Celebrating Ethiopia!

Hubby and I went to the annual Ethiopian cultural festival on Saturday. This was held at an Ethiopian church close to our house. I like to think of the church as "our Ethiopian church." :) Religion is a large part of the Ethiopian culture. The country is fairly evenly split between Ethiopian Christians and Muslims.

This cultural event caters to adoptive families who have, or are in the process of, adopted/adopting from Ethiopia. There were many Ethiopian/Eritrean church members there wearing traditional attire. There was also Ethiopian singing along with a traditional Ethiopian meal.

It was a great time to learn about the Ethiopian culture and support the Ethiopian church. It was also really fun to see all of the adoptive and Ethiopian families with their beautiful Ethiopian children. We look forward to the day when we will attend with our own Ethiopian child.

Update!

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. Things are fairly hectic in our household. I got a new job and we will be moving to another city. We will have to get an updated homestudy since we will not be bringing our child home to the house that we originally thought we would. I do not think this will delay our adoption any, but we will have to talk to our adoption agency and see. Just wanted to update everyone!

On another note, November is National Adoption Month!!! With the moving going on this month, I probably won't be able to celebrate this month properly. But, I will try and post something adoption-related later on this month.

That's all for now! :)

Off and Running

Hubby and I watched another documentary about adoption on PBS Point of View. This one was called Off and Running and it was pretty good! The film is about an African-American girl, Avery, who was adopted as a baby by a single White mom (Travis). Travis eventually meets a woman named Tovah who had adopted an African-American boy. Travis and Tovah move in together, form a blended family and adopt a Korean boy together. When I first started watching the documentary and discovered that Avery had lesbian parents, I was wary to watch the rest of the film. However, the film doesn't really focus on the lesbian parents, it is about Avery and how her life is shaped by her adoption.

Once Avery reaches high school, she starts to feel like she needs to know about her biological roots. Avery does get in contact with her birthmother, but eventually, her birthmother stops writing to her. At this point, Avery's life starts to deteriorate. She runs away and lives away from her home during her senior year in high school and actually stops attending school. I don't understand why Avery's parents don't do more to bring Avery back home. I am not sure if she is of legal age or not. From what I have read, some children feel rejected when they are given up for adoption. If they eventually contact their birthfamily and then their birthfamily doesn't want contact with them, the adopted child feels rejected yet again.

It also seems that Avery is struggling to get in touch with her African-American roots and to do this, she rejects her White mothers. For this reason, we seek to make sure our child is exposed to their Ethiopian heritage as well as their American heritage. That is one thing I noticed Avery's mothers did not do. Avery had no idea what it meant to be African-American.

As we have learned in our classes on transracial/transcultural adoption, it is important to make sure your child knows about the race and culture they were born into. Sometimes you may have to move to a different neighborhood or church so that your child can know their birth heritage. Otherwise, many children end up bothered by the fact that they may look a certain way, but they know nothing about the ethnic group they biologically belong to.

This film was also very good at showcasing the diversity found in how adoptees react to being adopted. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, not all adopted children are troubled. Avery's brother is quite content with his place in the family. He does not wish to search for his birthfamily and goes on to attend an Ivy League college after graduating high school. His outlook on his adoption is very different from Avery's. He mentions that he feels he has the power to create who he wants to be. Therefore, he doesn't feel like he needs to find his birthfamily to figure out who he is.

Here is the link for the streaming video: http://www.pbs.org/pov/offandrunning/full.php

All in all, I think this film is good for all parents, but especially adoptive parents and those who have adopted transracially/transculturally. If you do watch the documentary, I welcome your thoughts on the film.

My Soul Cries Out

Below is a short documentary about Korah. Korah is one of the poorest villages in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The people that live there are ignored and spend all day scouring trash in search of food that has been thrown away. There are no words to describe how I felt after watching this. Our child will not be coming from Korah, but we like to learn about all the areas of Ethiopia, our child's birth country.

In the face of all the babies and children, I see our baby. I am left wondering what the first few months of our child's life will be like. Will they be able to eat everyday? Probably not. The thought of that leaves me speechless. I cry out to God for mercy for the people of Korah and the approximately 5 million orphans in Ethiopia. I pray that hubby and I can decrease the orphan count in Ethiopia by at least 1.

