Dear Family and Friends, December 23, 2016 We'll be home in a few hours…in time for Christmas! Everything went marvelously in Addis Ababa, and we were able to leave a week early. Thank you all for your encouragement, interest, support and prayer. You are a blessing to us. Andrew Early December, 2016– After 2 1/2 years of waiting, we are about to travel to Ethiopia to pick up Getabalew, our 9-year-old son. It has been a long process, demanding much patience in the face of uncertainty. More than once, we've thought we might be within a few months of all the approvals being done–which would allow us to bring Getabalew home, only to encounter delays or bureaucratic snafus. Our son, Peter (adopted 9 years ago, at birth), is fantastically excited, both to go to Ethiopia and to meet his brother. Indeed, we are all excited. And anxious, and overwhelmed (with the all the details), and so on. To this point, we've spent nearly $30,000, including an unanticipated $5000 for a lawyer to file a motion that was necessary to keep the process continuing forward. We expect to expend at least another $10,000–for travel expenses, follow-up home visits, lawyers fees for finalization in the US, and more. Our church is helping with about $10,000, but we are hoping to defray some of the rest of the expenses. We would be exceedingly grateful for anything you could contribute. Andrew, Sandy and Peter
