We found out yesterday that for the second month in a row, our wait list number did not change. For families at the top of the list, this has actually been the case since August 2013. It is becoming more and more difficult to wait and trust, particularly in our case, since we are SO far down on the list. I did finally send off our immigration update to get official approval to change our status from 1-2 children and to change our age range up to age 8. February was a very busy month for us between the Forever Marriage Conference Brad and I planned to Micah's birthday and party and then a family trip to Disney World. I squeezed in mailing the immigration paperwork February 20 and was told it would arrive February 24. We'll see how long the wait is this time (we were told not near as long).
Our adoption agency, as well as the agency who represents us in Ethiopia remain hopeful that adoptions referrals will pick back up "soon," but we were told that we should expect to wait an additional 6-12 months for a referral. Considering the only wait time we were told was 15-18 months once we were on the list, and the list grew considerably before we completed paperwork, AND we have now changed our parameters to possibly include siblings, we have NO idea what our anticipated wait time should be.
Because of some changes that were made to ensure adoptions were ethical, a lot of children who were ready for referral have had to get entirely new sets of paperwork. In addition, the Minister of MOWCYA (basically the government agency that regulates adoptions in Ethiopia) has made statements implying she is personally anti-international adoption. While others are in support of adoption, she is somehow single-handedly holding things up by fighting with the regional governments over who has the final say in approving children to be referred for adoption. Apparently she has been making quite a few "controversial" statements about various topics lately, so we have been asked to pray that either her heart is softened towards the orphans and adoption or that she gets reassigned to a different position. In the meantime, the orphanages are under a great deal of stress and strain with more and more children who are not being referred for adoption as well as the task of gathering new paperwork on children who they believe are eligible for referral. I'm not sure how well the Ethiopian government supports the orphanages. I get the impression a lot of the supplies and resources come from outside agencies, such as relief organizations and adoption agencies.
Please do not "broadcast" this information as the adoption environment is so unstable right now, even well meaning posts can be viewed as negative by those who make decisions in Ethiopia. This is combined with recent allegations against IAG, an adoption agency that is being charged with multiple illegal and unethical adoption practices in Ethiopia, and creates a lot of doubt in the people of Ethiopia about the future of international adoptions there.
I am excited to be attending Created for Care (C4C) this weekend north of Atlanta. It is a Christian retreat for adoptive and foster mothers, and I have heard WONDERFUL things about it! It is a time for prayer and education, as well as a chance to connect with other women in similar circumstances. I don't personally know anyone going, but I know several women via Facebook who are attending, including several from our adoption agency who are waiting to adopt from Ethiopia. Adopting can feel very isolating as others who are not in that situation really cannot identify with all the emotions and stress and everything else that comes both before and after placement. I look forward to all I will learn and the women I will meet! I will try to update when I return from C4C.
Please keep praying that referrals will resume soon in Ethiopia, and the true orphans will be matched with waiting families!
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