The Village of Korah - A short documentary from Session 7 Media on Vimeo.

Wo Ai Ni (I Love You) Mommy

Last night, Hubby and I watched a documentary on PBS. It was a documentary about a family in New York that adopted an 8 year old from China. The documentary follows their entire family from pre-adoption to almost 2 years post-adoption.

This was a good movie if you want to learn more about the realities of adopting an older child who does not speak English and has special needs. This little girl in particular had a repaired club foot and dropped wrists. And despite a severe language barrier in the beginning, it is amazing how the little girl begins to learn English and forget Chinese. Although, it is sad at the end that the girl can no longer communicate with her foster family who she lived with for 8 years. Her adoptive mother starts in immediately trying to teach her English. The mother was quite irritable that her daughter did not want to learn English right away and this troubled me.

Our agency teaches a slow transition for the children. They caution against overwhelming them right away and I wonder how much education this family received from their agency. Hubby and I feel very strongly that children adopted from another culture should still learn about their birth culture. I was very annoyed that the mother didn't try to learn any Chinese.

This little girl even had her name changed to an American name: from Fang Sui Yong to Faith. The filmaker has to act as translator many times. As a result of this friction between mother and child in the beginning, I think Faith bonds more with her dad in the end.

Despite these issues, I enjoyed the portrayal of what it must be like for a young child to all of a sudden be taken away from all they have ever known and told they have a new family now. As always, adoption is bittersweet: joy tempered with grief and loss. I think this documentary accurately portrays adoption and the challenges and rewards of adoptive parenting. However, I pray that our transition period goes better than what this documentary portrayed.

If you want to check out this documentary, here is the link for the streaming video: http://www.pbs.org/pov/woainimommy/watch.php
It will give you further insight into adoption, especially older child adoption, and how it affects the child and their new family.

A Spirit Of Expectancy

A spirit of expectancy = expecting God to do something. That's right. We are getting our child's room ready. Even though wait times continue to increase, other African countries are closing to adoption (like Rwanda) and our agency is estimating another 1.5 years until we bring our child home, we know that God can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask, think or imagine. We also want to be able to look back and show our child how very much they are wanted. Hubby and I have been surprised many times by God doing something we did not think would happen. We know that God is able. Enjoy the video below by Deitrick Haddon. It has been very encouraging to me.



We want to show God that whenever He is ready, we are ready. Because we know that ALL things are possible with God.
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" Matthew 19:26 When we expect something, we don't always get it at the exact moment we ask for it. However, we know that this adoption is a directive from God, and so we know that He will bring it to pass.

I hope that you will join us in this spirit of expectancy - with us bringing our child home and in your own lives. Continue to live in a spirit of expectation. If God has told you to do something or told you that something will come to pass, it will. It may not happen when or how you thought it would, but it will happen. I believe that your level of expectation demonstrates your level of faith.

Before and after pictures: painting done.

The Ethiopian Church

This past Sunday we went to an Ethiopian church near our house. We first learned of this church in November 2009 when we were invited to an adoptive family dinner there! When we met the Pastor there he was so nice, we decided to go back this month in celebration of being on our agency's wait list for 6 months. The church, Indianapolis Grace Ethiopian Church (IGEC) has a great adoptive family ministry. Here is a link to the church's website if you would like to learn more: www.ethioindy.com


Here is a picture of us and other adoptive families with the members of the IGEC during the dinner event in November 2009.

Our experience at the IGEC was amazing. The service is in Amharic, but the Pastor translated to English for us periodically throughout the service. The music and worship was wonderful and we learned a few words in Amharic. As you can see from the picture below, my husband wore an Ethiopian scarf that he got. The writing is in Amharic (ኢየሱስ ነው ጌታ) and says "Jesus is Lord (Aiyäsus näw Geta)." I thought husband looked very handsome and the Pastor told him he has some Ethiopian features. That is the Pastor and his wife in the picture with my husband.



We will definitely visit IGEC again and we can't wait to take our child there so that they can learn Amharic and stay connected with their Ethiopian heritage.

WOW! That's a long wait!

