Huh, you say?
Let me explain. And, I'm going to try to make a long-story short.
We submitted our application to adopt from China in July 2007. Due to the significantly increased wait-time, we chose to pursue a concurrent adoption from Ethiopia. Micah Yoseph came home March 2009. While we journeyed our Ethiopia adoption, we often pondered what our China adoption would ultimately look like. Some where during 2008/2009, Vince and I came to a point of certainty, that our China adoption would lead us to a special need infant boy.
Our agency permits families to start the paper-chase for a subsequent adoption six-months after the placement of a child/ren from the previous adoption. Vince and I prayed about what would be next for our family. At that point, it looked like we would have enough time to complete a second Ethiopia adoption, without interfering with our China adoption.
Ethiopia is rooted deep in our hearts for many reasons...the need, the amazing culture, the opportunities to work with orphans/at-risk children while in Ethiopia, the camaraderie of Ethiopia-adoptive families...and on, and on!! We were very eager to return. And, it appeared that the wait for our referral would be less than our wait for Micah. Just makes sense, right? It did to us.
We re-applied to AWAA's Ethiopia program in Oct 2009, and applied to start our home study Nov 2009.
Well, almost six-months later, our home study lingers on. Our two previous home studies I cranked-out in less than three-months.
Many of you remember that several weeks ago, Ethiopia announced some new changes to their program. These changes weren't impossible to manage, but they did introduce some new financial and logistical obsticals. That said, Vince and I felt very compelled to pause and evaluate our current situation. To avoid boring you with even more details, here's the jist of what we felt God telling us...
China.
Let me say, we have NO hesitation about Ethiopia's changes. They are good changes---and, these changes are even temporarily on-hold right now. Did we not have a pending China adoption, we'd still be full-steam ahead! But here's the reality for our family:
-ET's changes appear to increase the time-frame to complete an adoption (...who really knows??)
-a large number of families on China's waiting list have either adopted special needs, or pulled-out of the program all together, meaning the wait for our referral might not be as long as expected...so, a longer Ethiopia process could cause us to forfeit our China adoption
-there are many boys in China with minor special needs who need a family now
Just makes sense, right??!!
So, we are back full-force in the China program...and we are thrilled!! God has given us total peace! You might consider our decision as a lack of faith, but I can assure you, it's HUGE leap of faith. But we are certain this is God's direction for our family.
So, Baby Judah is coming from Asia. Ahhh, and it's God's sense of humor that we are fund-raising with t-shirts that have the continent of Africa on them. I just am thankful that God has given us the wisdom to be flexible. We still love Africa. We still need to raise funds to complete our China adoption. And, a portion of our t-shirt donations will still go toward play-ground equipment for Kind Hearts in Ethiopia.
So, what's next?
Complete our home study, submit our waiting-child application, and file our I-800a. No crazy dossier junk--it's already in China (whoot)! We hope to have all this completed by May, and we could expect our referral for Baby Judah realistically by the end of the summer.
Wow!!
Let me explain. And, I'm going to try to make a long-story short.
We submitted our application to adopt from China in July 2007. Due to the significantly increased wait-time, we chose to pursue a concurrent adoption from Ethiopia. Micah Yoseph came home March 2009. While we journeyed our Ethiopia adoption, we often pondered what our China adoption would ultimately look like. Some where during 2008/2009, Vince and I came to a point of certainty, that our China adoption would lead us to a special need infant boy.
Our agency permits families to start the paper-chase for a subsequent adoption six-months after the placement of a child/ren from the previous adoption. Vince and I prayed about what would be next for our family. At that point, it looked like we would have enough time to complete a second Ethiopia adoption, without interfering with our China adoption.
Ethiopia is rooted deep in our hearts for many reasons...the need, the amazing culture, the opportunities to work with orphans/at-risk children while in Ethiopia, the camaraderie of Ethiopia-adoptive families...and on, and on!! We were very eager to return. And, it appeared that the wait for our referral would be less than our wait for Micah. Just makes sense, right? It did to us.
We re-applied to AWAA's Ethiopia program in Oct 2009, and applied to start our home study Nov 2009.
Well, almost six-months later, our home study lingers on. Our two previous home studies I cranked-out in less than three-months.
