Family and Friends,
Tomorrow, Tuesday August 5, 2008, is our first court date in Ethiopia. Late this afternoon we received news from our caseworker at Gladney that there is essentially no chance of a final decision being rendered in our case on Tuesday.
As with American courts, “dotting I’s and crossing T’s” is imperative. It came to Gladney’s in-country staff’s attention that there is a document that the Court needs to render a final verdict on our case that they do not yet have in hand. The Court does still plan to hear our case tomorrow, but will hold off on a final decision until they receive this document. While we the details of this matter are personal, getting the actual document appears to be a formality, unfortunately it could take a couple days. At this point we have been told that the in-country staff is going to personally see to it that the document can be taken care of and will do their best to get this document to the Judge by Wednesday the 6th (although they say that time frame will be very difficult).
So, why is the 6th such a big deal? The Ethiopian courts close every year for the rainy season, and this year the last day they are open is Wednesday, August 6. Courts will not open again until late September or early October.
While this issue is a known concern, the Government Agency in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Court System still have to approve the case as a whole. We hope that all else will be smooth, but as with all courts there can be many subtleties that present as hurdles.
On the good news front , we did receive an update on Jonah Zelalem this morning (written by Gladney’s in-country staff). Here is a brief blurb from it:
“Zelalem is a fighter! When he is on his belly; he is so determined! He is grunting and growling and slobbering! I am not sure he is trying to do anything in particular but he knows he is supposed to be doing something! And he is passionately pursuing, ‘some thing’! When he is on his back; it is a different story. Zelalem is still fairly active, rolling back and forth but no more slobber and a lot less groaning. When I put my hand on his belly, he holds my hand down and will not let go! He loves a rub on the belly, a pat on the back or just a stare from across the room!... Zelalem is very outgoing, personable and has no problems with intimacy. He has loved me as much as I have loved him since day one. J”
Please be thinking about Jonah Zelalem and all the other babies and children waiting to be united with their waiting families... and send good thoughts, or pray, or whatever you are comfortable with, that the children have the shortest wait-time possible and that the Judges keep this in mind while rendering decisions.
We will provide an update as we can, hopefully no later than Wednesday night. Please have safe and happy days.
--Laura and David
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