Email Update (5) - 02/07/14

Even though the blog is currently private and we are communicating with our "followers" via email, I wanted to post the updates that we send out here so that, in the end, we have everything in one spot.

Dear Friends,

I so want to write you a short and sweet email that simply says, "IT'S TIME FOR AFRICA!".  But, today, it wasn't meant to be.

We received some discouraging news regarding our case today.  Basically, the "grandfathering" of our case (that we were told happened several weeks ago) never happened.  The Ethiopian official who agreed to write the addendum allowing cases like ours to be grandfathered (and forego the new processes) has apparently backed down/changed his mind.  

Where this leaves us is back at the Regional level, waiting for the Director there to sign off on our case.  Our file has been there for many weeks….with zero movement.  After this step, we will then have to wait again for the letter that we need from the Federal MOWCYA (Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs) office.

We are discouraged, puzzled, disappointed and sad.  To be honest, we are even a little angry.  However, we haven't lost faith; this is His journey and it always has been.  

Our specific prayer requests are as follows:

• Please continue to pray for Yenenesh's heart.  Pray that she understands that these delays are out of our hands and they are in no way an indicator of how much we love her and want her home.  We are thankful that we don't have to worry about her physical care at this time; we know that she is being loved and cared for well at our agency's Transition Home.  We pray that she is SO loved and cared for there that she's having the time of her life.
• Please pray for us; for our hearts and for our attitudes.  But, please, whatever you do….do NOT pray for our patience.  : )
• Our in-country director (Woudneh) is traveling to the Regional offices on Monday to try and learn what he can about what's going on there and why these cases haven't been processed (there are possibly as many as 100 similar "stuck" cases); pray for him.  Pray that he's able to get good news on Monday.
• Don't forget about our friends, the Kopps, who are with our agency and in the same boat.
• Three families who received their referrals and had the same Preliminary Hearing date as we did, cleared Embassy this week.  They will be traveling to bring their children home in the next week or so.  I'm not going to lie, that stings a bit, but I am thrilled for them.  Pray for safe travels for them and all that bringing home a new family member means.
• Lastly, we have been told that this news has all of the adoption agencies in Ethiopia in quite an uproar.  Pray that they rally together for the good of the children, that their voices are heard and that mountains are moved for all involved.