Here's the down-low on what happened during the conference call this morning as written by JCICS. I did sit in on it. Why do we always pick countries with issues!?!:)
Notes from Dept of State Ethiopia Call 03/11/2011
Following are our notes from the Department of State Office of Children’s Issues conference call regarding Ethiopian adoptions. These notes do not represent nor are they in any way attributable to the Department of State or US Citizenship and Immigration Services. We are providing the notes with respect to those adoption service providers who could not participate in the conference.
We extend our thanks to the Department of State for conducting the conference call and to US Citizenship and Immigration Services for their participation and contributions.
The Department of State is Actively Involved
• The Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs announced a reduction in the processing of intercountry adoption cases from 50 per day to 5 per day, effective March 10, 2011.
• The Department of State is actively involved in discussions with the Government of Ethiopia, other governments and stakeholders.
• A coalition of countries is preparing a proposal to assist the Ministry increase its capacity.
• Embassy suggested that children with special need’s cases should not be delayed.
• The US Embassy officials have a scheduled meeting with the Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs for Monday, March 14, 2011.
• There are areas of concern related to intercountry adoption, however the reduction is disproportionate.
Adoption Cases
• Currently there are no implementation guidelines for in-process cases.
• For adoption cases registered with the Ethiopian court, the best estimate is a one-year delay.
• The staff change at the Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs has been confirmed as taking effect the week of March 13, 2011. The impact this will have on adoption cases is not known.
• It is estimated that between 800-1,000 adoption cases are currently on the docket of Ethiopian courts.
All this said...I really don't think this will turn out to be what people fear. I know ET and the US(among other countries and NGOs) will work hard to make the process ethical and "timely"..they have all stated such in the past, and I see no reason that would change now. I'll let you know Monday!:)
In the meantime, we have looked into Uganda and Ghana(?)...but my heart is in Ethiopia! Pray I'll be able to lay that down if necessary, and go where the LORD leads us. To HIM be the GLORY!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Ethiopia Campaign II
Hi my sweet bloggy friends!!! We are once again asking for your help in spreading the word about the situation in Ethiopia! Please consider signing this petition(it only takes one minute), then pass it on to all your friends:)! You DO NOT have to be adopting from Ethiopia in order to sign this! As adoptive parents, I hope we will stand together for the children, no matter where we are adopting from!
Thanks! Here's the link to the petition: http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43714.html
Five Things You Can do to Help!
1) Sign the petition to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi – and pass it on!
2) Have you adopted from Ethiopia? Please send us up to 3 photos and 50 words or less with what you would like the Ministry to know about your child – we’ll compile the information and send a book to the Ministry of Woman’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs. Send your photos and stories by Sunday, March 12, 2011 to be included. Please note that sending photos and stories gives Joint Council unrestricted right to use the information you provide. UPDATE: we’ve received so many emails in support that our email server has crashed! We’ve set up an alternative email account – please start emailing your photos/stories to emergency4ethiopia@gmail.com. Thanks for your amazing support!
3) Share…Please send this Call to Action to family members, other adoptive parents, and everyone you know! Post, forward and share your adoption stories via Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. Make sure you include us in your posts so we can all hear your stories! Here’s links to our pages: Facebook, Twitter and our blog.
4) Stay informed: Get up-to-date information regarding the situation in Ethiopia by signing up to receive information from us: click here to do so, make sure you choose “country and issues specific information” and “Ethiopia.” And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and our blog!
5) Help ensure our advocacy can continue: Joint Council is a non-profit and receives no government funding. Please join us in ensuring more children live in safe, permanent and loving families. Donate today!
Thanks! Here's the link to the petition: http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43714.html
Five Things You Can do to Help!
1) Sign the petition to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi – and pass it on!
2) Have you adopted from Ethiopia? Please send us up to 3 photos and 50 words or less with what you would like the Ministry to know about your child – we’ll compile the information and send a book to the Ministry of Woman’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs. Send your photos and stories by Sunday, March 12, 2011 to be included. Please note that sending photos and stories gives Joint Council unrestricted right to use the information you provide. UPDATE: we’ve received so many emails in support that our email server has crashed! We’ve set up an alternative email account – please start emailing your photos/stories to emergency4ethiopia@gmail.com. Thanks for your amazing support!
