Court today

Because of the heavy rain and storms last night, Ally and I were in our room starting at 6:30 or 7 reading, I started a dumb movie  but abandoned it.  So we fell asleep around 10.

This morning I left the guest house around 7:40 for a run.  altitude still is difficult, and the smog is really bad today which doesn't help either. And the mud from all the rain was prevalent.  When I got back I stood outside our gate and used a stick to scrape the mud off. The effort was only marginally effective, I looked up to see the guard watching me with mild amusement. None of the guards speak English(I have yet to hear one utter a word in any language ), but this one smiled and pointed to a small patch ofnaccidental grass and made a wiping motion w his feet--ingenious!

I went to the eating room, pancakes today which were really fat and good.  Ally came in and we started talking to the couple from Atl who brought their 9 year old bio son and are here for a 3 yr old boy.  by this time is was about 8:45am.  Our agenda packet stated a 9:30 departure for court. Howevr, I overheard another couple say that Tefera announced a 9am departure instead. Yikes! This is the only dress up day and Ally and I are off to bad start. Bird bath and out the door.  We asked our case worker specifically what the attire should be for court to which she  replied no jeans.  However, Maarta yesterday said a Tie or coat should be worn.  My new friend Apu  so graciously gave me his tie to wear.

Spirits high for the 4 couples on the bus on the way over, although everyone has lot of nervous energy. This is a big day.  We have been prepped for all the questions we might be asked by the judge. Keep your answers to one word whenever possible we are coached.  I plan to simply say Yes to everything. Are you prepared to adopt-- Yes, do you have children already- Yes, do you know that this adoption is final-- Yes, why did you choose Ethiopia-- Yes.

We park a half a block away and wait for our man Wundwassa to give us the sign.  After 5 minute we get it, disembark the van and go into the courthouse. It is crowded. We climb four sets of stairs and are ushered in to room where we are immediately informed that the Judge is sick. No court today. Thankfully we had not switched our flights to tonite as planned because we have to go back tomorrow. Major letdown.

Wundwassa works with Maarta. His English is nowhere near is good, a fact which becomes problematic as he starts to give stairs reports on our cases.

Obama and Samuel's parents are told that their MOWA letters are there, and that they will likely be approved as soon as they appear before the judge because all of their paperwork is in order.
the news is not as good for Israel, Bereket and Ereftu's parents.  The MOWA letter says we are not approved until wthe judge sees more info on the whereabouts and status of Israel's father.  Evidently if the father has been gone for less than two years, they require a Police Report from the district in which he used to live with the mother. The judge has postponed a ruling on our case until May 30th in order to wait for this report.
Unfortunately Wundwassa mixes or cases up, and doesn't seem to know very basic elements of our cases. He told us that the issue was stemming from Israel,s fathers death, his father is living.  he makes similar incorrect statements to Apu and Carol. This has been a consistent issue, there seems to be very little attention paid to the details.
Anyway Wundwassa did the best he could explaining the situtation, but it just 
led to more questions.  We asked to be driven to the office to talk w Maarta again.  
We arrived and were invited to sit in her office which she shares with two orthree others, who gave up their chairs for us all to sit. Maarta explained the police report issue-- turns out that Bereket and Ereftu's report came in yesterday and they sould be approved on Monday May 30. Sadly, Israel's report is not in yet.  Maarta called in the man who would be going back down to Hosanna to try to get it from the Police Department before friday.

Our specific prayer is that Israel's police report will be in the hands of the CHS office on Friday so that the judge can approve us on Monday the 30th.  If this does not happen, the judge will set yet another date and we have no idea when that would happen.  Each delay means more time before we can bring him home.  Also more time before he is brought to Addis where the care is infinitely better.