It's official!

We passed court. He is our son!  Introducing Matiyas Schwartz!

We are scared to death but felt God calling us to step out in faith. We now face trying to expedite his US paperwork so that we can get him home and the treatment he needs.

Quick Update

We finally got internet back and things are about where we left off.  We are still confused and full of questions, fears, and doubts.  We really don't know much more than that our son needs brain surgery.  For me, that is something I never thought I would have to deal with. The scariest part is what that means for him down the road, and we wonder if we are the right family to meet his needs.  As we are trying and struggling with all of this, our court date got moved up to tomorrow afternoon, so please be in prayer that we will seek God's plan and stay in his will moving forward. I figure this will be a long, sleepless night.  We will try to update you tomorrow.  Love you all.

Day 2

Today's schedule looks a lot like yesterdays.  We will be spending the day at the Transition home and eating out.  We hope to meet with the Nurse and Doctor today but they don't have that on our itinerary until Wednesday.  Tonight we eat at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant.

What a day...

We made it to Ethiopia with no issues, and got to meet our son.  The last 48 hours have been crazy traveling, as the 3 of us have slept anywhere from 5 to 10 hours (as good as you can sleep on a plane).  We did manage to get away for a few hours and saw part of downtown Frankfurt.
Yiah has been a real trooper.  He crashed today mid afternoon and is already out for the night right now (as is Laura), but you couldn't ask for anything more from a 4 year old.  After all that travel with little to no sleep we thought we could sleep at our hotel for a few hours, until lunch.  But from the time we got to our hotel this morning, we had about 45 minutes to get cleaned up, eat and we were off to the transition home.
There we got to meet our little guy and hold him for the first time.  We spent a good 2 1/2 hours there this morning, and after eating lunch, spent another 2 in afternoon.  I will say his hair is crazy and he is a chunk!  Yiah was a great big brother reading to him and holding him, everything we new he would be.  He also was a hit with the kids at the transition home and he ran and played with all of them in the yard.
While we were there we were able to speak with the nurse a little about his condition.  She actually approached us because she remembered Yedidiya from his time there.  She didn't have too detailed of information for us, but we do know that they have heard back from the neurosurgeon.  All she really knew was that he had his MRI and he needs surgery.   The surgery is not to put in a shunt however, as we had expected.   She also informed us that we would meet with the lead nurse about it in more detail tomorrow.  We don't know what the surgery is or any short/long term affects of his condition.  We do know, that after spending the day with him, that he is not meeting many milestones and lacking skills that a child his age should have.
The time we had with him was blessed, but we left today with more questions than answers.  As for me, I am just going to admit that I am scared and am filled with doubts.  My biggest is if I am strong enough.  I am uncertain of what this journey will bring and what God's will and purpose for us, and for our family is.  It has been a difficult day with many emotions.  I just pray we will know more tomorrow and God's plan will be clear.

And We're Off

Well, here we are... The story so far is not the way we would have written it, but we are trusting that God has a beautiful ending in mind for our special little guy.  Our minds and faiths have been spinning for the past week as we had received news of a medical condition that our son is dealing with.  With communication between countries knowing what is going on and trying to get him treatment has proved difficult.  But we are trying to trust.  I read a story last night about Lazarus and his sisters, stating how Jesus could have come when they asked and healed Lazarus, avoiding his death.  But he didn't.  He didn't because He was ready to reveal himself at a new, deeper level to his sister's.  Deeper than they had known him before.  We are struggling with this.  My prayer is that is where God is for our little one.  We covet your prayers and support as we leave on this journey, and will try to post as often as possible while in Addis.  Thank you all for your love through this.

~Aaron and Laura

Respond Ministries Road Race





What a blessing!  Our orphan ministry held its 2nd annual Road Race this weekend and Yedidiya got to be a part of it!  He had a blast running in the kids 100 yard dash.  We weren't sure what would win out, his competative side or his social side.  Silly question... his social side.  You can watch him run with one of his "buddies".

Happy 3rd Birthday Yedidiya!!!

For those of you still out there, a pictorial update of our little guy who is now 3!!