We officially changed our preference form today.
Let me explain...
About a month ago, we received news from our agency that we would have to redo our entire dossier after the oldest thing in it was two years old. This is apparently a mandate from MOWA in Ethiopia and is not a new phenomenon. Adoptions from Ethiopia have typically not taken 2+ years to complete, so it's just "new" now because adoptions these days apparently are taking that long to complete. We were originally given a 12+ month wait for siblings age 4 and younger. A week after we were told that we would likely be re-doing our dossier, we were told our wait time for siblings had increased to 18-24+ months for a referral.
I know what you're thinking if you have not adopted. Many of you have expressed this same frustration to me. It goes something like this: "How can it possibly take that long? Aren't there 5 million orphans in Ethiopia? Don't they care that these children are all alone without moms and dads?"
My answer, "YES! THEY CARE!!! A LOT!!! But, they want to make sure that their process is ethical and there is absolutely no child trafficking involved what-so-ever, and I WANT THAT, TOO!"
We have spent weeks in prayer over this, and have decided to change our preference form (which is the form our agency uses when they decide which child to refer to which family~ultimately knowing GOD SETS THE LONELY IN FAMILIES) We are now requesting EITHER a single child age 0-3, OR siblings ages 0-4 years.
Because of the wait time for siblings among other things, we are expecting to adopt one boy, likely a toddler. We estimate that we could very well have a referral by early summer, and could possibly bring our child home by the end of this year. We know full-well that God is the giver of life, and that HE ALONE will decide the path our family will take. We trust Him.
Please pray with us for our child/children, and for our peace of heart as we wait.
Let me explain...
About a month ago, we received news from our agency that we would have to redo our entire dossier after the oldest thing in it was two years old. This is apparently a mandate from MOWA in Ethiopia and is not a new phenomenon. Adoptions from Ethiopia have typically not taken 2+ years to complete, so it's just "new" now because adoptions these days apparently are taking that long to complete. We were originally given a 12+ month wait for siblings age 4 and younger. A week after we were told that we would likely be re-doing our dossier, we were told our wait time for siblings had increased to 18-24+ months for a referral.
I know what you're thinking if you have not adopted. Many of you have expressed this same frustration to me. It goes something like this: "How can it possibly take that long? Aren't there 5 million orphans in Ethiopia? Don't they care that these children are all alone without moms and dads?"
My answer, "YES! THEY CARE!!! A LOT!!! But, they want to make sure that their process is ethical and there is absolutely no child trafficking involved what-so-ever, and I WANT THAT, TOO!"
We have spent weeks in prayer over this, and have decided to change our preference form (which is the form our agency uses when they decide which child to refer to which family~ultimately knowing GOD SETS THE LONELY IN FAMILIES) We are now requesting EITHER a single child age 0-3, OR siblings ages 0-4 years.
Because of the wait time for siblings among other things, we are expecting to adopt one boy, likely a toddler. We estimate that we could very well have a referral by early summer, and could possibly bring our child home by the end of this year. We know full-well that God is the giver of life, and that HE ALONE will decide the path our family will take. We trust Him.
Please pray with us for our child/children, and for our peace of heart as we wait.
2 comments:
Just saw you comment on the farmers wife blog that you would be at C4C in march! I will be there too! Looking forward to it so much!!
Isn't it great that God already knows exactly which child(ren) is/are yours?! He's ALWAYS known! And these changes in time frames and your paperwork haven't surprised Him a bit. =)
Praying for you as you get closer to your little one(s).
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