Why did we choose to stay?

The day we found out about B, was without a doubt one of the happiest days of ours lives.  And we relished every moment of the day.  But there was one thing we learned that day that just never set well with us, a fact about B’s story that we would never be able to change, and it broke our hearts.  B was abandoned. 

We hadn’t even met our little guy yet, but already we ached for him, for the fact that he would always have a missing piece to his journey.  Of course we knew we would do everything possible to provide B with the best possible home.  And we knew part of that responsibility meant providing as much information for him as possible about his native country.  As to how we would do that we weren’t exactly sure.  The only thing we knew for certain was that providing him information from books and second hand sources didn’t feel adequate.

It was that desire in our hearts that led to very extensive prayer and got us asking the question, what would it take to stay in Ethiopia between the two visits?  We also asked ourselves what benefit would an extended stay be to our family and particularly B?  Well upon first look, the cons for staying quickly outweighed the pros.  Just to name a few, there was our jobs, our house, the money, the lack of contacts in Ethiopia…. the list goes on.  So in the face of such odds we did what we have done through this whole journey, ignored the world and turned to prayer.  We knew that if God wanted us to be in Ethiopia He would make a way.  And if you have been following our journey you know that is exactly what He did.  We have been in Ethiopia for 7 weeks now.  And to be honest the day we got on that plane to leave was a huge leap of faith!  We had one contact and a place to stay for 4 days!  From there it was all in God’s hands, an exciting but very scary feeling!!

Last Saturday I sat in room sharing a meal with over 20 of our friends that we have met in the last 7 weeks and I thought back to that day.  To the leap of faith it took to leave on a one way journey to a place unknown and trust that the Lord was in control!  I also couldn’t help but think of that sinking feeling in had in my stomach when we found out B was abandoned.  But there in that room as Mike, Grandma Lisa, B and I hosted an American meal for our Ethiopian friends, I felt assured, I felt content, and I felt excited!  God had done more than I ever could have imagined.  Not only did he provide countless opportunities for us to serve and get to know the Ethiopian culture, he had provided us with friends and family here in Ethiopia!  As I interviewed our friends and had them share a few things with B on video, my heart was full.  As I watched B move from lap to lap and arms to arms, I knew he was loved.  I knew he had a community here, I knew he would always have aunties and uncles in Ethiopia.  At that party God opened my eyes and revealed to me the most beautiful picture to the question above, “this my dear, is why you chose to stay!”

There are no words to say how blessed we are to have family here in Ethiopia.  Nothing could fully describe the feeling of knowing we have made friends for life.  And although we know B will still be missing pieces of his life puzzle, we feel confident that some of those holes will be filled by the amazing people we have met on this part of his journey.