Well, we're starting over...
For the past year our family has been on a journey to adopt a little girl from El Salvador through America World Adoption Agency (AWAA). We submitted our application on 1/24/07 and our dossier went to ES on 5/15/07. When we started the process, time estimates were that we would have our little girl home in 15-19 months from application. As the year progressed, there were still no referrals for families who had started a whole year before us.
On 1/28/08, almost 1 year to the date from when we started the process, we received notice from our agency that they were closing the ES program to new applicants. This decision was due to the lack of resources in ES to process dossiers and thus referrals. Families in process were given the option to wait it out, or to transfer to another country that our agency works in. Best estimates were that we would have another 2 years to wait and that the timelines would likely continue to increase. A call to our agency coordinator confirmed that they did not see any changes in the near future that would decrease the timelines. They again encouraged us to consider other programs.
There were tears of disappointment over this news. That night when we went to bed, Kevin almost laughed when he read the title to our nightly devotion. It was "Down, But Not Out". The verse was II Corinthians 4:8 "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; PERPLEXED but not despairing." And so, I committed to cling to "perplexed", but not go to "despairing".
Over the next several days, I couldn't even process "what now?". My mind just kept re-playing the information we had received, not knowing what to do with it. I sensed the Lord telling me to stand still and He would make our path clear. God kept giving us verses during this time that spoke directly to us:
"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:34 (from email on 1/29)
"Defend the cause of the weak and the FATHERLESS; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed." Psalms 82:3 (from nightly devotion on 1/30)
"Seek His will in all your ways and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:6 (from email on 1/31)
In the days that followed He was faithful to give us clear direction that we were to start over in Ethiopia. And so this blog is about starting our adoption journey to Ethiopia. Our purpose is not just to tell our story, but to bring glory to our God as we know He will work in amazing ways in the months to come!
For the past year our family has been on a journey to adopt a little girl from El Salvador through America World Adoption Agency (AWAA). We submitted our application on 1/24/07 and our dossier went to ES on 5/15/07. When we started the process, time estimates were that we would have our little girl home in 15-19 months from application. As the year progressed, there were still no referrals for families who had started a whole year before us.
On 1/28/08, almost 1 year to the date from when we started the process, we received notice from our agency that they were closing the ES program to new applicants. This decision was due to the lack of resources in ES to process dossiers and thus referrals. Families in process were given the option to wait it out, or to transfer to another country that our agency works in. Best estimates were that we would have another 2 years to wait and that the timelines would likely continue to increase. A call to our agency coordinator confirmed that they did not see any changes in the near future that would decrease the timelines. They again encouraged us to consider other programs.
There were tears of disappointment over this news. That night when we went to bed, Kevin almost laughed when he read the title to our nightly devotion. It was "Down, But Not Out". The verse was II Corinthians 4:8 "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; PERPLEXED but not despairing." And so, I committed to cling to "perplexed", but not go to "despairing".
Over the next several days, I couldn't even process "what now?". My mind just kept re-playing the information we had received, not knowing what to do with it. I sensed the Lord telling me to stand still and He would make our path clear. God kept giving us verses during this time that spoke directly to us:
"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:34 (from email on 1/29)
"Defend the cause of the weak and the FATHERLESS; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed." Psalms 82:3 (from nightly devotion on 1/30)
"Seek His will in all your ways and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:6 (from email on 1/31)
In the days that followed He was faithful to give us clear direction that we were to start over in Ethiopia. And so this blog is about starting our adoption journey to Ethiopia. Our purpose is not just to tell our story, but to bring glory to our God as we know He will work in amazing ways in the months to come!
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