Ethiopia or Bust!

We are very excited to share the wonderful news, that our dossier is Ethiopia bound!!!

It has been authenticated by the state of Texas, the US department of state, and the Ethiopian Embassy. Our amazing case worker, Emily, sent us this picture before she sent it halfway across the world!

We also have received our appointment with immigration to be fingerprinted for our son's visa to enter the United States, which is February 22. I can't believe we are done on our end. What's next, you ask?

    We wait......................................and wait..............................and wait some more!

Soon we will hear from our agency's Ethiopian team and they will let us know our number on the waitlist. The waitlist consists of families who have completed their paperwork and are waiting to be matched with a waiting child whose legally ready to be adopted. Who knows how long it will take. On average they say about 9 months. Certain legal things can hold up the process, but Ethiopia has been doing everything they can to make the process faster and smoother. All we know is that God is in control and HIS timing is perfect! We will wait upon Him.

Now that all of the paperwork is done, we are planning a few more fundraisers to help with the rest of our cost. Here is where you can help:

1. We are planning very soon to hold an online auction. If you or anyone you know would like to donate an item please let me know. We're planning on doing one item a day. Items can include: gift baskets, art pieces (for all you artist), a service (i.e. if you're a chef, maybe you could donate a cooking lesson or a free meal with a personal chef, etc...), hotel reservations, maybe your place of business could donate something, etc........ Basically anything worthy of auctioning off. We're planning on auctioning off one item per day, so the more items, the more days, meaning the more we raise to bring our little boy home!

2. Another fundraiser we are planning on doing in the summer will be another garage sale. So, all you in the Austin area, give us all your junk. We will take anything and everything. We also pick-up if we need to.

3. I am also still selling headbands for $10/each and making invitations/stationary ($3/card).  

4. Also, if you or your business want to make a tax-deductible donation by donating directly to our adoption agency, you can do that as well. Just email me at mrandmrsmichael@gmail.com and I can give you the information.

These are just a few things that we have cooking while we wait........and wait........and wait. Please feel free to share our blog with your friends as well and help us get our story out!

Please continue to pray for patience while we wait and for financial provision. We still have about $15,000 to go and I know that He is faithful. As always, we will continue to share our journey with all of you. It is so comforting to know that we have all of you supporting us on this wonderful journey.  I pray that the joy that God abundantly fills us with through this process overflows onto you!!!!

" I saw the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand. I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will You let Your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life, You will fill me with JOY in your presence."

Acts 2: 25-28

God bless, The Michael's