Disappointing News

Today we learned that some Ethiopian officials are attempting to shut down all foreign adoptions of Ethiopian children.

According to this article, the House of People's Representatives and the Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth are urging the public and Ethiopian stakeholders to work closely to end foreign adoption. They want to work with local NGOs to care for the orphaned children and protect them from abuse, rather than "giving them away to foreign families."

To be sure, corrupt adoptions have taken place in Ethiopia. Agencies such as Bethany, the one we are working with, closely investigate each case to ensure the children being adopted are truly orphans and truly don't have any family to care for them.

And we agree with the Ethiopian officials, that whenever possible, children should be raised and cared for in their country of origin.

However, with SIX MILLION orphans in Ethiopia, it's going to be tough for an already impoverished country to care for all these children.

It's also tough for families like us who have devoted countless hour and emotional energy preparing for and loving an Ethiopian child we don't yet know.

If you would, please pray for the children of Ethiopia. I understand that the officials there have the children's best interests in mind.

As do we.

We are awaiting word from our agency as to what our next steps should be, if any. They are trying to analyze the situation and the validity of the comments made, and will give us more information early next week.

We are disappointed, but we're trusting in the God who has led us on this journey~

Luann