For those of you who have been waiting...we finally know what's going to happen to Achuka! His daddy came to visit us this week and signed the paper for us to begin the legal guardianship process. He has wanted all along to take his son back but has been unable to find anyone who can take care of him. His wives have refused, and the grandmother tends to enjoy "tipping back on grandpa's old cough medicine", if you know what I mean :)

It was a hard meeting, knowing his daddy wanted him but just couldn't take care of him. He's been putting us off for a while, trying to find someone, trying to convince us that our home is the best place for his son. We finally agreed to keep him but under our own terms. We explained the adoption process as best we could and what that means for him and for Achuka. 

This has been tough, and I can't help feeling like I'm taking his son away from him. However, we have prayed and prayed that God would work this situation out and know that His plan for this sweet little guy includes us. I am definitely feeling blessed to be allowed to be his mommy, hopefully forever. We continue to hope that our relationship with this family will keep growing as we raise Achuka and plan to visit them often in the village.

Please pray for us to find favor in the eyes of the local government. We are hoping to get legal guardianship of Achuka in order to travel with him, but we will need to foster him for three years before we will be allowed to legally adopt him. Right now the local government is not very thrilled with our visa situation and doesn't think we really know what we're getting into. We are praying that God will allow them to show us grace in this whole process. 

We have appreciated your prayers so much during this time we have been fostering Achuka and continue to covet them in the coming months. Please continue to lift up little Achuka as we seek to raise him to follow hard after Jesus.