Good News from Ethiopia!!

So, for the past few weeks.... this is kinda what I have been walking around looking like!



 

Seriously.

If you've been around me, you understand this picture!

 

I have been ANXIOUSLY waiting on word from Ethiopia regarding the status of International Adoptions.

Regardless of my emotional status, God has still been on the throne, and He still is.

I am learning that.

Adoption is hard, ya'll.

It is completely worth it. But it's hard.

God is using this journey to draw us closer to Himself. He is using this journey to prune us. He is growing us in ways that I never thought possible. He is stretching me WELL beyond my comfort zone. And He is constantly drawing me to my knees.

For that... I am thankful.

 

So today, I was standing in the kitchen and Lee came running through to house screaming..

"Abby, Abby! Where is your phone?"

My heart skipped a beat for a moment, then he spoke again.

"I just saw on the AWAA facebook page that we have an email about Ethiopia!"

 

So I quickly found my phone.

 

And there she was. The long, awaited email about the status of Ethiopia adoptions!

I read the email out loud so Lee could hear it too.

It felt as it I was releasing 500 pounds of weight off my shoulders as I read it.

I cannot express through typed words the emotional roller coaster that adoption is.

I have been SO, SO blessed to be surrounded by fellow adoptive moms who constantly encourage me, cry with me, pray with me, fast with me and simply journey with me.

 

And I have been surrounded by you who do the same even if you don't completely understand everything that I am feeling.

So thank you sweet, sweet friends!

You guys are the hand and feet of Christ... here... daily... with us!

 

Here is part of the email that our agency sent us today!

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We are thrilled to share positive news from Ethiopia.  Earlier today Minister Zenebu, along with other high level MOWCYA officials, met with agency network representatives.  In this meeting it was clearly expressed by Minister Zenebu that she does not plan to work to stop adoptions, but desires to focus on eliminating bad practice and continue to invest in good practice of Ethiopia adoptions.  She reiterated that neither MOWCYA nor the Ethiopian Government plan to shut down adoptions within Ethiopia, and went on to encourage agencies to continue their work as normal.

 

We know this news comes as relief for many adoptive families in process.  America World will continue to work on behalf of Ethiopia’s orphans and vulnerable children to place them into Christian homes.  We expect MOWCYA will likely hold more meetings in the weeks to come and will continue to keep families updated with any new information.  We are seeing several regions issue clearances for children to be adopted and are hopeful more will start soon.

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 So, like the email says, we expect that Ethiopia will continue to pursue making adoptions ethical and attempting to eliminate corruption.

I anticipate change to continue to happen within the process of adoption. We have already seen lots of change in the 2 years we have been in this process. After all, when we first started they told us we would be home with a baby in 2 years or less :) We are now a little over 2 years in the process and still waiting, waiting, waiting.

 

But sweet boy is WORTH THE WAIT!

 

Please keep us in your prayers as we wait on God's perfect timing!

 

 

"being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phillipians 1:6