update!

i just found out that our draft dossier was approved, which means our dossier can now be authenticated! i am pumped out of my mind. a lot of it has to do with (obviously) the excitement of being SO CLOSE to the waitlist. but honestly, i'm also patting myself on the back for mastering the paper chase and getting everything done correctly. here's what the next steps look like:

1. our case manager sent us a letter of obligation from CWA that's the last piece of our dossier. i'm hopeful that we will get it in the mail on saturday
2. if we get the letter on saturday, i will drive to raleigh on monday to have it authenticated by the secretary of state
3. i'll put it in the mail monday (after it's been authenticated) to a courier in DC
4. she will take our dossier to the department of state and the ethiopian embassy to be authenticated
5. she will send it to CWA, and we will officially be on a waitlist (because, at that point, they will have all our money)

please pray with us that there are no bumps in authentication. i'm still holding out hope that we will make it on the waitlist by the end of the month, and i think we have a chance!