Okay so finally an update. Please forgive us – we’ve had busy days and even on the not –so-busy days have been too exhausted to write and/or had spotty internet connections. Excuses are inadequate, so let me just say sorry.
Anyway, we are here and things are going well!
The best part about being here is getting to know Marta more and spending time with her. When we went to her orphanage the day after we arrived, we told her with Belay that we would like to adopt her and asked her if she wanted that too. She smiled and looked down kind of embarrassedly and softly said yes.
Before we got to Addis, Ryan and I didn’t know when would be the best time to tell Marta we wanted to adopt her since we didn’t know how long the process would take and worried she wouldn’t understand the wait. But shortly before we left the States, a conversation with Belay revealed to us that she might already have a good idea of our intention, and we knew, also from Belay, that she was strongly hoping for the same thing. We left expecting God to show us the right time to tell her, and the time was right away. And because she has observed the waiting process for other kids getting adopted, the wait isn’t puzzling for her.
That doesn’t make the wait fun, though. We’re so ready for her to be with us. It takes us two minibuses and about an hour to get to the children’s home where she lives, but we visit nearly everyday.
It has been wonderful getting to know her. She is very sweet and affectionate, playful but also mature. When we visit her we’re also visiting all of the other kids at the 160+ person children’s home so our time is really divided, but she doesn’t seem to mind sharing us. We look so forward to time as a family, though.
She likes playing with Enoch and also volunteers to help out with feeding him if it’s mealtime when we’re at the children’s home. He likes playing with her, too.
Marta’s birthday is December 28th, and remember Enoch’s is January 2nd, so the Christmas-New Year season will be extra special and celebratory for us!!
As we prepared to come to Addis and adopt Marta we were open to adopting another child at the same time about the same age as Marta, but didn’t know who that child would be. We felt confident that God would make clear who the third child would be if in fact that is what he had for us at this time. We love and enjoy so many kids here – they are the reason why we live here – but so far, we haven’t felt God’s leading toward anyone for #3. It’s hard to write that because we do love them so much, but we’re only interested in following God’s plan, not in controlling circumstances. So right now it looks like we’ll only be adopting Marta, but we remain open to whatever God has.
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I am sure you all are starved for an Enoch update, so I’ll deliver now. The little prince is growing up fast. – only about two weeks short of 1 year old! He continues to be a blessing to all who meet him and to nearly every stranger in the street. This culture seems to adore babies more than I’ve experienced before – young and old, male and female all go bonkers for babies which is sweet.
He is developing a bit of an attitude as he realizes that he can’t do just anything he wants i.e. topple fruit stands, taste-test trash from the trashcan, chew plastic wrappers off of things, escape out the back door, etc. His toys are much less entertaining these days than all the fascinating objects contained in the kitchen and bathroom, so he keeps us on our toes. His favorite toy to play with now is a ball or anything else that rolls; he still adores dogs (conveniently there is one here at the house where we are staying); and he is captivated by singing (even mine!) – captivated or bobbing up and down to dance along. Such a little entertainer.
The boy has so much potential – I can easily imagine a future for him in entertainment – singing, dancing or comedy; in engineering – he loves to figure out how things work; in ministry –because he is such a blessing and a miracle – the list is endless.
He is standing very well while holding onto things and pulling up on anything and everything, especially my leg when I’m making his meals. He loves playing Peek-a-boo and often initiates the game with us by squatting down to hide himself behind something and popping up. It is the funniest, most adorable thing - - and quite impressive since he’s basically doing squats!
We hired a babysitter recently because taking him everywhere everyday was not working. It takes so long to get around the city that when we go out we’re gone all day and Enoch was not getting good rest during the day – just 30 minute naps here and there. Our babysitter’s name is Buzuye. She is a very sweet young lady, a 22 year old orphan who grew up at Marta’s orphanage, and who acts as a ‘big sister’ to Marta at the orphanage. She and 30 other older orphans are being transitioned out of the orphanage at the end of this month so it was the perfect timing for her to get a job. We are very concerned for the girls who do not yet have jobs because work is extremely difficult to find here. The girls have been trained in a skill, either sewing, computers or hair styling, so with some other concerned people we hope to help them in their transition possibly by helping them to start businesses together.
Please pray for the protection of these girls in this transitional time and how we can help and encourage them effectively.
Work is beautiful. We feel so blessed to be able to do this job and are awed to see glimpses of the huge, beautiful, incredible work God is doing. Two families have come for placement of precious babies since we’ve been here and that was a joy to witness. The families themselves were an encouragement and blessing as well.
Prayer Requests
-For the older orphans transitioning out at the end of this month.
-For loving families for those orphans who, because they are over age 3, have siblings or have special needs, have an extremely slim chance of being adopted.
-For relationships with the older orphans and the orphanage staff to build trust and deepen.
-For us to be disciplined in study and develop in the Amharic language quickly (to communicate well with our daughter and help aforementioned relationships build).
-For Gladney families currently in the adoption process – for peace and perseverance as they await and anticipate uniting with their children – and for quick and smooth processes for them.
-For the children waiting for those families – infants to 11 year olds – health, peace, security, safety, preparedness, perseverance.
-For families considering adoption to know God’s direction clearly and to trust it, not fearing the ‘What Ifs.’
-For Marta’s adoption to be completed quickly and smoothly and for God to continue to prepare both us and her to be family.
-For a continually stronger marriage and wisdom in parenting.
-For our health.
-For Enoch’s and Marta’s protection, spiritual understanding and growth, and assurance of our unconditional love.
Thank you all for so much love, encouragement and support (and patience for this update)!
