Adoption is hard.
Nothing profound in that statement. It's just true.
Exactly three years ago, we made the decision to start the adoption process. God was speaking and moving strongly in our hearts.
Then the process began.
All we wanted to do was go scoop up a little child and love her forever.
But, it doesn't exactly work like that.
We began a process of research, choices, and decisions. Choices and decisions? It's so hard. There's a big, wide world, and we will gladly bring each and every orphan home. But, there are decisions.
1. Find an agency
(I have been very thankful for ours - America World Adoption)
2. Narrow to one country.
Well, that's actually easier than it sounds, because only some countries even have international adoption. The ones that do also have guidelines/requirements. We don't even qualify for some places.
So, our choice easily went to Ethiopia, and we quickly fell in love. We soaked up every bit of info we could over the last few years.
The world has become much smaller than it seemed before.
We've tried to share our journey and keep everyone informed along the way. At the beginning, we expected to be home and settled with our sweet girl by now. Lots of things have changed within their government, and after so many changes, our wait is not even half over.
We cling to God and His direction and providence in all these steps, big and small. Although the wait is terribly difficult, we have been staying on course unless God leads us otherwise.
Over the last couple of months, God has been speaking to me about our wait.
"You don't wait on a list. You wait on the Lord. Wait on me."
The words of Isaiah 40:31 resonate in my spirit.
It is true, when you wait on the Lord, you do not grow weary. He does renew your strength. You do rise above the circumstance and hold a different view of your path.
I thought God was assuring me that He was in control despite the wait. The logistics of a waiting list or legal process fall far beneath His power and sovereignty.
We wait on the Lord.
Another change in Ethiopia.
The government is considering a proposal for some very strict changes to the adoption process, especially international adoptions. With these new regulations, our family will no longer be eligible to adopt.
It's difficult news, and it breaks my heart for all the children who are already waiting too long.
There are no words.
Other countries have done similar things, and some have closed adoptions completely.
Adoption is a risky path to walk.
We wait on the Lord.
We prayed. We needed to make a decision.
It's time for some big updates in our process. We needed to choose our course.
Again, the choices are quite narrow.
We could go in a few different directions, so we prayed.
God has led us to China.
Our agency is allowing transfers to the China program, because China has actually made their qualifications more attainable.
The world keeps getting smaller. :)
This week we began our paperwork process for China.
There are a lot of emotions in this change, because we have developed a special attachment to Ethiopia. I feel confident God will continue to use these connections we've made to ministries and communities in Ethiopia. I know He has a purpose for that.
We wait on the Lord.
Without Him, it looks like we had a detour. With Him, we can see His hand guiding us on a course that is steady and straight.
China. I'm falling in love fast!
We've told Drew and Kate, and Luke has already been yelling "China, China, China".
It's hard to explain things that don't actually make sense, but Drew and Kate have been amazing through this entire process.
First of all, you have to realize that our little girl is already a member of our family. She is a part of our conversations DAILY. We plan for her, dream of her, and have lots of drawings of her. :)
We explained the change to Drew and Kate. After some questions, they started getting excited about China.
Then, Drew asked, "What about the little girl in Ethiopia?"
Great question.
We are still waiting for the same little girl.
We began this process and started praying for the girl we would adopt. God has heard every prayer, and even though we don't know who or exactly where she is, God does. We began our journey planning for Ethiopia, but God knew that it would change. God knows how this will all end.
God knows our sweet girl. Even before she was born He knew her. (Jeremiah 1:5)
We have been praying. God has been answering. We thought she was in Ethiopia, but she's not. God always knew that. He's not surprised.
Please keep praying for our family.
We have been on a journey to our sweet girl for three years, and we won't stop until we can scoop her up and love her forever!
"I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in His word I put my hope." - Psalm 130:5
