Mark and Erin’s trip to Ethiopia
This is our very brief trip schedule. Please pray for us while we are gone!
1. Leave from Des Moines 6:10pm on Saturday, June 11th to Chicago O’Hare. Leave from Chicago to Istanbul, Turkey at 10:30pm (11 hour flight) and arrive at 5:05pm Sunday, June 12th. Leave from Istanbul to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at 6:50pm and arrive in Ethiopia finally at 12:15am Monday June 13th!! Ethiopia is 8 hours ahead of us.
2. Pray for a few hours of restful sleep before we get up early to drive south. We will drive 6-6 ½ hours to Woyalita, Ethiopia. This is where the girls are in an orphanage. We will spend about 2 hours with them. Pray for God to supernaturally extend this time, for us to connect, and for our departure as we leave them behind.
3. We will then drive another 2 hours for Lewi, Ethiopia where we will be staying the night. Pray for protection for us from mosquitoes that carry malaria. We will be taking precautionary medication and will likely use a mosquito net this night. Malaria is only an issue in the south not in the capital city.
4. Tuesday we will drive back to Addis Ababa. Pray for protection on the roads as we share it with many walking people and animals.
5. Tuesday afternoon will likely be sightseeing and shopping.
6. Wednesday we will meet with our Ethiopian lawyer and our big court date. Pray that all the paperwork is in order and we will hear the words, “they are yours!” We are pretty prepared that this will not happen, as the last court groups have been missing one important piece of paper. The ministry of women and children in Ethiopia has to sign off on all adoptions. As of late they have been under intense scrutiny by outside sources due to unethical adoptions. Thus, the process has become much slower. But…. We believe in the power of God and believe it will all happen in His perfect timing!
7. Wednesday afternoon will likely be more sightseeing/shopping until we head back to the airport to leave at 1:15am Thursday, June 16th!
8. We then arrive in Istanbul at 6:40am, then on to Chicago leaving at 11:20 am and arriving at 3:15pm. We will be back in Des Moines at 7:20pm on Thursday. :) Whirlwind!!!
Please pray for the kids as they stay home with my parents while we are gone. Pray for a fun week for them, safety, and good sleep for all.
8 comments:
We will be thinking of you! I know you guys will have a great trip and we are excited to see new pictures of our nieces!
We will pray! Enjoy the trip. It is so amazing! We took the Turkish Air route too. It wasn't too bad, but we decided we would probably do Ethiopian Air on the flight where there is a little person to worry about.
I will be praying for you, but you will be fine:) Enjo the experience!
Wow. That seemed to go quickly, but I'm not the one waiting.
Praying for a great trip. Please keep posting!
praying...your schedule makes me tired. :)
praying along with you as you travel to meet your girls. have a wonderful trip!
Will be praying for ya'll, Erin!!!
What a blessing! Can't wait to see pics and hear how God will continue to work! Love you!!
Post a Comment