Our family is thrilled to announce that we have joyfully accepted the referral for a 7 month old baby boy from Ethiopia. We continue to be in awe of God's goodness and perfect planning as He knits families together by His design. Many of you know we have been on our agency’s wait list for over 2 years-- Waiting for who would join, and now complete our family. We were so blessed to have the Lord interrupt that long wait with the surprise of bringing our incredible Walt home during that time. And now our number on the wait list has been called, months earlier than we thought, and we were again surprised with this precious baby boy. Sometime soon we hope to share the story in full, as to glorify the Amazing Creator that we serve!

 "G" was born last October. While we cannot publicly post his picture, or share his Ethiopian name until we pass court, just know he is beautiful. Though we don't know a lot from his file, we do know that he is a healthy baby boy, with delightfully bright eyes, chubby cheeks, and we do know that he is fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator (Psalm 139:14). He is perfectly precious, and perfectly Chambers- just like Ryley, Lucy, Jack, Milly and Walt. We plan on calling him Samuel, which is a family name. But we will for sure keep his Ethiopian name as his middle name. His name was further confirmed to us just 24 hours after we received the call we were at church and the Ordinary Hero sermon was on Samuel. He lived radically by following the Lord, and obeying the first time he was asked- even when the situation seemed challenging. “She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him." 1 Samuel 1:20



You are probably all wondering the same thing "When will we get him home?"

Great Question! There are many things that have to take place in order for Samuel to come home, and we are on a time crunch as courts in Ethiopia will close for the 'Rainy Season' in August and will be closed until early October. When they open back up they will begin assigning court dates to those families that have been submitted before they closed. We anticipate we should hear something in 4-6 months about when we will travel for our court date. Ethiopia is still a '2-trip country', which means we will travel once, for court (where he will prayerfully be declared an orphan no longer and a member of our family), and then come home for a period of weeks/months until we get assigned an appointment with the US Embassy. On that 2nd trip we will travel back and bring him home forever!

 

Well, now we pray and we wait. But there is much to be done in the waiting. And this is where we would love to include each and every one of you!  Our 'Village' was unbelievable during our journey to bring Walt home, and we know that you all will rally again to partner with us to bring Sam home. Most of all, we covet your prayers- 

 

- Please pray specifically for favor in our case. Both from the Ethiopian Government in court, and the US Embassy when they review our case. There are many changes going on in Ethiopian Adoptions right now and we are unsure how these changes could affect our case. We are praying for favor and that we will confidently trust in God's timing. "The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14

 

- Please pray specifically for family. That we prepare Ryley, Lucy, Jack, Milly and Walt as best as we can for their new baby brother (They are over the moon excited!). And that the Lord prepares little Sam for his new family. Thankfully we have walked this road before with Walt, and we know that all of the emotions and fear he will be feeling as he leaves everything he knows to travel across the world to live in Texas with us can be overwhelming. We are also blessed to have many dear friends who have traveled this road ahead of us, and we lean on them. We also are surrounded by an incredible village to lean on… But pray that we lean on the Lord as he directs our family and prepares the hearts of all 8 Chambers. Our Samuel will be coming home! "For this child we have prayed." 1 Samuel 1:27

 

- Please pray specifically for finances. It is no surprise that International Adoption is expensive. We knew this going into the process and have trusted the Lord with every aspect of the journey- Including finances. However, things have again moved along much more quickly than we anticipated, and there are many agency fees and travel expenses due in a very short amount of time. We know that God will provide every ounce of what we need to bring Samuel home in one way or another. Just as He did for our Walt.
Please join us in praying specifically for the "not fun to talk about, but very real" financial aspect of adoption. We already have some fun fundraising ideas in the works that you will be hearing about soon. Additionally, we have started this Pure Charity Fundraising Page for any tax deductible donations. Our fundraising goal does not include any travel expenses, but does include most International Adoption fees ($1,200 Homestudy and updates, $7,000 Agency Fees, $1,800 Dossier Authentication and USCIS Approval, $15,200 Foreign Program Fees).
" Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" Ephesians 3:20-21

 

- And please pray for protection. While adoption is something that the Lord clearly supports "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27, the enemy clearly detests adoption. Please pray for specific protection for our family as we wait through this process. Please also pray for protection for Samuel, that his health remains stable, and that he is deeply loved and cared for until we get him home. We trust that God loves little G even more than we do and He will protect him until he is safely home.
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18

 

 

Much Love,

The Chambers 8
Chris, Sydney, Ryley, Lucy, Jack, Milly, Walt and Sam