I have heard this phrase a lot lately in regards to the long wait we have ahead of us for our Ethiopian adoption. I want to remind myself and everyone about our wonderful agency, Wide Horizons For Children (WHFC). As I have learned more about Ethiopian adoption, I have found out, not every agency has long wait times.

However, our agency is more concerned with humanitarian aid rather than adoption in the countries they work in. While we would like to adopt an orphan, it was also important to us that we be a part of a larger mission. We are proud that we will be able to tell our child that we did not only adopt them, but we contributed to the betterment of their birth country.

While some agencies are founded solely for the practice of adoption, WHFC was founded in 1974 to provide help to orphaned children in Vietnam. The basis of WHFC is to help and develop the countries where they work. Their primary goal is to keep birthfamilies together and to help provide the resources to encourage the family to stay united. In this case, adoption is a last resort. Adoption is something the family turns to when they have no other options. We did not want to be responsible for breaking up a birthfamily. This was very important to us and in line with our morals. When an agency has this type of mind-set, it decreases the likelihood of an unethical adoption.

Currently, WHFC is focused on bringing medical and educational resources to the
communities in Ethiopia. Anyone who knows hubby and I, knows that access to quality education is high on our list. Also, since I am a physician, I am very passionate about adequate healthcare.

WHFC has built one hospital already and are in the process of building another hospital. They also have built or furnished additions to four schools. Many of the towns that WHFC works in are very remote. There is limited access to schools and no access to medical facilities. WHFC is changing the landscape of Ethiopia.

We are very thankful to be able to contribute to the betterment of our child's birth country. So, yes, the wait is long, but well worth it. Here is a short video to remind myself of what our agency stands for and some of the reasons why we are waiting (There is a longer video in my blog post from Feburary 2010).

Our First Baby Item

I know it has been a long time since I last posted. There just has not been too much to post about. However, today, I received our first baby item in the mail! It is an Ergo Baby Carrier that I found online on sale. I realized that is one of the positives of this extremely long wait. We can gradually acquire all the items we may need. As many of you know, hubby and I are super planners, so this style of buying things suits us perfectly. It would be too stressful to wait and get everything in the ~3 months we will have from the referral of our child until we bring them back home to the States. Plus, I get so overwhelmed everytime I peruse the aisles of a baby superstore. Once we get our referral, there will be plenty to do besides buying baby items. We will have more paperwork to complete, we will have to take paperwork to our international adoption pediatrician and we will have to start looking at flights and hotels for our first trip to Ethiopia. Those are just a few of the things we will need to do and we will have ~1 week - 1 month to complete everything.

The Real Abuse of Abused Children?

I was reading a Christian fiction book recently (my favorite type of reading) and it brought forth an interesting concept called: The Real Abuse of Abused Children. Now, although this was a fiction book, it brought up some very real issues. It asked, are biological parents really the best for abused children who end up in foster care?

If you ask Department of Child Services (DCS), or other sectors of the government that deal with child welfare, this question, I think the most likely answer would be yes. But, I beg to differ. Children should be removed from the home the first time harm occurs, while the child is still young enough to find an adoption placement. With each passing year, the odds of a troubled child finding an adoptive home diminish by 20%. At age 2, most children will find permanent loving homes. But after age 5? Most children are too old and too jaded to ever fit into a loving adoptive family, thanks to DCS. It is not right to think that no matter what happens, the child belongs with their biological mother.

I am praying that God will change the minds of those who can make a difference. When we first became foster parents, we learned that the primary goal of foster care is for the child to reunify with their biological parent. But, after fostering a child, I am not so sure that this decision is best for the child. As I think I mentioned before, there are approximately 500,000 children in foster care in the United States. 40% of the children are older than 13 years of age and the average age of a child in foster care is 10 years old. The average amount of time a child spends in foster care is 28 months with 3 different placements (moving around from family to family). Why are they in foster care so long? They are waiting for their parent to get their act together so they can return to their biological family. They are waiting to reunify with their biological parent.

