Just to update you...our cousin and family are home safe and sound. This is a picture of their precious family. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as the transition is very challenging coming home. Welcome home Nilsen family!
First born, amazing energy for life, high achiever, passionate
Beautiful smile, contagious laugh, independent, shy & good friend
Silly bean, determined, sweet, snuggle bugs
Princess
Submitted Application for infant girl - June 2010
Home Study Complete - August 2010
Acceptance into IAG program - August 2010
Dossier Complete - September 2010
Fingerprinting Complete - September 2010
Dossier landed in Ethiopia - October 2010
Accepted Referral of Baby H - March 2011
Received court date on April 2011
Court date - June 17, 2011
Received MOWA letter to pass court - July 11, 2011
Officially Received Court Decree - July 18, 2011
Submitted to Embassy - August 31, 2011
Officially started a file at Embassy - September 7, 2011
Embassy asked for add'l paperwork - Sept. 19, 2011
Embassy asked for birth parent interview - Sept. 22, 2011
Clearance from Embassy to travel - November 9, 2011
Received a November 17th Embassy date - November 10, 2011
Left for Ethiopia - November 14, 2011
Embassy Date/Adoption finalization - November 17, 2011
Gotcha Day/Land in the USA - November 20, 2011
Happy are the people whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” Psalm 84:5
On June 12th, we traveled to Ethiopia to meet our little girl for the first time. Ephesians 1:5 says, “God destined us to be adopted as sons through Christ”. Our journey of adoption has reminded us of this reality, revealing God’s amazing love for us. For those in Christ, life on earth is our “Pilgrimage to Heaven.”
When we traveled on June 12th, we gave the donations that MANY of you donated to the kids in the Addis & Mekele Care Center. Thank you for joining us on this pilgrimage. James 1:27 calls us to “look after orphans…in their distress”. It is a privilege to serve with you all in the body of Christ to “look after” these precious ones.
When we go back in a few months to pick up Hadi, we will deliver even more donations. If you would like to be a part of this journey, we have set up a PayPal account (go to jillsietur@gmail.com) to receive monetary gifts. Please pray for and consider giving to serve these children without a home. Please email us for further details. jillsietur@gmail.com
The items we purchased were:
Baby items - bottles, bumbo, blankets
Clothes 0-9yrs
Crocs
Otc medicines
We will also give any excess money to the school our agency is building in Mekele, Ethiopia.
Every 15 SECONDS, another child becomes an AIDS orphan in Africa
Every DAY 5,760 more children become orphans
Every YEAR 2,102,400 more children become orphans (in Africa alone)
143,000,000 Orphans in the world today spend an average of 10 years3 in an orphanage or foster home
Approximately 250,000 children are adopted annually, but…
Every YEAR 14,050,000 children still grow up as orphans and AGE OUT of the system
Every DAY 38,493 children AGE OUT
Every 2.2 SECONDS, another orphan child AGES OUT with no family to belong to and no place to call home
Wonderful!!!! I have so enjoyed reading her blog. She is a gifted writer. Thanks for sharing!!! Hope you all are doing great!
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