I'm writing today to ask you to join us in prayer. I'm asking you to intercede for the orphaned children of Ethiopia. To pray for government leaders who will do what is best of the children of their great country. To truly weigh their decisions and realize that they hold countless lives in the balance and that realization will sober them as they come to an agreement.
Not long after my last post, our adoption agency contacted us and the other families in the Ethiopia program, and informed us that there was an important meeting coming up in Ethiopia, with important topics being talked about. The main topic was that of international adoption from Ethiopia. A quite extensive thesis was presented to Parliament and other officials in Addis.
That meeting came and went and we were informed that a lot was discussed and it was decided that there would have be more closed meetings in the weeks ahead to "come to a decision."
Our adoption agency has been AMAZING. They were able to get the entire thesis translated within the week and we received it a few days ago. I spent yesterday morning reading all 50 pages....trying to get an idea of what way the decision might go. I have no idea......there was so much in there.... info that is not encouraging and then some that was.
The bottom line...... they might potentially close Ethiopia to international adoption within the next week. OR.....they might seek to reform again.
Either way, this is what we know:
- God is in this hard stuff..... in these places where we feel helpless and alone. He is with us and will never leave us.....He also is with every single forgotten and unloved child in this world and He longs for them to meet Him, their constant and ever loving, Heavenly Father, as well as having a loving and devoted, earthly father and mother. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." Deut 31:6
- He placed us here "for such a time as this." With all the uncertainty we have had for weeks, we keep putting one foot in front of the other. To walk where we can't see and where the footing is unsure. He has called us into this journey, and we will walk in it boldly.... with unwavering faith in the One who holds this whole universe and our very hearts and lives in His hands.
- He is growing us. This is all about Him and His plans He has for the lives of His children. This is also about 2 little lives...whoever they are....wherever they are... whom we so desperately long to hold and love and grow in CHrist Jesus with for the rest of our days. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in HIM! He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jer.17:7-8
- He is Sovereign. and we choose to trust in His plan. He is The Symphony Orchestrater. He is The Master Artist. He is the Tapestry weaver. He is the Story Writer. He adds to it every day. Adding to the beauty, that is our lives. May we see it as that.....beauty....grace....love gifts of mercy from our Father.....May we be found worthy of the gracious beauty He graces us with every day.....whether it is in joy or in heartache....in laughter or solemn silence from wounds that run deep.... whether it is in community or in solitude that is all too painful. May we not just trust Him when we can see what lies ahead and the going is easy. May we cling to Him Who always makes a way when there dosn't appear to be one. I love how the living bible words a very familiar passage in Eph. 3. " when i think of the wisdom and scope of His plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God......that out of His glorious, unlimited resources, He will give you the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living with you as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God's children should, how long, how wide, how deep and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. and so that at last, you will be filled up with God Himself. Now Glory be to God, Who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of- infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes. may He be given Glory forever and ever through the endless ages because of His master plan of salvation for the church through Jesus Christ."
Will you join with us in prayer this next week and intercede for the children of Ethiopia? They say they will come to a decision by Thursday, January 16th. (that date has been pushed back once already so we hold to that timeline loosely.)
I thank you in advance for hearing my heart and for standing in this gap with us. What we lift up to our Loving Father is never in vain and our prayers matter so much.
Thank you dear ones!
Here are some specific requests to pray:
· for Ethiopian government officials to be convicted of the need children have to grow up in a family and for international adoptions to remain open;
· for advocates in Ethiopia and around the world to speak up on behalf of orphans and vulnerable children;
· for an end to any corruption, deceit, inappropriate work regarding adoption;
· for ours and other prospective adoptive families who are anxiously awaiting news of the Ethiopian government’s decision;
· for wisdom and guidance for America World Adoption as they seek to respond wisely to whatever news is heard from Ethiopian officials.
for peace and joy as we wait.
Much Love and Thanks from the Ledbetter's!
