Praying for Paperwork

Every now and then, I like to come to you all with a specific prayer request and ask you to intercede for us or for our children on the other side of the world. Today I want to ask you to pray for something a little different.

I am asking, begging, pleading for your prayers over paperwork in Ethiopia.

In our monthly update last week, I told you that we have only moved three spots in the last four months. This has me feeling like the walls are closing in. I have talked to our program director and case manager in recent weeks and expressed this concern. We have been told that the issue now is simply waiting for documents. Let me explain what that means.

In order for a child to be eligible to be adopted, there is a mountain of documentation that must be both gathered and approved. During the court closure this year, some things about the pre-referral paperwork changed. In the long run, it will be better, but it does mean that things are going to  be slower at first. Basically, the government is requiring more paperwork up front, and then the court system (on the regional level) must approve all of the paperwork and ONLY THEN is an adoption agency presented with a referral for that child.

The hold up is happening at the pre-court approval phase.

Would you please pray with us that God would move what seem to be mountains and get this paperwork together? We are desperate for good news on this front, and it has been so long since we have has any. July was the last time we saw any real movement. We are weary. We are exhausted beyond words. We need you to pray with us that God would move in a powerful way.

Please pray that needed documents would be found and approved with great speed. Please pray that we would see that gush of referrals everyone says must be coming. Please pray, that my some true miracle, we see our children's faces before the end of the year.

I cannot thank you enough for your prayers. This has been a long journey, way longer than we thought it would be, and you have stuck with us. Thank you.

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; 

knock and the door will be opened to you. 

For everyone who asks receives; 

the one who seeks finds; 

and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Matthew 7:7

Love,
Baylor