3) Share…Please send this Call to Action to family members, other adoptive parents, and everyone you know! Post, forward and share your adoption stories via Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. Make sure you include us in your posts so we can all hear your stories! Here’s links to our pages: Facebook, Twitter and our blog.
4) Stay informed: Get up-to-date information regarding the situation in Ethiopia by signing up to receive information from us: click here to do so, make sure you choose “country and issues specific information” and “Ethiopia.” And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and our blog!
5) Help ensure our advocacy can continue: Joint Council is a non-profit and receives no government funding. Please join us in ensuring more children live in safe, permanent and loving families. Donate today!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Ethiopia Campaign
Today I'm posting a link to a petition put out by JCICS to help spread the word about the current situation in ET adoptions, etc...
I'm asking you to prayerfully consider signing it!!!
http://betheanswerforchildren.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/emergency-campaign-for-ethiopia/
Meetings are taking place this week, so we should know more soon about what this all means. Meanwhile, tomorrow will be a day of prayer and fasting for ALL countries involved in international adoption...for God's mercy and continued grace and hand of protection over the children and families of each country, as well as the adoptive families...among other requests. So hop on over to http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com tomorrow to add your prayer request!!:)
We ask that you continue to pray for our family. We still need to add some income, and we are currently researching other adoption options, should things remain unstable in Ethiopia. We're praying for clarity and discernment, for wisdom and total surrender to wherever He leads!!
I'm asking you to prayerfully consider signing it!!!
http://betheanswerforchildren.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/emergency-campaign-for-ethiopia/
Meetings are taking place this week, so we should know more soon about what this all means. Meanwhile, tomorrow will be a day of prayer and fasting for ALL countries involved in international adoption...for God's mercy and continued grace and hand of protection over the children and families of each country, as well as the adoptive families...among other requests. So hop on over to http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com tomorrow to add your prayer request!!:)
We ask that you continue to pray for our family. We still need to add some income, and we are currently researching other adoption options, should things remain unstable in Ethiopia. We're praying for clarity and discernment, for wisdom and total surrender to wherever He leads!!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Dear Anonymous.....
I will respectfully try and clarify my position about adopting from Ethiopia.
I will in no way stop praying for the orphans there..for their right to a family. Yes, I want the corruption to stop!!!! Yes, I want the children to be protected!!! Yes, I want the families to stay together when that is possible and is their desire!!! I am NOT against better accountability, high standards of practice, etc. in the adoption process in ET....in case I gave that impression:). I don't NEED a baby so badly, and QUICKLY, that I would throw all ethics and morals out the window just to adopt him/her!!!
And maybe this is God's way of protecting the children, who are NOT true orphans, from trafficking.....maybe....not sure I can go that far yet. And I would not say adopting them(orphans) and giving them a family is "exploiting" them.
I do think that God is NOT pleased with those who lie and steal children from their families, and then place them for adoption...that IS a tactic of the enemy.
Ethiopia has a lot of work to do to protect it's children from such practices.
So, is a slow-down good? Yes...a SLOW-DOWN would probably be beneficial in order to weed out the corrupt agencies/orphanages, etc.... But, in my opinion, with 5 MILLION orphans there...even if they find every child that is NOT a true orphan and returned them to their families..they probably still wouldn't make a dent in that number. So, what's to become of the "true" orphans???? They languish and die in the streets, because of POVERTY, MALNUTRITION, and DISEASE!!! They can't defend themselves or help themselves and at this time, Ethiopia is unable to help them either...so my prayer will continue to be that those who ARE adoptable, will still be allowed to be adopted internationally WHILE they weed out the corruption...
So, is it a good idea for a family to start an adoption from ET right now...even if this latest hoopla(posted by an anti-adoption news group) passes???
I don't know...ask me in a week or so;)! I would definitely be super diligent in requesting proof of abandonment/relinquishment from our agency, that's for sure! And I would trust my GOD to choose a child for us that is truly in need of a family and hasn't been stolen,etc...
But, I just don't know......we will go where there is a need..and right now, Africa is on my heart!!! If God shuts the door to Ethiopia, then we'll pray about our next step(okay, already started this part;)).
And again, I ask for your prayers for the children, the government, and the families of Ethiopia. And for those who are already in the process of adopting...that they will be protected from being issued referrals that come from shady practices...that the government will act with wisdom and integrity for all the children waiting....