What if their parent never gets their act together and parental rights are eventually terminated? At this point, most children wait at least 5 years to be adopted, move at least 3 times in foster care and become separated from their siblings. By this time, they are most likely a troubled teen. This makes it very difficult for them to assimilate into a healthy productive adoptive family. And studies have shown that foster children that "Age out" of foster care at age 18 are more likely (compared to the general public) to not finish high school, be unemployed and be dependent on public assistance.

It seems possible that if we change our way of thinking and allow these children to be adopted sooner, we can make the most impact and really change a child's life forever. The main goal should be to place children in safe, loving homes with a forever family. A family where they don't have to worry if they will be neglected or abused. Being biologically related does not necessarily accomplish this goal and may not be in the best interests of the child.

Foster Care, Adoption and Orphan Care Ministry

Well, I had a request from a friend to include more information on our blog about the foster care, adoption and orphan care ministry I have started at our church. I am excited to report that we had our first event yesterday. In honor of May being National Foster Care Month, we set up a table for our members to get information about foster care and adopting from foster care. At first, I was nervous about how our members would receive this information because this was not an area that had been previously discussed at our church. However, my husband, my Pastor and I had been praying about this ministry for many months. I was also reminded of Matthew 6:25 where Jesus tells us Do Not Worry.

So, armed with scripture and prayers in my heart, I forged ahead.....and God met us there! Many people came by the table and most said they had thought about fostering/adopting and wanted more information. My heart is so full with praise to God for the work He is doing in the lives of orphans!

I pray that we can keep the momentum going. Next month, there is an important fundraising event going on in Indianapolis to help those foster children who are never adopted and "age out" of the system and have to enter adulthood alone. For example, studies have shown that 68% of women who age out of foster care end up on food stamps, compared with 7% of all women! Read more about the event here. As small as a donation of $5 can change a life for a child. Please let me know if you will attend the event: http://www.uwci.org/events.asp?p=201&dis=d&date=6/27/2010

Another great organization that I want to make people aware of is Kingdom's Kloset (also in Indianapolis). They are an organization that provides immediate clothing for children in foster care. They rely completely on donations and volunteers. Sometimes, children are taken out of their home with no warning whatsoever. They leave their home with only the clothes on their backs and it could be a few days before their foster parent can get to the store to buy them clothes. That is where this organization comes in. Actually, as I am typing this, I am developing another idea for our FAO ministry. More on this later. Anyway, below is the link for Kingdom's Kloset if you have gently used (or new!) children's clothes that you can donate: http://www.agapefamilies.org/KingdomsKloset.html

While I Wait....

As I mentioned in a previous post, I anticipate that the wait for our child will be one of the most challenging times in my life. So far, it has been fine. However, it has only been 2 months with an estimated time of 16 more months to go! I am not disillusioned. Anyway, it has been a while since I have updated the blog so I thought I would write about what I have been doing while I wait:

1. One of the most important things, to me, that I have been doing is starting a foster care, adoption and orphan care ministry at our church. I have been channeling much of my time, energy and passion into educating others about the situation for children in foster care and orphanges.

2. Due to #1 (and our own personal situation), I have been trying to further educate myself on these topics. I just finished reading You Can Adopt

It was very quick and easy to read and I would recommend it for anyone who wants to get a general overview of adoption. It was published by the editors of a magazine I enjoy called Adoptive Families.


3. Prayer and reading and reminding myself of stories from the Bible where God made promises and they were fulfilled. One such example is in Genesis 12 where God promised Abraham a son. In this regard, my husband and I have often seen ourselves as Abraham and Sarah! :)

4. One of my favorite songs for this time in my life I discovered from the movie Fireproof and it is called While I'm Waiting by John Waller. Check it out and if you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend it. This song really exemplifies to me that while we are waiting on God to move, we are still to serve Him!

Adoption Tax Credit!

Praise God, the adoption tax credit (ATC) has been extended and increased! It was set to expire December 2010, which was before we were anticipating bringing our child home. However, we decided to step out on faith and begin our adoption. Now the ATC is set to expire December 2011 and has been increased to $13,170. And, the credit has been made refundable. This means that even if our taxes don't total to $13,170, the IRS will send us a check for the difference. God says he will make our enemies our footstool! "waiting for his enemies to be laid under his feet" - Hebrews 10:13 This is going to make our adoption more affordable. And I still pray that one day, the ATC can be made permanent.

