Another step closer

I got my I-171H immigration approval today! Yeah! Another step closer. So that means I should know within the next few weeks when my court date will be. I am so excited ... and scared and nervous and a hundred emotions I can't even name!

Please say prayers that the rest of the process goes smoothly. Thanks!

Melkam Yelidet Beaal (Happy Christmas)

GENNA

Christmas in Ethiopia, called Lidet or Genna, is not the primary religious and secular festival that it has become in Western countries. Falling on January 7th, it is celebrated seriously by a church service that goes on throughout the night in ancient churches carved from solid volcanic rock and also in modern churches that are designed in three concentric circles. Men and boys sit separately from girls and women. The choir sings from the outside circle.

The day before Genna, people fast all day. On Christmas Eve the city is crowded with pilgrims from all parts of the country. They remain outdoors all night, praying and chanting. The next morning at dawn, everyone dresses in white. Most Ethiopians wear a traditional shamma, a thin, white cotton wrap with brightly colored stripes across the ends. The shamma is worn somewhat like a toga. Urban Ethiopians might put on white Western garb. A colorful procession makes its way to a nearby hilltop where a service is held. Three young men march at the head of the crowd, lashing whips from left to right to keep the people in line. People receive candles as they enter the church. After lighting the candles everyone walks around the church three times, then stands throughout the mass, which may last up to three hours.

After the service is over the rest of the day is spent dancing, playing sport and feasting. Traditionally, young men played a game somewhat like hockey, called genna, played with a curved stick and a round wooden ball, and so Christmas has also come to be known by that name. Food served at Christmas usually includes injera, a sourdough pancake like bread. Injera serves as both plate and fork. Doro wat, a spicy chicken stew might be the main meal. A piece of the injera is used to scoop up the wat. Baskets decorated beautifully are used to serve the wat.

Genna and Timkat are not occasions for giving gifts in Ethiopia. If a child receives any gift at all, it is usually a small gift of clothing. Religious observances, feasting, and games are the focus of the season.

TIMKET

Timket, the feast of Epiphany is the greatest festival of the year, falling on January 19th, just two weeks after the Ethiopian Christmas. It is actually a three-day affair beginning on the eve of Timket with dramatic and colourful processions. The children walk to church services in a procession, wearing the crowns and robes of the church youth groups they belong to. The grown-ups wear the shamma. The priests will now wear their red and white robes and carry embroidered fringed umbrellas.

The following morning, the great day itself, Christ's baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist is commemorated. Ethiopian men play another sport called yeferas guks. They ride on horseback and throw ceremonial lances at each other. Since October and the end of the rains, the country has been drying up steadily. The sun blazes down from a clear blue sky and the festival of Timket always takes place in glorious weather.

Melkam Yelidet Beaal (Happy Christmas)

With Love,
Nancy

Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy

The latest news (received 12/20/07) ...

AMEN!
The [caretaker] of [the children] are bringing them tomorrow - they are saying their farewells in their village. They also live far away from Soddo. All is well!
Blessings,
S.

The only surprise there is that I had thought my kids were from Soddo and now it seems they are from "far away from Soddo." Crazy!!! But I'm thankful and feel blessed for any tidbit of information I can glean. For some of the children nothing at all is known.

Plop plop, fizz fizz

Oh what a relief it is!
(In case you're wondering what the heck I am talking about, that jingle is part of an old Alka-Seltzer commercial) ... anyway ... I received this email today ...

Subject: Merry Christmas News!

Nancy,
I have just received an email from Soddo that our social worker was able to make contact with the family and the children are going to come to the orphanage as soon as possible this week. Our volunteer says to put your heart at ease and she will let us know as soon as they have arrived.

Big sigh of relief! Thank you Jesus! Now "cautiously" bouncing off the ceiling.

Kinda nervous

Last week I was told that my children had been moved into the CWA foster home in Soddo. This was rather bittersweet, as to me that meant leaving what is familiar to them, but also meant they were safe and well cared for. Today I was apologetically informed that there had been a miscommunication and the woman providing the information was caught in the midst of multiple tasks (sound familiar?) and momentarily confused my kids with another sibling group in the same phase of the process.

As far as my kids' status, they have been sent two messages "inviting" them to the orphanage /foster home. I'm not sure if they didn't respond or just haven't come. Nonetheless, a case worker is being sent to their town this week to speak with them. This makes me really nervous, as it is a very tenuous situation ...

Until they are in the adoption agencies care, anything can happen: Communication in third world countries is difficult and the people can be sometimes transient. The agencies don't "lose" the children, per se, but sometimes after initial contact it becomes difficult or even impossible to regain it. Or, guardians may change their minds or other relatives may step forward that wish to care for the kids.

The CWA motto is "We Believe That God is in Control of Our Agency and Your Adoption." I know this is true and I have complete faith that God has mighty plans to bring my perfect children to me. I have also worked very hard at guarding my heart ... "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." ~ Proverbs 4:23. With an international adoption from a third world country you really have no guarantees until you actually have the children in your arms. I'm sure everything will be fine, but I am praying for God's grace and covering.