Dear Friends and Family

I have been holding off on sending out an update on our adoption in hopes of some travel news….but as of today, June 2, 2011 we are still waiting.  I have talked with quite a few people over the past few months….most of them all in just disbelief about why…how….it could be taking so long to get this little guy home.  Trust me when I say that we have tried to come up with the answers that ease people’s hearts and answers that seem fair.  The truth is that it really all makes sense when you look at it with the right perspective! God’s perspective!  Isaiah 55:8-11

The Message (MSG)

 ^8-11"I don't think the way you think.
   The way you work isn't the way I work."
         God's Decree.
"For as the sky soars high above earth,
   so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
   and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
   and don't go back until they've watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
   producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
   not come back empty-handed.
They'll do the work I sent them to do,
   they'll complete the assignment I gave them.

That is where we choose to rest!  In fact, it is the only place where things do make sense…..  I would like to try to share my heart with you all!

If you remember we went in November of 2010 to meet our little guy and attend court.  We fell in love from the start…way back in July but when we saw him our hearts were connected!  We became a larger family that week in Ethiopia!  Court went smoothly and we were set to come back for our Embassy approval.  While we were there we saw things happen so fast and seamlessly for so many other families that we set our minds and hearts on being back to Ethiopia in December 2010, if not then for sure in January of 2011.  Everything else went so quickly and we just believed that this wouldn’t be any different.  

The Ethiopian government is in the process of changing the adoption process.  This has slowed down the timelines for so many people.  We figured that since we passed court we wouldn’t be impaired by the changes taking place.  However, the US Embassy is requiring new changes as well. That is where we get stuck.  The Embassy has requested a more detailed letter from the local police in Soddo, where Bedilu (Levi) was found.  This is completely understandable as they want to avoid any chance of corruption and be sure that abandoned children are really just that.  This will be a requirement that in the future will be met before court.  As our agency attempts to get the letter the zonal government started inspections of all NGO’s (non government organizations) and they will not allow the release of any official documents until the inspections are complete and a letter of approval is issued.  That started in January.  They continue today!  That is what we are waiting for…..one letter…..one piece of paper…from our human perspective.  But God has a different way of seeing things….

Throughout the past 6 months the Father has been faithful, mighty, loving, comforting, healing and present in our lives!  My state of mind over these past months briefly summed up…

December~  Oh how amazing is this little boy…and God’s plan for all of us….waiting but walking on air! 

January~  Well for sure we should travel back this month!  Everything is in place!                                  

February~ Face to the floor….weeping daily…..why God why?!  I know you started this…why….God?  

 March~ OH Father!  You are the one with the plan!  NOT my will but yours be done!! Isaiah Chapter 46 

 April~ We trust in your promises oh God!  You are the sovereign God! We wait in eager anticipation ! Psalm 139!

May~  Walking in faith daily! God calling us to really look at what we do in response to his work in our lives…..what we Do says more about what we believe about God than what we Say does!                                        

June~ Here we are….Knowing that the God who began this journey will finish it and bring all things together when it is best…and when it is time!  We long for this boy to be in our home…but would not trade the deeper dependence and intimate understanding of God this waiting has brought us!

^{Isaiah 46:8-11 The Message}                                                                                                                                                                             "Think about this. Wrap your minds around it.
   This is serious business, rebels. Take it to heart.
Remember your history,
   your long and rich history.
I am God, the only God you've had or ever will have—
   incomparable, irreplaceable—
From the very beginning
   telling you what the ending will be,
All along letting you in
   on what is going to happen,
Assuring you, 'I'm in this for the long haul,
   I'll do exactly what I set out to do,'
Calling that eagle, Cyrus, out of the east,
   from a far country the man I chose to help me.
I've said it, and I'll most certainly do it.
   I've planned it, so it's as good as done.

I know that it is all under control and I know that there are days that are harder than others.  I know that God loves all of us!  He is the Father…..He loves with a perfect love…He loves with comfort and He knows exactly what we need…and when we should have it!

We humbly ask for your continued prayers!  Prayers for Levi, prayers for movement in the Ethiopian government, prayers for all of the families caught in the “in-between” of the changes, prayers for our journey to honor the Father and glorify HIM…..all of this is for HIM, and prayers for all those who care for the orphans and widows in Ethiopia and the world!

Hey all of you coffee drinkers!! This is for you! We have started a new fundraiser to help with our ongoing adoption costs.  It is called Just Love Coffee.  I actually have recently started to drink coffee….and this is a great idea.  Click or paste  this link   http://www.justlovecoffee.com/TheHebbes                                                                              you can order coffee~ different kinds, and part of the proceeds help to support our adoption and part go to ongoing efforts to support the orphans in Ethiopia!  I love it because you actually get something while helping the cause of the orphan as well, in more ways than one!  

We love you all and your prayers are the most precious gift to us.  I am continually touched and humbled by people telling me about Levi’s picture on their fridge and the prayers of the little ones on behalf of Levi!

With much love,

Laurie and Roger