Answered Prayer

Sammy and I got our confirmation that we are in the right place with our adoption. God so graciously answered our prayers Saturday evening, and revealed to us his providence. Our family was eating dinner at In-n-Out Burger when a man walked by with two children. I knew he was Ethiopian. I asked God for the courage to approach him, because I am NOT the type to ever do such a thing. God literally led me to that man and spoke through me asking if he was from Ethiopia. He said yes! We talked and all the while I was trembling inside; I knew this was not a chance meeting. I asked him if these were his children. He answered, "God is good. These are my children." I asked him what their names were and he said "This is my son. His name is Adonai. And this is my daughter, El Shaddai." I knew right then that God had led us to this man and his children. We exchanged numbers and we will be keeping in touch. Who would have thought that there would be an Ethiopian living in our small and un-cultured town. I would have never imagined.

Sammy and I, and our children, and my mom, went home praising and thanking God. We couldn't believe what had just happened.

What are the odds of us meeting an Ethiopian in our small town? What are the odds of me guessing that this man is Ethiopian? (For those of you who know me, you would already know the odds of me approaching a complete stranger and asking him if he's Ethiopian are pretty much zero to none.) Of all the countries in Africa, what are the odds of him being from Ethiopia? And what are the odds of his children's names being Adonai, meaning God Most High; and El Shaddai, meaning The All Sufficient One. Adonai occurs 434 times in the Old Testament, and Shaddai 48 times. It seems so silly now. How could I have doubted the All Sufficient One, the God Most High.

And those of you who know Your name will put their trust in You,

For you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You
~Psalm 9:10

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for so blatantly answering our prayers. Thank you for your never-ending love and your faithfulness... no matter how thick-headed we are in our earthliness.

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Our agency director will be arriving in Ethiopia on Saturday. She will be checking on the children and the open cases as well as dropping off donations. But we wait in great anticipation as she will be bringing home with her, Lord willing, our referral. Please pray that the Lord be with her in her travels and that she can accomplish everything that she has set out to do while she is there.