Rebirth

A little over 48 hours ago we boarded an airplane to once again cross the globe in hopes that we would be one step closer to bringing our daughter home. After 16 hours of air travel, we climbed into our facilitator’s van to make the 6 hour drive to our girl’s region. We arrived just in time for dinner, and were prepped for our court hearing before going to sleep for the night. We were informed that it is more appropriate for the mother-to-be to speak for the family before the judge. Enter anxiety. Michael is such a good speaker and he remembers things much better than I do. I found myself rehearsing line by line what I would say if asked any number of possible questions. I prayed and asked the Lord to calm my fears and help me remember what I had prepared. We prayed together and went to sleep.

This morning, we drove out to the orphanage and spent some time with our girl. It was so wonderful to see her again! After she was told how the court hearing would go, we hopped in the van with a representative from the orphanage and went to the courthouse. Our appointment was set for 11am, but there was a delay. There are only a few courtrooms and they are used for adoptions and criminal cases alike. We waited for an hour and twenty minutes, then were ushered into a room with a platform for the judge and jury, a table and chairs for the prosecutor and social worker and chairs for the rest of us. What courtroom would be complete, however, without an 8’x12’ cage for criminals (guilty until proven innocent). We so wish we could’ve taken pictures inside the courthouse! 

Our judge was young and friendly. He entered the courtroom and apologized for the delay. He began the proceedings and the court reporter typed everything that was spoken. I stood to make a petition to adopt our girl. Michael then stood and supported my statement. It was a bit awkward to have things handled in this manner, but it was customary so we did it. After some time, our girl was asked whether she wanted to become a part of our family. She said “yes” and the judge and jurors smiled. Each person in the room had to stand and give their consent or dissent. There was unanimous support and the judge and jurors left the room to make the final decision. When they reentered a few minutes later, the judge read a long proclamation. When he had finished, our facilitator then translated all of this to us. All of our requests had been granted: to give our girl a new name (our name!), to list us on her new birth certificate as her birth parents, and to officially be permitted to adopt our girl. The proclamation ended with a surprising and wonderful, “You are to be congratulated. You have become new parents again! Please note that the time is 1:10 pm for the rebirth of your child.”  Tears of JOY!!!

Praise be to our great God and Father in heaven who did not see it fit to leave us on our own, but chose to invite us to be adopted into His family! We’re thrilled beyond words that Angela said “yes” to our invitation today and now she has a forever family. We are all given the same opportunity by gracious, Almighty God. He did not have to welcome us into His family. He does not need us. He simply loves us and showed us how much by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for our sins, allowing Jesus to receive the death sentence that our wrongdoings have earned us and offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who would accept His invitation. He has asked you to become a part of His family. Will you say yes to Him? If so, you would become a part of His forever family.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Thank you for joining us on our journey! We're travelling back home in the morning to wait out a mandatory 10-day waiting period. We'll then return to bring Angela Naomi Wall home with us!! More to come soon...