Columbus Day

Okay! We've officially signed all the acceptance documents, had them notarized, certified, & apostilled (in the Capitol Building in Frankfort) and overnighted them to Bethany Int'l in Michigan (thank goodness for UPS on federal holidays when the PO is closed!). The folks in Michigan will make sure everything is in order and send the paperwork to Albania via DHL, hopefully to be received by the end of the week. It's our understanding that the unofficial scanned copies are already in Albania waiting on translation.

From here we wait for Albania to assign us court date! We've been told it could take 2-4 weeks from the time they receive our translated petition to schedule us in for a date a few weeks beyond that. It all depends on when the Judge has room in his docket and when we can travel. We literally could have only two weeks to line up our airline tickets and pack. Realistically, we don't expect to travel before the middle of November.

An encouraging bit of news came this afternoon in the form of a phone call from my mom. She was on the phone with our good friend Pepper (a nickname my dad gave him "way back when" when Albanian names didn't roll so easily off the tongue). Pepper is a wonderful Christian man that I met through my parents in 1994 when he was assisting an American missionary friend in church planting. Since then, Pepper has moved onto other charitable work employed by an American organization that sponsors several state orphanages in Albania. Over the years our family has stayed close with he and his wife and count them as dear friends.

On the phone with Pepper today Mom learned that Ellie's orphanage is one of the ones sponsored by Pepper's employer and he knows the director of her orphanage very well! Before Mom and Dad could tell him our good news (he learned about it from another of our close friends in Tirana) he put in a call to his colleague in Vlore to inquire about Ellie. The orphanage director told him that he knew her and that she was a good little girl. (We take it that means she is normal and healthy). Pepper went on to offer to travel with us down to Vlore and assist us in any way! He usually has business to conduct down there so he said it's no problem at all! We were so relieved to hear this. Pepper is a very humble man, but is very well respected by anyone who knows him. He also has a tender, compassionate heart for the kids in the orphanage system and is a great advocate on their behalf. In an unfamiliar place like Vlore, it will be good to have a friend by our side who has the authority to be a BIG help!

We continue to be amazed at how God is working ahead of us! Today I read in Isaiah 45:2-3, "I will go before you and make the rough places smooth. I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, in order that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name." (NASB) This is one incredible faith journey I can't begin to describe. Thank you for your continued prayers and notes of encouragement! In the last few days we've heard from family and friends in 16 states and 9 countries!