It was one of those ordinary moments that suddenly becomes profound.
A week ago, I was in the Shopper’s Plaza parking lot, and my phone beeped. It was a text message from our social worker. Which orphanage do you choose? Forever Angels?
I quickly texted back: Yes!
I went into the store and starting my grocery shopping. The text kept swirling around in my head. Why would he need that information? He would only need it if he was writing our approval letter, right?
But I was afraid to ask him. I was afraid to hope. After all, it’s been three and a half years since we started on the journey to adopt a fourth child. We had to been told No more times than I can remember. In the past couple of months, we had been given reason to hope that maybe it would happen. But no one in social welfare had ever given us that assurance.
I finished shopping, forgetting half of what I came for, and went home with my thoughts spinning. What are you waiting for? Gil asked me. Just ask him!
So I did. I sent off the text: Does this mean you are writing our approval letter?
Yes.
YES!
And today, I was standing in the Tanzania Revenue Authority, getting our car registration renewed, when I got this text: I have good news for you. I have your letters for your fourth child.
After three and a half years of waiting and longing and despairing and praying, This Day finally came.
We have the letters in our hand.
In the next few days, Gil and I will fly up to Mwanza in northern Tanzania, where we will try to get to know about half dozen adorable, perfect little boys who each desperately need a family.
We will spend about 8 hours with these children, and then we will make our decision. It will be an impossible decision, an unthinkable decision. These boys are around 4-5 years old. We are possibly the last chance for each of them to get a family.
Rejoice with us…..and then pray with us!
After this trip, we’ll still have a wait of about 1-2 months before we came bring him home. But regardless, there was a whole lot of screaming and jumping and dancing in the Medina home today.
It finally happened. We were convinced it wouldn’t, and yet here we are.
Since ancient times, no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:4)
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