Another amazing day in Ethiopia!
This country is an amazing and unique place! The sights and smells are like no other. Once you have been here it is easy to recognize that we are in Ethiopia.
This morning we woke up wide awake at 4:00 a.m. local time. When I wake up that early at home I usually am under the impression that God wants me to spend time talking with Him about someone or something specific. So I spent time praying for my family, my church family, and God's intervention for Heaven's Gates. I am sure He is going show Himself in another amazing way!
After a great breakfast served at our guest house, (nothing as good as Ethiopian scrambled eggs!!!) we went to the US Embassy to sign the final paper work for Bereket's visa, and citizenship papers.
It was a very interesting place, nothing like what I imagined.
The security was very, very tight! Once we made it through security we went into a very large room, which I would compare to a license branch back home. We were one of a couple families at Embassy today so we didn't have to wait very long.
We signed our papers and Bereket has a visa to travel and will become an American citizen when we go through customs in the US.
The interesting thing about the Embassy was the room was filled with hundreds of people attempting to obtained citizenship to the USA or obtain travel visas. Our guide told us that 80 - 90 percent would be turned down. In our short time there we saw many people rejected. The challenge for the Ethiopian people is they have to pay $200 dollars just to file an application, which takes them years to save up for and then a high percentage of them are turned down.
We had the opportunity to go shopping with another family (they are from Birch Run, MI and adopted a sweet 9 year old girl) before lunch and were able to take Bereket with us. He has never had the opportunity to shop and purchase something he would like.
We were able to pick him up a few small Ethiopian souvenirs for him to remember his birth country.
We met up with 2 more families and enjoyed lunch at Amsterdam. The Bennett's chose pizza, spaghetti and a shish kabob, it was very good.
After lunch we went to a small playland place for kids with a family we met here on our last trip. Bereket and Abel had a great time playing on the games and toys.
This afternoon and evening we spent chilling out at the guest house, we watched a movie, played a few games, Bereket and Abel had a squirt gun battle and we went for a walk up on the roof.
Again we are so blessed and privileged to be a part of changing generations to come and impacting lives for eternity!
Thank you for praying for us today, God was very real!
Blessings
Sam & Diane
This country is an amazing and unique place! The sights and smells are like no other. Once you have been here it is easy to recognize that we are in Ethiopia.
This morning we woke up wide awake at 4:00 a.m. local time. When I wake up that early at home I usually am under the impression that God wants me to spend time talking with Him about someone or something specific. So I spent time praying for my family, my church family, and God's intervention for Heaven's Gates. I am sure He is going show Himself in another amazing way!
After a great breakfast served at our guest house, (nothing as good as Ethiopian scrambled eggs!!!) we went to the US Embassy to sign the final paper work for Bereket's visa, and citizenship papers.
It was a very interesting place, nothing like what I imagined.
The security was very, very tight! Once we made it through security we went into a very large room, which I would compare to a license branch back home. We were one of a couple families at Embassy today so we didn't have to wait very long.
We signed our papers and Bereket has a visa to travel and will become an American citizen when we go through customs in the US.
The interesting thing about the Embassy was the room was filled with hundreds of people attempting to obtained citizenship to the USA or obtain travel visas. Our guide told us that 80 - 90 percent would be turned down. In our short time there we saw many people rejected. The challenge for the Ethiopian people is they have to pay $200 dollars just to file an application, which takes them years to save up for and then a high percentage of them are turned down.
We had the opportunity to go shopping with another family (they are from Birch Run, MI and adopted a sweet 9 year old girl) before lunch and were able to take Bereket with us. He has never had the opportunity to shop and purchase something he would like.
We were able to pick him up a few small Ethiopian souvenirs for him to remember his birth country.
We met up with 2 more families and enjoyed lunch at Amsterdam. The Bennett's chose pizza, spaghetti and a shish kabob, it was very good.
After lunch we went to a small playland place for kids with a family we met here on our last trip. Bereket and Abel had a great time playing on the games and toys.
This afternoon and evening we spent chilling out at the guest house, we watched a movie, played a few games, Bereket and Abel had a squirt gun battle and we went for a walk up on the roof.
Again we are so blessed and privileged to be a part of changing generations to come and impacting lives for eternity!
Thank you for praying for us today, God was very real!
Blessings
Sam & Diane
I can't imagine the joy and satisfaction you are feeling. You are in my thoughts and prayers all the time. Love you!
ReplyDeleteWe are enjoying our time here. I can't believe we start for home tomorrow night, it seems to have gone by fast but we are ready to come home and so is Bereket. Thanks for the prayers! Love you!
ReplyDelete