After not getting submitted to the US Embassy on July 11, like all of the other families that we had traveled with, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself those first few days of finding out about this crazy investigation of our case by the MOWCYA. We were preparing for the worst... Should we expect Asher home by Thanksgiving? Should we expect him home by Christmas? I had just bought a few pairs of shorts and short sleeve shirts from Meijer for him the week before, so confident that he would be home by summer's end. Should I return all of those things and start looking at winter coats and boots instead?
Needless to say, I was feeling such sadness, anger, and panic about this timing and the unknowns of this investigation... that God's plan was not working out on MY time table. Why us? Why Asher? 'Oh Sara, you are such a flawed woman. Hadn't God just taught you about His perfect timing in ALL things?' I was having a difficult time rectifying these thoughts in my head, because I know what I was thinking was NOT truth!! God eventually settled me back into the "wait" with a few running conversations we had... I love those sweet, meditative times on the open road with just God and I. He told me to remember that He has the perfect date picked out for our reuniting with Asher. It WILL be better than anything we could imagine, so please just take care of each day you wake up... one day at a time... baby steps. This whole adoption process (from beginning to end) is truly out of your control, so just trust in me, and I will give you what you need each and every day you wake up - my mercies and grace will be new every morning! Thank you, God. Again, I am a flawed woman for having such doubt, when I know the truth, but God has NEVER given up on me. Thank you, God!!!
Then, last week, we got word from our case worker that Asher's passport, birth certificate and medical check were performed. Hmmmm? Our case WAS moving forward?! Yes, if the TB test came back negative, we would be submitted to the Embassy on Thursday, July 25. Asher's TB test came back negative on Monday, July 22. We got submitted to the Embassy, so that they can begin the processing of Asher's paperwork for him to become an American citizen - only 2 weeks behind all of the families we traveled with that got submitted on July 11 :) Oh happy day... That email came with immediate butterflies in my stomach. At the perfect, God-ordained time, we were beginning to move closer to our son with baby steps forward!!
After this submission, the Embassy sets up an interview with Asher's dad. For birth parent court back in May, this appointment did not go well, as Asher's dad did not show for 2 weeks, so we are cautiously, hopeful (because nothing more can happen in our case, until this interview is complete), that things will be better this time around. Asher's dad has to get to Addis for this interview by a 2-day bus ride - both expensive and physically difficult. Can you imagine having to go to Florida standing up much of the way, getting no stop in between to sleep in a hotel, and then be packed in like sardines? That is just a little taste of what he has to endure. This is going to be a tough journey... including that this will be his 2nd trip to the city to say again that he does not want his child! I can not imagine...
We are praying for that man's heart. We are praying that he can make this journey on time one more time!
We continue to pray for Asher's heart and his emotional healing, as he makes the journey to America and leaves the comfort and security of EVERYTHING he has ever known to go with us, the strange but nice, white people that are now going to be his family. Oh, what will go through his mind, as we get on that airplane to fly home?! I think constantly of the resilience of children and that God will be filling up his heart for what he needs each and every day, not just while he is in Africa. God will especially do that as he wakes up in his new room under our roof. His mercies and grace will be new for Asher each and every morning.
Maybe you would be willing to pray this prayer over Asher (a dear friend gave it to me, and it is so powerful):
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for entrusting Asher to us (the Holwerda family) as our (their) adopted child. We declare Asher to be under Your authority. We dedicate this child to you and ask for Your protection and guidance, as we commit ourselves to doing all that we can to lead him to an understanding of Your saving grace. We stand against all devices of Satan that you would keep Asher in bondage. We renounce the sins of this child's ancestors and all curses that have been passed on from generation to generation. We announce that Christ became a curse for Asher, when he was crucified on the cross. We announce that only the Lord Jesus Christ has any claim of ownership on him. We pray a hedge of protection around Asher all the days of his life. We ask this in the strong name of Jesus, who reigns supreme as the sovereign Lord of the universe. Amen
God continues to dazzle us, even through our earthly hardships! Even though we may fall because of our sin and give into Satan's doubt, fear and anxiety about plans not working out or trust that God has this all figured out. God does not condemn us for this; instead, we serve a God that is a God of love, truth, grace and mercy. He never lets you fall completely! He always has our backs, even when we don't feel worthy, because we give into the fear, guilt, or anxiety. To know God has Asher, one of 147 million orphans around the world, in His grip, is so freeing! Thank you, God, for holding firm to Asher in this wait, and for holding us firm as well!
Blessings!
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