Today Has Finally Come!!!

Today is the day we have been waiting for for a VERY long time. We are leaving today to fly to Ethiopia!!! Many people have asked how long it will take us and what the details are. So here you go:
Wednesday, March 23rd
9am leave for airport
12pm fly to Minneapolis, MN
4pm fly to Amsterdam

Thursday, March 24th
3:30am fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
arrive in Addis Ababa at 2pm IL time (10 pm Ethiopia time)

Yes that is 26 hours from when our 1st flight leaves and our last flight lands.

We will then go to our Guest House and try (yeah right) to get some sleep and meet Jacob on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Just in case there are any creeps reading this we have someone staying at our house)

As we start on this leg of the journey we are asking for some prayers. I'm sure there are many more things we need prayer for, but here are a few things that I can think of:
-safe travel and no sickness on plane (thats just uncomfortable for everyone :) )
-our luggage makes it (nervous about this)
-we can sleep when we are supposed to (not sleeping much now and heard its hard to sleep in Ethiopia with howling dogs and chanting outside the windows)
-our MEETCHA Day with Jacob!!!! We can't wait to get this precious boy in OUR arms!!!!
-for MOWYCA to get letters written so families can pass court
-March 31st-our court date- we will be going in front of a judge to state our intent to adopt; all the papers need to be there and signed for us to pass court
-health and safety in Ethiopia. We plan to stay until we are cleared to bring Jacob home. We really hope that it is sooner rather than later!! We are also worried about the food a little bit. We brought some meals and have heard of some other places to go to as well.
-that we start to bond with Jacob right away and he is comfortable with us
-us as we start this new journey of becoming parents, we want to do the best we can to raise Jacob in a Christian and loving home. We want Jacob to grow up to love The Lord.
-that we have opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others while in Ethiopia

Our small group just finished studying the book of James. This really stuck out to me:
James 5:16 ".....The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

Prayer works and we are so thankful we have many prayer warriors along with us on this journey!!
A big thank you to each person that has helped us on some part of this journey. Your prayers, love, and support has helped us get to this day. Thank you just isn't enough, you helped us get to our son. The child God had picked out for us since the beginning of time!!!!!