Big things this week

There are some key prayer requests coming up soon. We wanted to invite you to join us in prayer for the following:

• A judge will see the beginning of our case for the first time on Wednesday, March 20.

• At that time, birth family will be required to stand before the judge. Please pray that the people who need to be at that court appointment travel there and are present. Pray for favorable results. Witnesses have already signed and law enforcement has already recorded circumstances, but this is the final stage of relinquishment and custody being handed over to us from their side.
• At that court appointment, a significant piece of paperwork (the MOWCYA approval letter) needs to be present. This document's absence has delayed many cases over the years. Pray that our paper is there. Even today, pray that those who are preparing it have it ready for the judge.

• Pray for our preparation as we get closer to having two toddlers. Zain is amazing and brilliant. He is excited to have a sister. We know that this will be a major transition for all four of us. Pray for Hoolet as she has been through a lot for a two-year-old and will be coming to America knowing almost no English and with parents who only know enough Amharic to get around a city and order a meal. (Though we are working hard on learning more!) It has been a bit taxing to "get ready" for so many unknowns.
  

After March 20th if our case passes this first court hearing, we will be notified of our court date and will be able to buy tickets to go to Ethiopia! We will be leaving Zain with "Laya and Bapa" (Bet's mom and dad). We will likely be in Ethiopia for just a few days to meet Hoolet and appear before a judge. If all goes well, that first trip will be in April sometime. After that, we will return home to wait for clearance from the US Embassy to go pick her up (we are hoping in May or June)!