January 30, 2011

Dear friends and family!

Just a little update on the adoption journey!

We want to thank you all for all of the prayer and support you have given us about our adoption.  It has definitely been a much longer wait than we anticipated.  When we left Bedilu (Levi) in November, we really expected to be going back to Ethiopia to bring him home by the end December if not sooner.  Well here we are approaching February and we are still waiting.

This is what we do know!  Our paperwork and documents were submitted to the Embassy on December 28, 2010.  There was about a week of downtime because of the holiday.  Then the week of January 10^th the Embassy requested a “more detailed police report”.  That is apparently what we are waiting for.  They want more details that speak to how the police found him.

It is hard to explain what the “waiting” is like…..  It is a constant sense of anticipation.  Some days are easier than others.  Some have more tears than others.  Each day for me it means a surrender of my own expectations and my own agenda and claiming the Will of the Lord! Most days my heart is consumed with wanting to just go get him!  At the same time….I wouldn’t want to step one foot out of God’s will for our family! In his goodness and love, God gives us grace each day to sustain us!  We don’t understand why it has to take so long…. And we don’t always get to know the why for sure.  Regardless, we know that what the Lord does, He does well!  He continues to put the pieces of this together!  We trust and rest in the promises of the Lord!

Here are a few scriptures that have been set before us! We will keep you posted!

Love Laurie & Roger

Deuteronomy 33:12About Benjamin he said: “Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.”

2 Samuel 7:28
Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant

 Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

And then this song…..I love the words!  A great praise to our God who loves us!

 

Give me eyes to see                         

Give me grace to see Beyond this moment here. To believe that there Is nothing left to fear. That You alone are high above it all.                                               For You my God, are greater still.

More of who You are
May what I behold,
still my anxious heart.
Take what I have known
And break it all apart
For You my God, are greater still.

CHORUS
No sky contains,                            

And there is nothing That can ever separate us. There is nothing that can ever separate us from Your love. No life, no death, of this I am convinced. You my God, are greater still.

No doubt restrains,
All You are,
The greatness of our God.
I spend my life to know,
And I'm far from close
To all You are,
The greatness of our God.


And no words can say, or song convey,
all You are the greatness of our God.
I spend my life to know,
And I'm far from close
to all You are,
the greatness of our God.

Wisdom...

from a dear friend .... encouragement in the Wait!

WAIT

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;

Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,

And the Master so gently said, “Wait.”

“Wait? You say wait?” my indignant reply.

“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!”

Is your hand shortened?  Or have you not heard?

By faith I have asked, and I’m claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I relate

Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to Wait?”

I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign.

Or even a ‘no’, to which I’ll resign.

You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,

We need but to ask, and we shall receive.

Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:

I’m weary of asking!  I need a reply.

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,

As my Master replied again, “Wait.”

So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,

And grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting…for what?”

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine…

And he tenderly said “I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.

You’d have what you want, but you wouldn’t know Me.

You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint.

You’d not know the power that I give to the faint.

You’d not learn to see through clouds of despair;

You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there.

You’d not know the joy of resting in Me

When darkness and silence are all you can see.

You’d never experience the fullness of love

When the peace of My spirit descends live a dove.

You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,

But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,

The faith that I give when you walk without sight.

The depth that’s beyond getting just what you ask

From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

You’d never know should your pain quickly flee,

What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.

Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,

But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I’m doing in you.

So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see

That the greatest of gifts is to truly know Me.

And though oft My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still…. ”Wait.”

Dear Friends

I had to share today with you! We planned to shop in various market areas and visit other sites...but we ended up only shopping in the Post Office area..... I bought some souvenirs...and got the "look" from my husband...so I had so slow down...

We went to eat lunch at a place called Kaldi's which is basically a Starbucks...the logos are the same colors! Coffee, teas and they even had burgers and fries...and milkshakes! But the best part was to come....

I had talked to our interpreter "Net" about wanting to visit an area called Kora... This is an area where the poorest of the poor live! The women and children go to the dump~! Yes the landfill and sift through garbage to find food... they walk 90minutes one way to get water...they fill old recycled plastic containers about 2-5 gallons each and walk home with them....mostly women and children.. lots of young girls. This area has lots of crime, theft and rape, disease....leprosy, TB, HIV/AIDS....respiratory, cuts, infections....you name it! The majority of the women are widowed....husbands either just take off or die....leaving them to care for themselves and their children...... many are forced to do illegal things to survive and care for their children.. Some are children caring for children. I am telling you this is a hot spot for James 1:27! I had hoped to be able to drive through and then shop at the Alert Hospital store..... all of the goods are made by the people of Kora. Buy our interpret-or told us it wasn't open this afternoon. I was sad but he said we would drive through anyway.

