Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
I need to post this verse ALL over our house right now. In case you haven't received a phone call, text, email, or fb message from me- this week has not brought good news. Well, I guess that's wrong to say- it's news that tests our faith. Last week Ethiopia announced they are going to reduce the number of referrals (ie- matches with parents). Reduce seems like such a simple word that doesn't match what is happening. They are reducing by 90%. So instead of matching 50 families per day they will match 5. I know that still sounds decent, 5 per day, but you have to remember there are families and agencies all over the world (we're talking thousands of families) getting on "the list" every day. So rather than looking at a 6-8 month wait, like we were thinking, our wait could be stretched to years. That means our homestudy would have to be updated yearly but also we would have LOTS of time to make sure we have saved every penny we think we'll need and paid off a few things. These changes went into effect on March 10 of this year. Last we were told, agencies and the US Embassy are trying to work things out. Apparently there have been issues with corrupt systems and so they want to be more thorough (definitely can't blame them for that!). They are concerned that not every option is being exhausted to keep the children in the country before they are being adopted out to other places.
We know all things will happen when God's plan says they will but it's hard to set aside our own expectations and feelings. Maybe this is happening so I can continue to go to Togo with Justin? Maybe this is happening because the child we would have been matched with had a disability we would not have been able to afford to treat? Maybe we are supposed to look at other avenues? At this point all I can do is throw my hands up and say "He knows" and be forced to learn to let go of control of things. I put a link below that goes to a petition if you want to sign it and another link that goes to the State Dept's announcements for what's going on in Ethiopia (Jessie- set a limit for yourself so you don't spend all day going from site to site! :) ). Please pray for the children of Ethiopia and that the government will have the wisdom to do what is best for them, no matter what that timeline means for us.
Everything happens for reason and all of your questions are good ones. The bottom line is that if you stay strong to your cause and keep hold of your faith in the situation, it will come to you and Justin. I am as eager to recieve a new addition to our family and am excited to be a part of all of this. My prayers follow you both and the path this leads you down. Wherever that journey takes you, just remember that you are not alone and you can call on us for strength because we are right behind you.
ReplyDelete"In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
We're with you the whole way- hell, sometimes you even have to hold us back :)
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine your frustration. With that, I am so proud of you for trying to consciously take each day as a gift and each obstacle as an opportunity. You're going to be an amazing mother- if anything for your extraordinary patience and determination. Each day, no matter how minutely, you are closer than the day before.
..and no guarantees on the limit. Once said links are found, IT'S ON.