Speaking of Abraham, I finally heard from the couple that was supposed to video him for us... they "lost" their camera. I am disappointed but know that God is using the experience to teach me that I don't NEED to know and see every detail of His plan with my own mind and eyes. I only need to trust Him. I know that Abraham knows about us and that is enough. Upon my disappointment of not receiving live footage, God laid yet another confirmation in our path that "it's okay." And that Abraham is indeed processing the information that WE are his family and that he is our son, that he is excited, and that his life is changed... Here is the account given to me by a couple there now:
- Oh my! You have such a precious son! I LOVE this kid. He is pretty shy, but was willing to talk to me as soon as I asked him too. He knows some English, but for some questions I asked him, some other friends translated it for him, and then he responded in English. I think they learn by memorizing, so some responses he knows, but understanding may take longer. He seems very bright and raised his hand to answer a question during their school. He is so sweet and compassionate with the other kids. His big eyes so beautiful and he is always smiling. His skin is such a perfect light brown and he has a tall, thin athletic build.
We got to spend a long time up with the big kids, and for a while they were doing school, and one of the older girls did the "english" class. I love their accents as she tried to teach them to say, "After afternoon comes evening". Abraham was very attentive in school, and later when they were all playing legos and other blocks, I started to ask some of them about their families. One kid talked forever, and finally Abraham had a chance to come up to R and I and he had found paper and a pencil and he wanted us to write down YOUR name. He said, "Can you write my Momma's name?" It was precious! That day, we had just flown in and had totally forgotten to bring a notebook with important things like YOUR NAME, and R felt horrible that he could not remember. He remembered Abraham, but not Kristin. R almost started to cry when he had to say, "I will come back and tell you". So yesterday, we told him! His face lit up when we said, "Your momma's name is Kristin." He was like, "Kristin! Kristin!" All the kids here in Addis have such sweet spirits about them and they are WAY more well behaved than I have EVER seen in a care center like this. Honestly, I hope that if we ever get a chance for an older child, they could come from here. They are just so polite and I never saw the boys fighting or hitting each other or ANYTHING that normally happens with kids (boys especially) that are pre-teens! They help around the care center with the laundry and other things, and everytime I saw Abraham, he was smiling!
Hope that helps. He really does seem like a GREAT kid who is excited and ready for a family. - Also, we could see that he is a good protector of the littler kids and was looking out for others. Such a sweet kid. Can't wait for him to meet you! he will totally LOVE ya'll!
I could copy a handful more similar statements here from families who have met Abraham-- each one has been timely for me to read in providing comfort and confirmation, further connecting me to my son. For we are connected now. He knows MY name. He calls me "Momma." This child who has seen families come and joyfully take away a few of his friends, who has witnessed a momma's love for her child, who has glimpsed what it means to love and be loved in return NOW gets to experience it for himself. What a shift, what a change, what a gift, what a miracle. That we get to be on the other side of this amazing shift is truly an overwhelming gift too. Though we are thousands of miles apart, I can only imagine that he sleeps a little more peacefully, that his dreams are filled with anticipation, that his days have greater purpose and meaning, that HOPE fills his mind, and joy fills his heart. Because he knows that we WANT him and that he is loved. I received a message today from a woman who met Abraham this week and is on her way home to Australia. She said she has a handful of letters that he has written to us that she intends to send as soon as she is able.I have no idea how the next several months will unfold-- what will be our timeframe and when will he be home. All I know is we are just about finished all of the paperwork on our end and the rest is out of our hands and in His. We hope to have our dossier submitted by the end of February. Then if all goes smoothly, it could be 3 months until our court date and then another 3 months until embassy and homecoming. That lands us about September... My hope is earlier (like tomorrow) but I trust in Him who knows best. Our plans are tentative as they well should be anyway. Our days are His to fill, and it is our joy to live them however He intends.
I can't imagine any greater opportunity to watch Him fill my days than being in Africa next week with no agenda except His! Here's a glimpse of what that might look like:
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