six days

We are six days from boarding a plane to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Well almost 5.  So almost 5 days away from setting foot on a continent we have always wanted to see, to meet a person we have waited so long to meet.  We are so blessed to be able to meet our son.  

The itinerary goes something like this: (This is my best estimation due to what they have provided for us as a schedule.)

December 14: Leave Minneapolis, layover in New Jersey, layover in Germany, arrive in Addis Ababa sometime on the 15th.
December 15: Arrive in Addis Ababa and stay our first night on our own.
December 16: Escorted to the Children’s Home Guest House
December 17: Orientation, meet with Social Workers, visit museum. Meet our baby boy as he is in Addis Ababa already.
December 18: Travel to Hosanna (south of Addis Ababa) to see the countryside and surrounding areas, possibly getting to see the town, or at least one very like it that our son was born.
December 19: Pre-court meeting with adoptive families, and then a free day from what we can tell.
December 20: Court Day - meet with judge, proving that we have met our son, and want to proceed with our adoption process. Birthparent Meeting - hopefully we will be able to meet with someone from our son’s birth family.
December 21: Begin our journey home...
December 22: Arrive back in good ol’ Blaine, MN.

What we are feeling is very surreal right now.  We have purchased most of the things needed for our trip.  Our guest room looks like a cyclone has hit it.  So all of it needs to be packed in the next six days, documents accumulated and organized, and man...about a million other details that I need to take a small break from thinking about tonight. 

Please pray for God to calm fear, one of the best things He does.  Pray also that we speak as much love, compassion and mercy into the life of Tate’s birthparent/family members that we can. Pray that we arrive safely, and come home safely. Pray that we are changed FOREVER by what we have the awesome privilege to see and do in Africa.