Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart...We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck-down, but not destroyed. 2 Cor. 4:1, 8-9
We have received news that the Women's Ministry of Affairs in Ethiopia is planning to reduce their intercountry adoptions by as much as 90% beginning March 10, 2011. According to some sources, around 4,000 children were adopted from Ethiopia last year through intercountry adoption with 2,513 of those children joining U.S. families. Gladney families adopted 168 of those children. The proposed change would decrease intercountry adoption in Ethiopia to approximately 500 per year. MOWA cites concerns of corruption and unethical adoptions and wants to focus more on children who are not eligible for intercountry adoption. While we completely respect these concerns, we are even more concerned about the millions of orphans in Ethiopia who may now never be placed with forever families due to this change. We are praying that the change in the number of cases that MOWA will issue opinions for will not be permanent, for intercountry adoptions in Ethiopia to continue, and for this current situation to bring more awareness of the orphan crisis in Africa and spur more families to adopt! Please pray for all of the orphans in Ethiopia who are waiting for forever families and the families (including us!) who desperately want to adopt these precious children.
Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. Isaiah 1:17
We ask that all of our family and friends would sign a petition to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi asking for a reconsideration of the proposed change for MOWA procedures: http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43714/sign.html.
Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me...If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it...I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you. John 14: 1, 14, 18
Please pray for us as we wait for more information. I would love to say that the adoption process is helping me to become a more patient person, but that is simply not the case! We haven't seen a referral go out to a Gladney family since late December and this additional change in MOWA/court procedures is even more discouraging.
The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9
We truly believe that our children are in Ethiopia, but God's timing is so different than what we had planned! When we started the adoption process in January 2010, we thought that we would have a referral by March 2011 (now!) and be making plans to appear in court and bring our children home by May or June 2011...well, we've only been on the waiting list for almost 5 months with no sign of a referral in sight and our dreams of becoming parents in 2011 are quickly fading. In some ways, I feel that God was sparing us from the heartache that these families who have referrals but adoptions are delayed are experiencing...my heart goes out to them and I'm praying with all I have in me that they will be united with their children soon. Please pray with us for these issues to be resolved so that more orphans will be placed with forever families!!! Thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement!
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7
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