Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Are We Still Adopting?

We have been asked several times recently if we are still adopting and the answer is a huge YES!  We can't wait to welcome another little life into our family through the means of adoption.  In many ways, Evelyn Grace's birth has made adoption seem all the sweeter - we have been confronted with the preciousness of life in new ways, seeing it even more deeply.

If you think of it, please keep us in your prayers  - we are at somewhat of a crossroads in deciding what direction to head with the adoption.  We absolutely love the agency we have been working with (Small World Adoption) but the country we are currently in process to adopt from (Ethiopia) is sadly seeing more and more trouble on the adoption front.  For several months recently our agency wasn't doing referrals and they weren't sure they would be able to continue with their license in Ethiopia.  That was recently renewed but as we have seen the country shut down further and further over the past 9 months, we aren't sure where that leaves us.

In the meantime, as we have seen the issues in Ethiopia develop, South Korea changed their laws and now allows for expats living in Korea to adopt!  This had not been an option when we began our process and likely would have been the first place we would have started if it had been an option.  We are living in Korea, we have Korean friends, we have been able to get to know (some of) the culture here and we don't know how long we will live here....As we have been learning more about adoption, we know that when adopting internationally it is hugely important for the child to be connected with their birth country, to grow up knowing about it and to have their family honor their heritage.  We would be in a great position to do that if we were living there or had lived there for an extended period of time.  The downside is we would no longer be able to work with our agency (SWA), as they do not work in Korea.  Another downside is that the PROCESS for expat adoptions has not been established yet in Korea (and that might take a long time to establish) so it would be a very big unknown to venture into.  Korea has a long history of changing its adoption laws and process and stipulations.  More instability.

The bottom line is we need to trust the Lord to direct our path in all of life and this is no exception.  But we are currently struggling to decide which route to go.  If you could pray for us in this decision, we would hugely appreciate it.  We need to decide by April because if we are sticking with our current agency, we need to update our homestudy the beginning of May!  If you have donated to us, please know your donations will continue to go towards funding this adoption. They have either already been used towards steps we have taken this past year OR are sitting in our adoption fund, waiting to be used in future steps.  Thank you for your financial support and making it possible for us to get this far and to continue.

Thank you for joining us on this journey of adoption and for your prayers and support throughout the process.

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the update! Good to know how to pray for you in the adoption process! Love you you all!!

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  2. I am thankful that you are pursuing this adoption. I am praying with you as you continue to go through this journey - praying Jesus will speak to you boldly as you seek His answers. "Be still and know that I am God" Psalms 46:10
    May God continue to bless you and use you during this journey as well. As always, much love, hugs and continued prayers, a. norma

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