Latest Developments...

We had an amazing opportunity this weekend to experience a little taste of Africa through an eye-opening exhibit put on by World Vision. This experience set up a mini-African village and allowed visitors to walk in the footsteps of four different children who are living amidst the HIV/AIDS crisis. We followed the story of Emmanuel, a six-year-old boy from Uganda whose parents both died of AIDS. Our hearts broke as we sat in the small makeshift huts and waited in the clinic. For a glimpse into the awesome work of World Vision, check out their website!

http://www.worldvisionexperience.org/minisite/minisite.aspx?id=199

As for the latest updates of our adoption of Trey and Tessa...our paperwork is in Ethiopia! It is being translated and processed. We have been told that once the paperwork is there, it could be 2-4 months. Please continue praying for Trey and Tessa to know the love of Jesus through the people around them.

Also, we are confronted with a unique situation right now. Because Tessa is HIV-positive, it will require a significant amount of paperwork and waivers to get her into the United States. In addition, it could require a three-week stay. However, on January 1, 2010, President Obama is reversing the long-standing HIV Immigration Laws which prohibits immigrants with HIV from entering the United States without all of the waivers. Because of this, if we go to Ethiopia after January 1, the paperwork would be minimal and our stay in Ethiopia could be as short as 4 days!

We will leave you with this...

"Fifteen thousand people dying needlessly everyday from AIDs, TB, and malaria. Mothers, fathers, teachers, farmers, nurses, mechanics, children. This is Africa's crisis. That its not on the nightly news, that we do not treat this as an emergency -- that's OUR crisis." - Bono