Embassy

We were on pins and needles heading to embassy. Obsi had been deemed 18 by a wrist and elbow xray. We weren't sure what was going to happen.

As we arrived and sat on the benches, Sue told Deanne Gillock and Bill & I that embassy didn't accept our paperwork or our payment for a visa. She indicated it didn't look good. Our CCI embassy group put our heads together and prayed. If anything was going to be done, only the God of our Universe was going to do it.

We went in and waited. The Niedermeyer family got called up first. Ms. Rupp, the embassy agent in window #4, told us she had just gotten the embassy doctor's medical report that morning and Obsi was deemed 18. Sue was with us and argued with her. Sue told her that Obsi was not 18! We were asked to wait. Gillocks got called up later. Embassy decided to interview the 2 boys. Sisay felt good about the interview. Then Obsi went in and came out clearly upset. He told us the man said he was 17. Obsi knew what year he was born. He know the Ethiopian Calendar year and the American Calendar year, 1996. The man spoke angrily to him. He was asked all about his brothers and sisters. Obsi told him everything he knew.

Ms Rupp told Sisay's family that he would get his visa the next day. She then went on to explain that Obsi was 17 because Obsi said his 18yr old brother was married and had 4 kids and that can't be. His brother must be about 22 so therefore, Obsi must be 17. Sisay's mom had suggested they bring up Pastor Tedessa from Debrezeit. Pr. T had been there when they started Kamashi. They had only taken in boys between the ages of 7 & 10. They wanted Ms Rupp to talk to Pastor.

Ms Rupp told us embassy was open 8-11:30 and we should come back with Pastor. Dereje, CCI's in-country lawyer, called Pastor and left for Debrezeit to spend the night and travel early morning to be at embassy at 8am.

We met Dereje, Pastor, Gillocks and Sue at embassy bright and early. It was a beautiful warm sunny morning! Ms. Rupp spent quite a while talking to Pastor. When Kamashi Orphanage was started, they went out and gathered up boys who were orphans and had no one to care for them. They had an American dentist with them that could guess at the ages. The boys over 10 got sent back. Pastor remembered Obsi. Obsi was 7 or 8 and was taken in. His mom had just died. His dad had died when he was very young. This was 5 years ago that they gathered these boys.

Ms. Rupp believed that Obsi was 13. Because they created a birthdate of August 26th, the day he would turn 14, she was satisfied. She claimed that as birthparents, we deserved to know the truth about the case. Not sure is she meant our agency wasn't telling us the truth but Sue knew the truth and was willing to stand by it. Sue was given the go ahead to pay for Obsi's visa. Ms Rupp said there was never a doubt! (that she would issue a visa). grrrrr........ I wish I would've known that from the start! We were all emotionally drained.

Friday evening, Dereje walked into the guest house with our visa. There was a lot of whooping!!!! Huge hugs for Dereje!

Our homestudy was approved for boys ages 10-14. If Obsi was deemed 15, we would have had to do an update. Through the fax machine, we would have been able to pull it off while we were in-country. Angela, at CCI, had figured out a way to get it all done, by-passing all the states the homestudy needs to go through in a normal process. The homestudy gets sent to TX, and then to Maryland, and then to Addis. Our wonderful agency was prepared! We had also had our Congressman's office on stand-by in case they needed to step in and get us that visa.

It all fell together and we praise the Lord for that! Satan shot every dart he could. The Lord provided the shield.

Ephesions 6:13-18
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

We are standing firm!