Our answers...from the Embassy in Addis Abba
Good news and one step closer!

Dear Hebbe Family,

Thank you for your email regarding your adoption of Bedilu.

On August 16, 2011  we received additional documents regarding your case. We will contact you with the information how to proceed as soon as we review the documents.

Sincerely

//AF//
Adoption Unit

U.S. Embassy

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Privacy/PII

This email is UNCLASSIFIED.

From: roger hebbe [mailto:acts16.31@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 1:33 PM
To: Addis, Adoption
Subject: Hebbe Family,

Good Morning,

We were wondering about the status of our adoption case.

Our information is

  Family, Child name: - Hebbe, Bedilu Roger

                Case number: - ADD2010676021

We last heard on Wednesday, August 10th that all of our

documents were submitted to the Embassy and that

all requests were satisfied.  

We want to be sure that we haven't

missed something on our end here in the states!  We do

appreciate your time and your work load.

Thank you for your help.

Precious friends!

This is what we know as of 10am Monday morning...

 

They have our letter in Addis...they are translating it now...

they hope to submit it to the Embassy tomorrow! 

I added the email from Sue to the bottom of this email...

 

Please join us in praying for the following! 

• Pray that the letter is acceptable to the Embassy, as there have been "issues" with how the letters have been written.
• Pray for the staff to be able to plead our case
• Pray for a quick turn around in the dates available for our Embassy appt.
• Pray for Bedilu as he waits for us!  I hope when they "know" they will tell him that we are coming!
• Pray for peace in our hearts if~........
• Pray for all of the other families caught in this place....and those who's hearts are longing for their child to come home! (several friends!)

Thanks so much for the prayers...we know the Father hears and He is faithful!

Deuteronomy 7:9

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁹ Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.

love
laurie

Yes, we talked with Addis today.  They said they had your letter, it was in translation and they hoped to submit it tomorrow to the Embassy and they hoped that the Embassy accepts what the police wrote.  I pray the clerk who reviews the letter accepts it.

There seems to be a disparity between what the new staff at the Embassy wants to see and what the police (in many regions) are writing.  The police don’t want to change the way they’ve always done the letter.  Some regions have now refused to rewrite documents for the orphanages (hence the Embassy).

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

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