Many of you remember that several weeks ago, Ethiopia announced some new changes to their program. These changes weren't impossible to manage, but they did introduce some new financial and logistical obsticals. That said, Vince and I felt very compelled to pause and evaluate our current situation. To avoid boring you with even more details, here's the jist of what we felt God telling us...
China.
Let me say, we have NO hesitation about Ethiopia's changes. They are good changes---and, these changes are even temporarily on-hold right now. Did we not have a pending China adoption, we'd still be full-steam ahead! But here's the reality for our family:
-ET's changes appear to increase the time-frame to complete an adoption (...who really knows??)
-a large number of families on China's waiting list have either adopted special needs, or pulled-out of the program all together, meaning the wait for our referral might not be as long as expected...so, a longer Ethiopia process could cause us to forfeit our China adoption
-there are many boys in China with minor special needs who need a family now
Just makes sense, right??!!
So, we are back full-force in the China program...and we are thrilled!! God has given us total peace! You might consider our decision as a lack of faith, but I can assure you, it's HUGE leap of faith. But we are certain this is God's direction for our family.
So, Baby Judah is coming from Asia. Ahhh, and it's God's sense of humor that we are fund-raising with t-shirts that have the continent of Africa on them. I just am thankful that God has given us the wisdom to be flexible. We still love Africa. We still need to raise funds to complete our China adoption. And, a portion of our t-shirt donations will still go toward play-ground equipment for Kind Hearts in Ethiopia.
So, what's next?
Complete our home study, submit our waiting-child application, and file our I-800a. No crazy dossier junk--it's already in China (whoot)! We hope to have all this completed by May, and we could expect our referral for Baby Judah realistically by the end of the summer.
Wow!!
Those of you who go way-back with us, know that we were actually in China when God planted the seed of adoption in our hearts!!
A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Ish 40:3-4
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Ish 40:3-4
13 comments:
Isn't beautiful how HE makes HIS plans so clear at just the right time. Thankful you are following. Many blessings,
Amy & Paul
So excited to hear your news and to watch another baby come home to their forever family!
such an awesome story Alisa!! can't wait to follow your journey!
I am so excited for you - I have wondered how God would complete your China road! He is amazing - He will surely bless your thoughtful decision and willingness to walk the road He has for you.
Miss you all much!
Kim
That's REALLY exciting! I love when God gives us a peak at the top side of the tapestry He's weaving so that we can see how the jumbled mess of threads (on the underside) works together into a beautiful design! (not my illustration... from my pastor in college)
Hooray! Hallelujah!
Lori
That is wonderful news! China was where our adoption journey started as well....it led us to Ethiopia...but it started in China. I wish you all the very best as you start this new exciting journey :)
So exciting. I know Korea and China are different countries but, we got our referral (waiting child/special needs) less than a month after our homestudy was complete. So get ready!
God is good and is in control! so exciting! thanks for sharing!
Good for you for following God's path!
Missy
That is amazing...so happy for you guys. I love being a part of the adoption world...it is amazing stories, love and God showing us his plans.
I am proud of your faithfulness. I would be happy to do a China shirt! Maybe LOVED in English, Amaharic and Chinese? Just for the girls?
I just wanted to leave a comment to encourage you on your special needs China adoption. We adopted a special needs girl (4 years old, vision issues) from China in July. We were blessed to travel in a group of 19 families - all adopting kids with special needs. We called ourselves 'the tribe' and our motto was "if you won't do special needs, you shouldn't have kids!" All kids have special needs.
This was the most amazing experience and God was in each and every family. You will be so blessed by this decision. Adoption is a leap of faith and special needs adoption is perhaps a bigger leap, but God will guide you. He will not abandon you.
Our girl is such a blessing. Her vision issue turned out to be she needs glasses. That's it - no surgery, nothing!
We are thrilled to hear of your adoption direction and will be praying for you and for your beautiful family. God Bless!
I can't believe I missed this very important announcement!! I'm thrilled that you have found the path that God wants you on--that's half of the struggle :) I'm blown away at the time you've waited already, but it's amazing to think that you may have a referral by the end of the summer. Can't wait to see what God has for your family!
apryl
ps. Our first adoption was while we lived in AL--we also have crazy HS story with state approval and our HS getting "misplaced" for 3 months without us knowing. Had it been different, Ella wouldn't have been available to us. God's timing is so perfect, though it's hard to be patient in the middle of it all.
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