In other personal adoption news, we received a letter that our approval to adopt (issued by the US government), has now been forwarded to the Ethiopian government in Addis Ababa. Our dossier should be on its' way to Ethiopia as well. It will also need to be translated into Amharic at some point along the way. The Ethiopian government will review all these documents and give their approval for us to adopt as well. We are closer to making sure there is at least one less orphan in the world!!!!

Major Change!

Last week, we received word that the Ethiopian government has made a new law effective April 1, 2010. They will now require that families appear at court, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to testify to their willingness and commitment to adopt their child. Under the old law, we signed over power of attorney to the in-country coordinator affiliated with our agency. He would then finalize our adoption and after our child received their visa (1-2 months after finalization) then we would travel to pick them up.

Under the new law, we will travel to Ethiopia, meet our child, testify that we would like to adopt them and then travel back to the States.....without our child (can't imagine how I'm going to do that). :( We will travel to Ethiopia again in 1-2 months to pick up our child once they have their visa.

When I first heard this news, it was very challenging on the financial side. It also brought some anxiety over the realization that international adoption can be very unstable. Will this actually happen for us? However, I am very excited to think about meeting our child earlier than I originally thought and spending an extra week in Ethiopia! I am also aware that this change is for the Ethiopian children. It is about making sure that adoptions are done ethically and that is the most important thing. This change came about because there have been about 40 cases of child abandonment cases. Some of the less reputable agencies have not been truthful about the child's health or history. When the adoptive parents travel to Ethiopia and find out the truth, they may not be comfortable with the truth and they end up leaving their child in Ethiopia.

So, this change has been (and will continue to be as all the details have not been worked our yet) a bit of an adjustment. But, I am constantly amazed at how much this adoption has already taught me about faith in God: "...Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall have success!..." 2 Chronicles 20:20 Until we have our child in our arms, we will just have to trust and believe in God that any change that occurs is part of His plan. In the meantime, we wait. "That is why I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised." Psalms 130:5

What Is A Parent?

As I anticipate becoming a parent for the first time (aside from my two lovely dogs, Muffin and Chocolate!) this question has come to mind. I already feel like a parent. We have filled out mountains of paperwork (and we're not done yet!), made untold financial sacrifices and are preparing to travel thousands of miles to receive our child. Although I always knew I would adopt, I never imagined I would be journeying to Ethiopia. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" - I Corinthians 2:9. We know that God plans a wonderful future for those who love Him.

Hubby and I desire so strongly to build our family that we have overcome great odds. Most Americans favor adoption and many have at some point considered adoption, but no more than 2% of Americans have actually adopted. We have answered the call of family that God placed on our hearts, even though it may not be a typical journey in the eyes of most people.

God knows which children will be a part of our family before anyone even knows of their existence. As a dear friend recently reminded me: God has good planned for us. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11.

I have also enjoyed the deeper connection I have with family as I ask them questions about the adoption processes they experienced when adopting other family members. I also see other family members in a new light as I explore the feelings they went through as a birthmother or birthfather who made an adoption plan for their children. I feel blessed that I have these resources within my own family. The stories that have been shared with me have not always been ones of great joy. There has been some definite heartache. In the end, though, a family was created and for that I am thankful.

Expectation

Received in the mail Saturday, February 27, 2010: Form I-171H - Notice Of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing Of Orphan Petition. What does that mean? We have been approved by the US government to adopt an orphan! In the adoption world, this is a big milestone. It means we are officially on the wait list for our child.

It also means I am experiencing all the emotions that an expectant mother may feel. As one friend said to me on Sunday, with shock and amazement in her voice: "You're going to be a mom!" As an expectant first time mom, I am dealing with a cornucopia of emotions:

1. Extreme and unadulterated happiness - After being married for 10 years, I am so excited to see my husband in a way I have never known him before. I am expecting God to do miraculous things for our family!

2. Anxiety - Who will take care of the child when both husband and I are at work? How will having a child affect our professional careers? Will I be a good mom? What are the best products on the market for our child? How will this baby affect our marriage?

