Introducing Endale Matthew Sellers

This morning, we left Endale at the guest house and went to the court house.  I was expecting a little more pomp and circumstance due to the towers of paperwork and hoops we've had to jump through to get to this day.  We climbed 4 flights of stairs and walked down the hallway.  On one side was a room full of criminals.  Our in-country rep, Dereje, explained that they were there for committing crimes....like killing people.  Uuuhhhh....okay.  The other side of the hallway was our waiting room.  We sat down and watched another family go into the room with the judge.  In less than 5 minutes, it was our turn.  We went into the room with the judge.  She asked us several questions.  In less time than it took to walk to the court house from where we parked, the judge announced what God had already ordained for our family....
Endale is your son.

Leaving the transition house

At transition house

So from here....

After we booked our tickets to come home between court and embassy, we were told that one of us would have to stay until we could bring him home because our agency's transition house is closing.  We had always planned for two trips, but we had to change our plans.  After talking through all the options, we decided it would work best for Matt to stay.  He felt safer being the one to stay and he will have no problem taking care of Endale.  I have complete confidence in him as a Daddy.  Friday night, Camden and I will begin our journey home from Ethiopia and Matt and Endale will stay.  We're hoping for a fairly quick process.  It may be around 2-3 weeks, but the up-side to that is that Endale never has to be in anyone else's care.  He will be with Daddy until he comes home!  And that also means, he could be HOME...OUR HOME in 2-3 weeks!!!!!  I can hardly fathom this and cannot wait until our whole family is together.  These are the steps to cross off before Matt can come home:

-Receive Adoption Decree

-Receive Birth Certificate

-Get 3 MOWA letters

-Get Endale's passport

-Medical appointment for Endale at Embassy

-Get Endale's visa

-Submit our case to Embassy

-Get Embassy appointment

-Clear embassy

-COME HOME!!!!

Thank you for your continued prayers.  

*Please pray that the court here and the embassy will be diligent in processing everything for our case.  

*Pray for Dereje who is working so hard for our family (and many others) to make sure these children are placed in Christian homes.  

*Pray for Matt as he stays here with Endale.