the judge.  That day we waited on pins and needles only to hear that she would not give her ruling for another week... which turned into ten days...  This past Friday also marked seven weeks since I last held my sweet Ellie Claire.  Not gonna lie.  I AM TIRED OF WAITING.  We are weary, crazy emotional, and on edge.  The Lord is good, though, and He gives us the strength we need to face each day.  This journey has proven to be way harder and longer than we ever anticipated, but I am beyond thankful for His overwhelming presence through it all.  I am reminded of the story of Joseph- who lived through trial, after trial, after trial, but the recurring phrase through his story in the Bible is "the Lord was with Him."  And then the well-known scripture, spoken by Joseph, himself, - "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done..."(Genesis 50:20)

We were THRILLED when our case was submitted to the US Embassy on June 12.  The embassy basically does their own investigation to make sure that children being adopted are orphans by US standards.  Though this slows the process down considerably, it is a very good thing.  Our country must be diligent in making sure that we are never a part of child trafficking and other un-ethical adoption practices.  Tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. our time, there will be an interview regarding Ellie’s case.  Typically this interview is the last step before the embassy clears you to come get your child.  We are praying desperately that this would be the case for us.  We hope to hear tomorrow, although it may be Tuesday, that we have cleared embassy.  If that is the word we get tomorrow, we will then schedule a time to have our own appointment at the embassy.  We are hoping to be scheduled for Monday, July 1.  This means that if all works out, we will be heading to Ethiopia Thursday, and that our girl will be home with us on July 4!!!!!!!!! 

Please, please, please pray- 1.  That the interview at the embassy tomorrow goes smoothly.  2.  That we get word that we’ve cleared tomorrow.  3.  That we get our first choice of dates for our appointment (July 1)  4.  That we are able to find affordable plane tickets, as they are ridiculously high this time of year.

Can’t tell you how eager we are to get that email from the embassy.  Don’t think we’ll be getting a whole lot of sleep tonight.  We so hope we have good news to share tomorrow!  Thanks for all your love, support, encouragement, and your prayers!!!