true about 'pending'. it does mean that sth is 'in the limbo' and all you can do about it is wait - 'my work permit is pending, so i still don't know what i'm going to do'.
as for 'in (the) making', i'll admit i'm at a loss. i always use it with 'the', and see(hear) only this form. but you might be right, except in your examples it shows that 'in making' could suggest 'prospective' - 'leaders in making', 'friends are angels in makking'.