God had other plans! Great plans! Our driver and translator both were on the phone for a while...then he told us! He had a friend that works at the mission in Korah. He would gladly welcome us to talk about Kora and walk us around! Awesome! I said thank you so much....Net said....I knew this is what you wanted to see!

His friend Sammy, greeted us as did a pack of kids! Our camera batteries were dead....and the video only worked a short while.....I was sad but not as sad as the kids who wanted to see it work!.. Then we met Pastor Anthony! Oh and an American woman named Gerry...she is there to help and lives in Oklahoma. They have a church that is growing...."because e of the work of the Lord" in Sammy's words! They have started a sponsorship program thinking 20 familes....they have 250! Many children are allowed to go away to a private boarding school.......so much to tell! They have added onto their church building....and have been feeding families and orphans for 6 years! What an amazing place! God is blessing their ministry.....

Sammy used to be an interpret-or for the Guest House we are staying at! (a donkey is making noise right outside of my window right now...ha ha funny stuff!) Anyway, Sammy gave his life to the Lord at age 13 ~just 11 years ago... He grew up in Korah and God is using him in a mighty way there!

We went inside some of the tin houses....the ones you see on everyones Ethiopia pics..... a 5 X 5 shed...dirt floor, dry clay for a bed.... We met a woman whose husband died and she was left with 4 children.....she never smiled when we visited her...not once.....I told her we would pray for her.... I believe her name was Sheshasuet..something like that! Another man was so happy that we just came to Korah to take our time and see them.... The Government ignores Korah....they don't want to admit the problem is a big as it really is! The best part was the children! Oh my goodness......they come up to you and want a hug...they want to hold your hand they want a smile! Flies everywhere, runny noses....unhealed cuts....dirty clothes, no shoes.....sad very sad..but amid that sadness is HOPE God is alive and working there...the people are beginning to shine...to have hope! The P61 ministry is thriving and God is blessing them! I hope that I may have one picture to share.... Just a heartbreaking vision...but yet.....there is hope. As Sammy said for 75 years the people lived in darkness...without hope...now all of that is changing.

I am certain you will hear more about this from me.....I hope to go back there before we leave! We will get to see Bedilu after court on Monday and depending on when we go to the doctor with him we hope to go back! Otherwise I will go back on our 2nd trip!

Lisa....I renewed the books....I was going to email you but we lost power.

Love you all!

Hoping to be a light to this people!

laurie

Hi friends!

We made it to Addis and got to bed about midnight on Tuesday...

But Wednesday~today~ we got to meet our precious little boy!

We will have it on film as our documentary guy was there for the meeting!

I was of course overwhelmed with emotion before they even brought him

in to us! And that too should be on film!

Then there he was! Just looking at us! They introduced us as mommy and daddy!

And brothers Jacob and Sam! I held him....and held him.....and cried the whole time

I think I might have taken him aback with my tears! But what can I do?

I am crying right now! Daddy shed a few too! Bedilu just looked at us!

Sam and Jacob were quiet...but something was happening in their insides!

I was so caught up in the moment...I didn't look at them...we will see what

shows up on the video!

Oh...and his name will remain Bedilu...but it is Lu at the end...so Beh Dill lu! (not uah)

The guest house is great. Wonderful people very caring...and very attentive! I am sure

we will stay here again when we come back.

Thank you for praying for my boys...they took to their brother like peanut butter and jelly!

They led him around...holding hands...and played on the floor with him...it was a gift...

and they seemed to each "want" to be the one interacting with him... it was a sight I won't forget!

We gave him the gifts...and he loved the trucks! But while we were talking with the social worker

I saw him go over to the table pick up the photo book and look through it again and again!

I am borrowing another family's computer...and guess what...her hubby gr ew up in Appleton, is my

age and he went to Appleton West! It is a small world....cant wait to share their story...she has been here

since Oct. 26.... a miracle baby!

I have to run...thanks for the love and prayers from you all and your families! Please feel free to share with

others...I just don't have the time to do all of the mailing lists.

Matthew & Bree....hope all is under control! Enjoy your time at the house....we love you !

Wendy Fischer....please call dad, tammy, ron and cookie.....thanks

Kimbre...how is Callie? thank you!

Lisa....don't forget to renew the library books...

