There has been a change in our original travel plans.
We were so excited about our original travel dates being in that we were notified they day after our case passed through the Ethiopian court that we were to travel 2 weeks later! We had been waiting for so long to see our precious children and now we would get to do that in 2 WEEKS!!! However, after several days of trying to secure flights, our travel agent kept coming up short since all the flights on all the airlines were booked. We had one exception that allowed us to fly there on coach but we would have to fly back in business class. I was thrilled until we found out the cost of the flights would be well over $12,000!! This obviously was not including the remaining balance to our agency or lodging, etc. We were told that we could defer travel a week later to reduce our costs and availability on flights.
So, Brad called our case worker and long story short, our Embassy appointment got moved back 2 weeks later. The Embassy can only see 10 cases, per agency, per week and they were filled up for those two weeks. We were a little saddened by this, but we know the Lord is sovereign and is never "surprised" by these things!
We are now traveling SEPTEMBER 6 - SEPTEMBER 16!!
(Here are two of their referral photos for those of you who are like me and think that a post without pictures is just cruel!)
Even though we will have to wait two additional weeks to see our children, delaying our travel has some benefits. It has reduced our flight costs by almost half for which we are so grateful! Also, Brad will not have to miss the first week of school as he serves as the new interim Headmaster of NCA and we will both be able to take Isabella and Elijah to their first day and week of school as well! Of course, it also allows us a little more time to prepare, pack, etc. And we know that Yalfal and Kinetibeb are thriving and being well taken care of and loved at the Gladney Foster Care Center in Addis Ababa! We are especially thankful for that!
As we don't want to post our exact flight schedule, we will be sending out an email to friends and family for those of you who would like to meet us at the airport upon returning home!
Also, we continue to gather Humanitarian Aid to bring with us to Ethiopia! For those of you who would like to contribute, here is a recent list of the orphanages' needs that are their priority right now:
1. Diapers (size 1,2 & 3)–need more of size 2
2. Wipes
3. Underwear and socks for older children (age 3-10 years)
4. Rain jackets for older children (age 6-10 yrs)
5. A few umbrellas for caregivers taking children to doctors, immigration appointments, etc.
6. Bouncy seats
7. Baby swings
8. 1 or 2 strollers (single or double stroller, not larger ones like ones at churches as to not draw attention)
9. Infant/toddler toothpaste and toothbrushes
10.Bottles (Gerber plastic, small and large size, solid colored bottles that come in a pack of several colors)
11.Infant Clothing (size 0-3 months)
Leave a comment or email me if you would like to contribute any of these items to the children in these orphanages! They are so thankful for anything they receive!
We are truly grateful to all of you who have asked how you can help and we have been blessed by your support!
"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
We were so excited about our original travel dates being in that we were notified they day after our case passed through the Ethiopian court that we were to travel 2 weeks later! We had been waiting for so long to see our precious children and now we would get to do that in 2 WEEKS!!! However, after several days of trying to secure flights, our travel agent kept coming up short since all the flights on all the airlines were booked. We had one exception that allowed us to fly there on coach but we would have to fly back in business class. I was thrilled until we found out the cost of the flights would be well over $12,000!! This obviously was not including the remaining balance to our agency or lodging, etc. We were told that we could defer travel a week later to reduce our costs and availability on flights.
So, Brad called our case worker and long story short, our Embassy appointment got moved back 2 weeks later. The Embassy can only see 10 cases, per agency, per week and they were filled up for those two weeks. We were a little saddened by this, but we know the Lord is sovereign and is never "surprised" by these things!
We are now traveling SEPTEMBER 6 - SEPTEMBER 16!!
(Here are two of their referral photos for those of you who are like me and think that a post without pictures is just cruel!)
Even though we will have to wait two additional weeks to see our children, delaying our travel has some benefits. It has reduced our flight costs by almost half for which we are so grateful! Also, Brad will not have to miss the first week of school as he serves as the new interim Headmaster of NCA and we will both be able to take Isabella and Elijah to their first day and week of school as well! Of course, it also allows us a little more time to prepare, pack, etc. And we know that Yalfal and Kinetibeb are thriving and being well taken care of and loved at the Gladney Foster Care Center in Addis Ababa! We are especially thankful for that!As we don't want to post our exact flight schedule, we will be sending out an email to friends and family for those of you who would like to meet us at the airport upon returning home!
Also, we continue to gather Humanitarian Aid to bring with us to Ethiopia! For those of you who would like to contribute, here is a recent list of the orphanages' needs that are their priority right now:
1. Diapers (size 1,2 & 3)–need more of size 2
2. Wipes
3. Underwear and socks for older children (age 3-10 years)
4. Rain jackets for older children (age 6-10 yrs)
5. A few umbrellas for caregivers taking children to doctors, immigration appointments, etc.
6. Bouncy seats
7. Baby swings
8. 1 or 2 strollers (single or double stroller, not larger ones like ones at churches as to not draw attention)
9. Infant/toddler toothpaste and toothbrushes
10.Bottles (Gerber plastic, small and large size, solid colored bottles that come in a pack of several colors)
11.Infant Clothing (size 0-3 months)
Leave a comment or email me if you would like to contribute any of these items to the children in these orphanages! They are so thankful for anything they receive!
We are truly grateful to all of you who have asked how you can help and we have been blessed by your support!
"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
3 comments:
They are beautiful. so happy for your family.
Oh!!! I know this is hard, but I love your attitude!
They are precious and you'll be there before you know it...
love
becca
I love the pictures of your babies!
I know it's hard to wait a little bit longer, but hopefully the time will fly (and it sounds like it will with your busy schedules! :)
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