wait times

Dear Brian & Anna,

As the wait time trend has continued to increase, we see the need to amend the timeframe in order to better represent expectations for families receiving referrals. The wait times are increasing from 14-18 months to 18-24 months for a male or female infant or toddler. We do not have as many families requesting children four years and older and thus the wait for those families will likely be shorter than the current wait times.

Paperwork, specifically clearances, is still the main contributor for the slowdown in the Ethiopia program. If we have a child in the transition home who is completely paper-ready, but does not have a clearance, we need to wait on that final document before referring the child to a family. Unfortunately, the clearance process is still one that is intensive and can be drawn out over many, many months. If clearances for children continue to be processed at the current rate, wait times could increase again in the future. The final clearance could take one month or a year or more. This is a process that is out of our hands and is contingent on the governmental bodies in Ethiopia.

We know this is not an easy email to receive. Please know America World is doing as much as possible to process and petition for paperwork to be completed in the most efficient manner possible. Our hope is to match families with children as soon as we are able, while being sure the process is being completed in an ethical manner.

America World is still very supportive of the Ethiopia program. Our Senior Director of Programs, Anna Graham, was in Ethiopia last week. She was very encouraged by the officials’ continual support and positive regard for international adoption. The officials want to make the adoption process in Ethiopia a good one and have a commitment to adoption, which has encouraged America World. We will continue to work diligently throughout this process and are thankful for the referrals we have received in 2012.

Blessings,

Africa Program Staff
America World Adoption

overjoyed

Today has been so wonderful and I just haven't been able to contain my excitement. Over what you ask? I have no idea. LOL! Lately things have been moving fairly quickly with the adoption front and has been steady rather than sporadic. This has lifted my spirits quite a bit and given me hope again. There have been many referrals, court dates issued, embassy clearing families, much progress in the southern region, etc. The last couple of nights I haven't been able to sleep all that well. I have woken many times during the night and feel urges to pray. I know I should never have stopped praying for our son, but I did for a while. I had lost so much hope and just didn't know what to pray for anymore. Every time I would pray over something, I would look back and see that my prayers and timelines just didn't match up. Good thing for me that God's and my timeline are not the same and those prayers were not waisted. That urge for prayer has returned and I just love knowing that God's glory is shining down on our and His son. Today has been crazy. I don't ever think I have had excitement overpower me like it has today. Let me clarify that we did not receive any news that indicates anything new for us today; however, I know that something big has happened today in us adding our son to our family. I am so giddy you would think I just got the call. Part of me writing this post is for me to remember today so that I can look back at our son's story and see what happened today. This is very bold to state this assurance with such certainty, but I just feel it. I went to God in prayer and felt His assurance in me feeling this way. I feel Him smiling down on me and saying you can rejoice and it will be soon. I am so spun up right now I could probably run a marathon. THis is going to be one of those things that separates how people see things. There will be those who get it and those who think I am functioning on too little sleep or coping mechanisms or any number of other explanations. As for me, I am glad I get it. How sad would that be if I let doubt steal this incredible joy God is giving me. I can't wait to bring the glory back to God when recounting this story down the road and say see. This is what it was and it was God! How cool will that be. I have had glimmers of meeting our son and just get overcome with gratefulness and thankfulness for this journey. This waiting and uncertainty and lack of control has been the most difficult thing I have had to face, but I am so glad for the trials. These trials are making the joy even greater. All I have been able to do is smile at God today and say THANK YOU LORD!!!! I will close by saying that I truly believe all of our plans lately have had purpose, things are lining up financially for us that are absolutely not a coincidence and I am beginning to see God slide our puzzle pieces into place. It is just so cool to see God preparing our family for His new plan to be executed. GO GOD!!!!!

still moving up

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