Peace!

laurie

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world                          corrupt you. James 1:27 NLT

Dear friends

First things first!  Look at that picture!  Go ahead, fall in love~ we have!

In November we will be traveling to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to meet our little boy for the first time.  We will be able to spend a few hours with him each day we are there…and then after we appear before the court, we will have to leave without him.  Then we will go back about 6 weeks later to bring him home! We are so very excited! We know and marvel at the fact that the Lord planned our family with him as a part of it! There are many orphans in Ethiopia!  We are blessed to be called to care for and love one of them.

Neither one of us would have guessed that at this point in our lives we would be adding to our family, especially through international adoption.   While we may have given thought to caring for an orphaned child, the Lord has shown us that this adoption isn’t about us at all.  As the journey continues more and more we are seeing that in fact, we are just a vehicle God is using to touch the lives of many people. 

Back in January when Roger gave the “go ahead” to check into different adoption agencies we really didn’t know where it would take us.  We both went into this with one prevailing thought….. Because God had been preparing our hearts, we wanted to be sure that we were walking in obedience to Him.  Regardless of what we “thought” we made sure that we prayed through every decision.  In no way did we want to step out of his will for our family.  We believe that He has blessed us with united hearts during this whole process. 

Since we started this journey in February, God has laid it on our hearts that we reach out to family and friends to extend an invitation to partner with us. There are many ways to partner with a family adopting a child.  Probably the most obvious is financially.  Other ways include giving of your time before and after the trips, airfare (frequent flyer miles), respite and of course prayer.  Our most treasured offering would be for you to pray for us and Bedilu!  God hears the prayers of His people and will answer according to His will!  Going in we knew it would be costly but we completely trust in God’s provision to care for this child of His, however He would choose to provide it.   We have been blessed by several fundraising efforts…a garage sale, Threads of Hope bracelet sales and we have applied for a few adoption grants. You see, it really would be much easier to just handle things ourselves….  But that is not what God wants from us.  God has shown us that He wants to use other people in His plan…but we have to let him.  Please know that we only desire to walk in surrender and obedience to what God is calling us to do, and that is to humbly and graciously accept any gift that the Lord would provide through others.  Please pray for us to be willing and gracious in receiving…that we ought not to be caught up in pridefulness and dependant on our own strength.

We would like to invite you to a Spaghetti /Fish Fry Dinner on Saturday, October 16^th.  It will be held at the Town of Ellington Community Center at Farmers Park in Stephensville on Hwy 76.  We will serve from 4-7pm and have some Family Guitar Picking Country Music to enjoy as well!  Donations will be accepted as we will not be charging a per/dinner price. We are not advertising the dinner but if your neighbors would like to come please feel free to invite them! RSVP’s by October 13^th are appreciated!

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us via email or phone.

You may also contact these two ladies for help as it relates to the dinner.

RSVP, details and help……Lisa Schuenke                                                                  920.831.0244       email~ devoted2god@ymail.com

Spaghetti/ Food …..Kristyn Madalinski                                                                                  920.759.9037       email~ kmadalinski@new.rr.com

Again, we appreciate your prayerful support more than anything!

In Christ’s Love

Roger and Laurie Hebbe                                                                                             

920.202.3223                                                                                                                              acts16.31@sbcglobal.net

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts                                                 and your minds in Christ Jesus.                                                                                                                        Philippians 4:4-7

Good Morning Friends and Family!

Psalm 105:1

¹ Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done. New Living Translation

We have great news! We have been assigned court dates! It is an amazing story!

Please know that we are so grateful for all of your prayers! It is to God's glory that

I can write this email this morning!

Just some background and a little explanation as to what the process will look like!

Sorry it's a long story but you do need the details!!

Our documents/papers went to the court for approval on/about July 29. At that point

we were praying that we would be assigned our court dates before the court shuts down

for recess. The recess starts August 6 and goes until the beginning of October. So you can

see why we were hoping to hear something. We could plan our flights (tentatively) and

take care of some other details.... In my mind it would have been such a sweet piece of

the whole pie! Well needless to say, the 6th of August came and went with no word

for us. I surrendered "my plan" to the Lord and resolved in my heart that this is the

way it has to be! God has a plan and He will be glorified through it! I was really ok with

waiting if that was what the Lord was doing! As I prayed I did have this conviction from

the Lord that was telling me "Just watch what I am going to do" Of course I wanted

so desperately to shout that from the roof tops! "Hey, the courts may be closed, but

God is still going to do something!!!" I think I told a few people of my thoughts but really

just have laid it to rest over the past couple of weeks.

