This is Aster wearing an outfit we sent and holding a little elephant blankie we bought for her. In her left hand she’s holding a soft photo album we sent with pictures of us – her forever family. So cute! I just want to kiss those toes!
We would treasure your prayers for our travel, meeting Aster and bonding with her over the time we’ll be there next week, our Embassy appointments, the hopes and plans that we may get to meet Aster’s birth mother and many, many details.
Our flights will be long and there are all kinds of things we are trying to plan for and bring. I just found out Sunday that we will be bringing a backpack filled with gifts to a little boy from his soon-to-be family in Indiana! I love that we get to be part of his story too.
We are also going to visit Compassion International and spend time with Meseret, our Compassion sponsored child, who also lives in Addis and attends the Compassion project there. We have sponsored Meseret for 13 years so we are very, very excited that we are going to get to meet and spend time with her, too! She is fifteen years old so we are also praying about a special gift to bring and give to her while we’re there.
Here is our itinerary if you want to follow our journey in prayer as JJ, Joshua, Andrew and I travel to bring our little girl home. We can’t wait to see our daughter/sister… it’s been such a long time coming!
Friday, 10/2
Leave: Charlotte @ 2:46pm
Arrive: Wash-DC @ 4:10pm
Leave: Wash-DC @ 5:45pm
Saturday, 10/3
Arrive: Frankfurt, Germany @ 7:35am
Leave: Frankfurt, Germany @ 10:25am
Arrive: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia @ 6:20pm
Check into Hotel in Addis
Sunday, 10/4
– Meet Aster at the orphanage for the first time!!
– Rest and spend time together as a new family.
Monday, 10/5
– Love on and spend time with Aster
– Play with the kids at the orphanage
– Spend time in Addis
Tuesday, 10/6
– Travel to Debre Zeit (45km south of Addis) to spend the day with Meseret Fiseha – we have sponsored her for 14 years through Compassion International
– Spend more time with Aster
Wednesday, 10/7
– Appointment with US Embassy in Addis to complete Visa paperwork for Aster
– Time with Aster
– Sightseeing/shopping in Addis
Thursday, 10/8
– Meet and visit with Aster’s birth mother in Addis (we hope)
– Spend time with Aster and the kids at the orphanage
Friday, 10/9
– Time with Aster
– Pick-up Aster’s Visa paperwork
– Prepare for travel back to US
Saturday, 10/10
Leave: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia @ 1:35am
Arrive: Frankfurt, Germany @ 7:35am
Leave: Frankfurt, Germany @ 1:15pm
Arrive: Wash-DC @ 3:45pm
Leave: Wash-DC @ 5:05pm
Arrive: Charlotte @ 6:48pm (Lufthansa FLT 5534)
Thank you so much for your prayers, excitement and encouragement. I’ll try to post again before we leave.
PRAYER REQUEST:Andrew came home from school today with 102.4 fever, cough, sore throat, aches. Please pray for him to get well and for us to stay well. THANKS!
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Oh Renee, so glad I found this here today. Printing out your itinerary and committing to pray.
Love ya my friend. He's carrying you all,
Joy