3. Ambivalence - Am I really ready for the sleep deprivation that no one seems prepared for? How about not having any time for anything other than baby? In the end, I know that we will gain more than we could ever lose!

I thought this ultrasound picture was a good representation of the emotions swirling around inside of me. No, it is not the traditional ultrasound picture, but it does convey that I am pregnant....pregnant with expectation.

Romans 8:19 - The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

Dispelling the Myths

This post was inspired by conversations with many different friends. When I asked a friend of mine if she would ever consider adopting, she responded with: "Oh, no, I don't desire to parent an old or special needs child. If I were going to adopt, I would want a healthy baby, and only rich people can afford to adopt healthy babies."

Another friend mentioned that she was dissuaded from adpoting a child domestically because of she did not want an open adoption.

Realizing that 40% of Americans consider adoption, but only 1% actually adopt, I thought to myself: "You need to dispel the myths of adoption." Education is empowering. Perhaps knowing the truth will encourage more people to adopt, and maybe it won't. But, in the end, at least more people will be making their choice based on truth.

Myth: There are no infants being placed for adoption.
Fact: Every year, at least 20,000 U.S. born infants are placed for adoption. The same is true in international adoption.

Myth: Adoption is so expensive, it is out of reach for most families.
Fact: The cost of adoption is often the same as giving birth. The only difference is, there is no "adoption insurance" like there is health insurance. Adopting from foster care is virtually free. In addition, many employers offer adoption benefits and Congress passed legislation giving a tax credit to families who adopt.

Myth: Birthparents can show up at any time to reclaim their child.
Fact: Once the adoption is legally finalized, the adoptive family is the child's family.

Myth: I can't love an adopted child as much as I would a biological child.
Fact: Having a biological child does not guarantee love and attachment. If you are married, look at your spouse. Are they related to you biologically? No. (Hopefully your answer is no!) Do you love them with your whole being? Yes. (Your answer on this should be yes!) Or, how about best friends, Godchildren or pets? I have all these people in my life that I love with my whole heart, and they are not biologically related to me.

Myth: Open adoption means my child's birthparent and biological extended family (Great Aunt Sally and everyone else....) will be celebrating holidays and birthdays with us.
Fact: There are many levels of open adoption. The most common means that you send letters and pictures once a year to your child's birthparent. This can be done through the adoption agency and you don't have to have "actual" contact at all.

Myth: Adopted children have more problems than biological children. They experience trouble with drugs, alcohol, relationships, mental illness, etc.
Fact: I am a firm believer in the power of God and the ability to train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) Research also shows that adopted children are just as well-adjusted as their non-adopted peers.

For us, adoption is a faith walk. And we know that since He has given us this desire, He is going to walk with us and give us all the tools we need to achieve it. Psalm 20:4 - May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Just Finished Reading.....

I don't usually read non-fiction books, but this was a great book. I read it in 3 days! Russell Moore does an excellent job of recounting the adoption of his two sons from Russia. At the same time, he uses the parallel of our adoption as sinners into the grace of God. I could really identify with him as he told of the joys, struggles and disappointments that may surround the adoption process.

At this point in our adoption journey, I really enjoyed the chapter "Paperwork, Finances, and Other Threats to Personal Sanctification." I am sure I will revisit this book many times over the next few years, but this chapter was helpful in addressing the waiting process. For those of you who have been pregnant and could barely wait 9 months to meet your child, imagine waiting 17 months. I think this will be one of the hardest things. It is almost unimaginable to me. However, Russell Moore brings up some interesting points. He talks about how Jacob, in the Bible, worked for fourteen years for permission from Rachel's father for Rachel's hand in marriage (Genesis 29:1-30). If Jacob can do that, I know God has given us the strength and support needed for our wait. And, it will be worth it. Russell Moore reminds us that God is asking us to do this and therefore, we should do it with joyfulness and gratitude. "...work hard and with gladness all the time, as though working for Christ, doing the will of God with all your hearts." Ephesians 6:6-7 At the conclusion of the book, I realized that the most wonderful thing about adoption, is that it is a picture of the family of God. All believers are adopted, become co-heirs with Jesus and become children of God!

