We received sobering news this week that Ethiopia is cutting foreign adoptions by 90%. The details of this decision can be found in this article. We've had alot of people ask us questions regarding our adoption and how this news affects us. Here are a few thoughts.
"Abigail Rupp, head of the consular section at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa says the cutback is likely to result in a drop in adoptions to the United States from last year’s 2,500 to fewer than 500. She says the biggest concern is for the estimated 1,000 children currently in the adoptions pipeline, who may be forced to wait more than a year for their cases to be considered."
1- We have been in the Ethiopian adoption process for nearly a year. We've had Hosanna's referral for about 6 months, and were just given a referral for a now 4 week old little boy. We are among the "1,000 in the adoption pipeline" whose cases are right in the middle of this drama.
2- Our agency director was very candid with us and expressed that there is no guarantee that at the end of this process we would be bringing home children from Ethiopia.
3- There is no telling how long, if we can bring our kids home, it will be before our cases will be cleared. At the rate things will move with this slow down, it could be upwards of a year or more.
4- We are battling alot of anxiety, grief, and sorrow over this news. Not only for our own children who we long to bring home, but also for the millions of orphans whose lives hang in the balance. Policies and investigations are put in place for the safety and integrity of the adoption system. However, in instances like this, many innocent and legitimate orphans as well as loving families are the ones who suffer as a result of these decisions.
5- Please. Please pray on behalf of us, the thousands of other families in the Ethiopian adoption process, and for the 5 million orphans in Ethiopia longing for families. Please pray for justice for these children and peace for the many prospective parents wading this out. Pray that by a miracle God will bring our kids home soon, and make a way for the Ethiopian adoption program to remain open.
Proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Oh Bonnie, this is sooo sad. I had heard about this through another friend who also has their two referrals and is now stuck in limbo.
ReplyDeleteI have been and will continue to pray for you and your babies, as well as for all of the other orphanned children in Ethopia who deserve good loving homes.
I will be thinking of you.
Bonnie. This is so awful. I can't imagine what you and Justin have been going through the last couple of weeks. I have prayed and will continue to pray. I do think that God has started a good work here and I believe that He will finish it. He has provided all that money for your adoption and I am sure it isn't for nothing. Keep believing! Hold on tight. Sorrow may last for a day but joy comes in the morning!
ReplyDeleteThank you Misty and Kalyn.. please keep praying!
ReplyDeleteWe will keep praying Bonnie & Justin! Don't give up my friends!!! Love you loads! shelley & Rob
ReplyDeleteBonnie & Justin, I cannot even imagine the roller coaster of emotions you two have gone thru since the start of this adoption process. But I pray that you two will find peace and refuge in Him through it all. Even in the midst of these current changes in Ethiopia, God is *still* in control! He was in control when you guys pursued adoption in the very beginning. He is in control now of your precious children and the millions of orphans there. And He *will* continue to be in control to this finish good work He has started. I will keep praying hard!
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