Money Hidden For 'Such a Time as This'?

When we got our referral on April 10, I knew there was a chance that we would pass through court and visa and be ready to travel by August. August! Highest season there is! I called my sister-in-law the other day to get prices and was told that it would be $2600 a ticket.

It is our heart's desire to take our two oldest boys with us. Really, there is no way we will leave either behind. They *need* to see Ethiopia for real. We have great plans for our time there - they will be so blessed by the opportunities they will have to give and share and reach people. They each have an Ethiopian Fund that they are putting money into. It is amazing how far their money will go.

So leaving them at home is not an option. And then, of course, we will have the girls to return with. So we are looking at about $16,000 for airline tickets.

But I have absolute peace over this. Ever since we began this adoption endeavor money has been like play money. It is like God has told me in my heart that He will cover the costs (not that I have heard Him audibly- I just 'know it'.) and so I have no 'feeling' about money. How radical is it to think of $16,000 airfare and not stress about it!

Someone recently asked us if we would let the girls stay in the orphanage til September, if we got the call to get them in August, during high season. The airfare in September drops to about $1800 a ticket. That would save us about $6000!

My answer? Absolutely not!! I know, if God wants us to go in August He will provide the money! I have said this a number of times recently. Yesterday, I was thinking 'Maybe court will be held off for 12 weeks, so we 'fall' into the October pickup dates.' You know - low season.

Then today, I was called by our accountant to come in and see them. I was waiting for him to get our taxes done, and he said he had an 'issue' about one of our government payouts. This was the first year that we have used an accountant and things have changed in the last two years. I was not aware of this.

As I sat there, I was nervous. I had no idea if he was going to tell me that I owed money to this department. But no. He didn't. First he told me that I was getting more taxes back than I thought. And then...

He told me that I had been making an error for the last few years. He foresaw that the government would reimburse me a LOT of money. I asked if he was certain that they would pay it back, even though it was my mistake. He said he thought so.

I told him that I was sure he was right. I told him we stepped out in faith on this adoption and God had provided all of our finances to date. I carried on to tell him we had two little girls sitting in an orphanage, and I was pretty certain that if we got the call to bring them home in August, it would be because God had 'hidden' the money 'until such a time as this'.

I left that office feeling pretty excited and expectant!!

Now, I am praying that the government will be merciful and give us this overpayment back. Please join us in praying if you are so led!