On Monday, Roger and I were talking about him scheduling his last week of vacation. He

has to take it but can reschedule it if need be. So we talked about what the turn around time

might be once court opens again. Could we possibly be told of our court dates and have

only a few weeks to schedule flights and get there? I decided to talk with our agency on Tuesday and find out any info that I could. Basically, yes, it could happen but most likely there would

be a bigger gap in the time span between finding out and actually traveling. We talked about the time table and ended up in a place of "waiting". I am good with waiting for what is best...I just have a hard time sometimes when I think about us being here and Bedilu being there.....just waiting! That said, Roger was going to give up (switch) a week that he already had scheduled. The week of deer hunting. He decided that he probably wouldn't go for the whole week. So that would open that week for someone(a lot of guys want that week, especially one guy he works with) and then he would reschedule both weeks earlier in the fall.

Now, fast forward to Wednesday! As I was working on an email to someone I received one from our case manager from our agency! The subject line read~ Congratulations on receiving court dates! I looked at it and said, out loud, oh my no way.... what ..... oh my....I can't believe it!!! The kids said "what??" I told them "we have court dates!!!" I actually tried to check to see if we received this email by mistake..... how could this be?, we just talked yesterday about it being October before we would know anymore! I didn't realize it at the time but our case manager had also left a voice mail on my cell phone. I wish you all could hear it! She said that she had good news for us. WE had been assigned court dates. She was amazed! She said that the judge had been so busy the last week that the court was open, she never got to the 100 cases sitting on her desk. She decided to go back in and resolve those 100 cases so the work load wouldn't be so much when she came back! Amazing...a miracle! This just isn't supposed to happen!! It shouldn't have happened by our standards!!!!!! God is so faithful! She also said that this was unprecedented....it has never happened before that a judge would go back and work on cases after the court had closed! She was joyful as she left her message!! Oh I cannot express my love for God! I am in awe of how He speaks! That I could hear Him! Oh how awesome is He! A great reminder that He is always at work! Even when we don't see it... He is everywhere all of the time... we are not...we are only in one place at one time...and can only see what is right in front of us... That is why we look to Him and not to our circumstances! He is mighty in power!

Below I have copied the plan and what each court date involves! Also I have a prayer list! Thanks so much for all of your support!

Praise God!! You go God!!!!! I knew it!!!! I just knew He was going to do something!!!!! He did!!!

1 Samuel 3:11 (New International Version)

¹¹ And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.

· The first hearing date will be Thursday, October 21, 2010. At this time the Ministry of Women’s Affairs will submit their recommendation concerning your adoption to the court, and the judge will interview the responsible parties for relinquishing the child(ren) for adoption.

· Your second hearing date is scheduled for Monday, November 22, 2010. At this time prospective adoptive parents need to be present in Addis Ababa to give consent to the adoption before the judge. There is some flexibility with this date if it creates a conflict for you, but you must request an alternate date from the court and wait for a response.

Prayer Requests

~Please pray for Bedilu! That God would prepare his little heart to meet us! That our hearts would melt together when we meet! He might be scared...pray for peace for him!

~Please pray that we pass our court date on October 21st! If/when we pass this date we will be able to confirm our flights and prepare for out trip!

~Please pray as we continue to contemplate taking Sam and Jacob with us on the first trip! Lots to consider and think about where they are concerned. Pray for their hearts to be moved by the Lord!

~Please pray for our travel arrangements....that God would just line everything up!

~Please pray for other details to be taken care of..... vaccinations, visas, paperwork, etc.

~Please pray for all of the orphans in the world....we know that God has a plan for each and every one of them!

Love laurie

for the hebbe family!

Good Morning Everyone!

Well on July 6th 2010 we officially accepted a referral for a little boy.

His name is Bedilu Soddo. He is about 3 years old.

Oh my heart hurts for him....he was found by police in March and

brought to the orphanage in Soddo. He was apparently abandoned.

Not sure why....

He is 35 inches tall and about 35 lbs.

Amazing to see how God has put all of the pieces together in this whole

journey. I am taken back and overwhelmed by His goodness. I mean

really..... His Goodness. Our God is a Good God!

I won't have time to send more info out this week with us being at

Lifest but I wanted to share the news and give you all a pic. to hang

on the fridge! =)

Please continue to pray for us! Pray for Bedilu and all of the orphans

in the world....God is at work for them all of the time!