As I write this we are sitting in the hotel in Washington preparing to travel to Ethiopia. There have been many challenging steps in this process from the court document to a delay in turning in paperwork to the US embassy. How do you wait on the Lord with patience and peace? In this we haven't been the greatest example as we have struggled and been stressed through the process. This has taken a toll on our family and even our relationship as the frustration rose to excessive levels. But God has begun to fill us with encouragement from friends, family, and strangers. Most of those words have been in the form of scripture as we are reminded of God's patience, power, and control. There is a possibility that we wouldn't be able to bring them home this trip. There are there are 3 steps that need to occur before we can bring the "fource" home. The embassy needs to interview the birth mother; we need to be cleared to bring them into the United States; we need to have our meeting with the children and the US embassy. We pray and hope this will occur over the next 3 weeks so the adoption can be completed. If not we must be prepared for the possibility of leaving them remembering that God is in control of their movement, not man. The most challenging of these steps above is the birth mother interview. For this we are dependent on the agency and orphanage. Our goal is to help facilitate this even if that involves being a little "squeaky". I write this remembering the above statement, God is in control of their movement, not man. Even the timing of this trip is a challenge. I, Matt, will be coming back to the US with my mother and mother-in-law in 10 days. Chandra and her father our staying for 3 1/2 weeks as there was no way to get out of the country with 6 people until that time. But knowing this was the right time, she was prepared to stay to facilitate the kids coming home. In our eyes they have been in an orphanage long enough. Up to this point our focus has been so intense on the steps to bring them home. Today our focus changes as we are going to meet the children. We need to focus on that relationship and nothing else, them meeting us as strangers and excepting us as parents. So as God brings us to your mind please pray for the above. The birth mother interview, Chandra being in the country for 3 1/2 week, but most of all the relationship with the kids.