Update on our adoption process: we got fingerprinted yesterday, by the FBI, for the Department of Homeland Security/Immigration Services. It will take about 1.5 months for our fingerprints to be approved. In the meantime, next week, we will be attending adoption preparation classes on international adoptions and what it means to be an adoptive parent! Yes, I enjoy classes, what can I say? How else could I have completed almost 30 years of school?!? :)

Reminder Of Why Ethiopia

Whenever I get weary, frustrated or distracted from our Ethiopian adoption process, I watch this video as a reminder of our dedication to the task God has set before us.
This video is a great representation of what our adoption agency is doing in order to stop the orphan crisis that is currently occuring in Ethiopia.

Why Not Haiti

Since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Hubby and I have been asked many times, why we are not adopting from Haiti. Every country has specific requirements for their prospective adoptive parents. We did not meet the requirements for Haiti....simple enough, if you don't meet the requirements, you can not adopt. For Haiti, a few of the requirements are:

1. Married for 10 years.
2. At least one person must be at least 35 years old.

We didn't fit either one of these requirements.

Update on our adoption: Our home study and dossier is probably being translated into Amharic (the official language of Ethiopia) right now. After that, it will be sent to the Ethiopian Embassy.

The Department of Homeland Security has also received our home study and application. We will be fingerprinted by the FBI in about 3 weeks. Then, Department of Homeland Security will (hopefully) approve our fingerprints. That could take up to 3 months. After that, we will be on the waiting list. The current wait is 17-18 months. I have also gotten many questions about why it takes so long. I don't think there is any one single answer. When adopting internationally, many governments are unstable. Wait times can increase and decrease depending on changes in the adoption laws and policies of a specific country. Also, once a child is found abandoned or brought to an orphanage, the government begins an investigation to ensure the child is truly an orphan. They look for members of the child's family to make sure they know the child will be adopted and taken to the US. It is uncertain how long an investigation can take. It depends on how complex the issues surrounding the child are.

And, specifically in our country of choice, Ethiopia, there is a prime minister election coming up this year. The current prime minister, Meles Zenawi Asres, has been in office since 1995 and some people feel it is time for a change. If Meles Zenawi is replaced, the adoption laws could change. If they were to change, we have no idea if they will change for better or worse.

From the research I have done, Meles Zenawi seems to be doing a good job as prime minister. Despite Ethiopia being a third world country, Meles Zenawi has received many awards for the way he has developed Ethiopia since the 1990s. Either way, if he is replaced, or if he continues to be prime minister, some groups will not be happy. After the last election in 2005, there was post-election violence that some described as a massacre. Please pray for the upcoming election in Ethiopia (May 2010). Pray that God's will is done and that our future child will be safe.

Timkat!

Today is the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Holiday of Timkat! Timkat = Epiphany. This holiday celebrates the baptism of Jesus Christ and is thought to be the biggest national holiday in the country. Enkuan Aderesachehu!

Haiti Earthquake 2010

It is so hard to comment on this. As soon as I heard about the earthquake, my thoughts turned to the increased number of orphans that will come out of this. What will happen to the poorest of the poor, the children that no one wants or can not afford? In 2007, there were an estimated 380,000 orphans in Haiti with a population of approximately 9 million people. Right now, many orphans are living outdoors since some orphanages in Haiti were destroyed. Where will they go? My heart hurts.

Enkuan Aderesachehu!

Enkuan Aderesachehu = Happy Holidays! Direct translation = How good that God has gotten us to this point/this day! The majority of believers in Ethiopia are Christians, with a large minority of Muslims. However, Ethiopia is one of the rare countries where Christians and Muslims live together in relative peace. (Another awesome fact about Ethiopia that Hubby and I liked).

Today is Christmas in Ethiopia. It is called Ganna or YeLidet Beal. Direct translation = festival of birth. And, that is what the Ethiopians do. Gift giving is not done on this day. This day is used to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There are feasts and games and most people go to church. Many people fast on Christmas Eve (which was yesterday). How did you spend your Christmas holiday? Did you spend it rushing around the mall, spending all your money? I have to say, I believe the Ethiopians have the right idea. This day should be spent celebrating Jesus. It should be spent with family and friends. This is exactly what my family did and we had a wonderful time! Enkuan Aderesachehu!