11 Days and 10 Highlights

So we have been in Ethiopia for 11 days. And there has been a lot going on to say the least!  We have been trying to keep up with our journal in more detail. But with a lack of internet access after moving guesthouses, we have been unable to keep up with the blog. So instead of trying to put a whole lot of emotions and experinces into a giant blog post we are opting for the condensed top ten list. We know you all just read the highlights anyway :)  10. Meeting a 72 year old man on the street and being ask to coffee with him and his wife and his wife's mother.  He went to the states when Kennedy was president. And has lived through 4 different Ethiopian governments. His english was pretty good so it made for insightful conversation! 9. Walking many many kilometers everyday and getting to know Addis and the streets better ( well Mandy anyway, Mike is still lost half the time) 8. Being reminded of God's faithfulness and provision.  Of course this has happened in many ways. But the most tangible was a few days ago when we went to pay for our coffee and internet access and realized we didn't have enough money with us. We were supposed to be at lunch in 15 min. And our guesthouse was 15 min away. Needless to say, it was not a good situation. So Mike began to walk as fast as he could back to the guesthouse ( a scary thing considering the afore mentioned lack of directional knowledge). He could get no more than 100 ft from the coffee shop and some people we had met just that morning passed him on the street in their car.  We were able to borrow money and get to lunch on time. A small but to us powerful reminder that God is bigger than circumstance!! Addis is 50 kilometers in diameter, and they met at the exact right time. God's good and perfect timing! 7. Meeting 3 other adoptive families from Holt and getting to be there when they met their little ones for the first time. 6. Getting to see Baby B again when on the above trip with the other families :) he once again fell dead asleep right in the middle of eating and stayed that way for at least and hour, even in the midst of all the noise. God, thank you for a good sleeper! 5. Playing with the kids at the drop in center where we volunteer in the mornings. They are all street kids ( meaning they sleep and live on the street, with no family ). Mike has really enjoyed playing soccer/ football with them each morning. And Mandy has enjoyed teaching a few lessons. The kids have so much love to give. But they are also still very hardened by their lifestyle. Please pray for these boys and their future! Some of them are only 9 years old!  Can you imagine your 4th grader fending for himself on the streets? 4. Working with the kids at the after school tutoring program where we go in the evening.  A very different dynamic from the drop in center. We wouldn't say these kids have a lot, but they have a family, which makes a world of difference!  We are mostly helping with basic english. But Mike has quickly become a Math tutor for the older students and Mandy has enjoyed working with an amazing young artist. Ashenofi is quite advanced, he drew a portrait of Mike last night in about 20 mins. It was better than what most can do in 4 hours!  They are all amazing and so fun to be around. And they make sure our Amharic is said correctly. It is questionable as to whether we are learning Amharic from them or if they are learning English from us.  We are pretty sure it is the first! 3. Meeting two young people at our new guesthouse. Josh, a photographer working with a non- profit organization that helps take pictures for NGOs at little to no cost. And Misty, a missionary and counselor. She lives in Zimbabwe most of the year, but is here in Addis for 2 months.  Through our meeting, they invited us to take a day trip to the north with them.  We were able to see the oldest Ethiopian monestary, built in 1960. Doesn't seem too old, but all the other were burned or destroyed.  It is part ofthe Ethiopian orthodox church. It was great to get out of Addis and see a different part ofthe country.  Believe it or not, minus the altitude, it looked much like eastern washington! Oh during our trip our driver was able to stop and work out a deal for Josh to ride someone's horse! It was funny, crazy, and the most money that man had made in one day in a long time! But hey who wouldn't pay 10 bucks to say they rode a horse in the middle of Ethiopia! 2.  Meeting so many amazing people! It would take us 10 blog posts to tell you about all the amazing men and women that we have meet. Each one so kind and generous. From helping us find a place to stay or volunteer, to driving us around the city. Or even inviting us to their wedding! Yes, we are going to an Ethiopian wedding tomorrow! God has just been so good to provide us with connections and he has been faithful to bring us friends! All of which has confirmed that we heard God right when we decided to stay in Ethiopia! 1. We got our court decree!!!!!! Per Ethiopian law Baby B is officially our son!!  There are still many steps left with the US embassy and we won't take custody until those are completed. But another step in the right direction! So again thank you so much for all of your prayers and support! We can not tell you how much it means to us, our family feels so covered in prayer.  And we challenge you to see the signs of God's faithfullness today! And listen hard and intently for his calling. Because as we are finding out, God 's plans hold amazing and unexpected blessings that will change your life forever. Love him and trust in him and you will not be disappointed!