I will in no way stop praying for the orphans there..for their right to a family. Yes, I want the corruption to stop!!!! Yes, I want the children to be protected!!! Yes, I want the families to stay together when that is possible and is their desire!!! I am NOT against better accountability, high standards of practice, etc. in the adoption process in ET....in case I gave that impression:). I don't NEED a baby so badly, and QUICKLY, that I would throw all ethics and morals out the window just to adopt him/her!!!
And maybe this is God's way of protecting the children, who are NOT true orphans, from trafficking.....maybe....not sure I can go that far yet. And I would not say adopting them(orphans) and giving them a family is "exploiting" them.
I do think that God is NOT pleased with those who lie and steal children from their families, and then place them for adoption...that IS a tactic of the enemy.
Ethiopia has a lot of work to do to protect it's children from such practices.
So, is a slow-down good? Yes...a SLOW-DOWN would probably be beneficial in order to weed out the corrupt agencies/orphanages, etc.... But, in my opinion, with 5 MILLION orphans there...even if they find every child that is NOT a true orphan and returned them to their families..they probably still wouldn't make a dent in that number. So, what's to become of the "true" orphans???? They languish and die in the streets, because of POVERTY, MALNUTRITION, and DISEASE!!! They can't defend themselves or help themselves and at this time, Ethiopia is unable to help them either...so my prayer will continue to be that those who ARE adoptable, will still be allowed to be adopted internationally WHILE they weed out the corruption...
So, is it a good idea for a family to start an adoption from ET right now...even if this latest hoopla(posted by an anti-adoption news group) passes???
I don't know...ask me in a week or so;)! I would definitely be super diligent in requesting proof of abandonment/relinquishment from our agency, that's for sure! And I would trust my GOD to choose a child for us that is truly in need of a family and hasn't been stolen,etc...
But, I just don't know......we will go where there is a need..and right now, Africa is on my heart!!! If God shuts the door to Ethiopia, then we'll pray about our next step(okay, already started this part;)).
And again, I ask for your prayers for the children, the government, and the families of Ethiopia. And for those who are already in the process of adopting...that they will be protected from being issued referrals that come from shady practices...that the government will act with wisdom and integrity for all the children waiting....
Friday, March 4, 2011
Ethiopia Adoption
WOW! This day has really SUCKED! Sorry...but it has....we've been going over agencies, etc...getting ready to make a decision..and then we hear this:
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/-Ethiopia-to-Cut-Foreign-Adoptions-by-Up-to-90-Percent-117411843.html
Basically saying that adoptions are going to be cut by 90% in Ethiopia..as corruption is taken care of, etc...blah, blah, blah....
We don't know what to do...so we wait...pleading with the Lord to NOT allow this to happen...for ALL 4.3 MILLION orphans waiting for families!!!
YES! Corruption in adoption should be taken care of, but PLEASE LORD...just keep UNICEF out of it!!! UNICEF, the devil's sidekick!!! I smell another Haiti!!!
So...do we jump into the unknown....?????
Please pray for Ethiopia!!! So many children are waiting, and so many families WANT to go.....the enemy is once again mighty...BUT GOD! BUT GOD! BUT GOD!!!!!!!
Honestly, I don't know what this means for the process, other than it will be extremely SLOW now....
We need your prayers, but most of all, those 5 million children need your prayers! Just like Guatemala, Nepal, Haiti....and the list goes on....the enemy DOES NOT WANT children in families!! It's that simple!!!
Lord Jesus, PLEASE intervene in a mighty way!!! They need you!!! So many families already in process(thousands), need YOU! We need you to be victorious over the enemy...TODAY!
In the name of Jesus, AMEN!
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/-Ethiopia-to-Cut-Foreign-Adoptions-by-Up-to-90-Percent-117411843.html
Basically saying that adoptions are going to be cut by 90% in Ethiopia..as corruption is taken care of, etc...blah, blah, blah....
We don't know what to do...so we wait...pleading with the Lord to NOT allow this to happen...for ALL 4.3 MILLION orphans waiting for families!!!
YES! Corruption in adoption should be taken care of, but PLEASE LORD...just keep UNICEF out of it!!! UNICEF, the devil's sidekick!!! I smell another Haiti!!!
So...do we jump into the unknown....?????
Please pray for Ethiopia!!! So many children are waiting, and so many families WANT to go.....the enemy is once again mighty...BUT GOD! BUT GOD! BUT GOD!!!!!!!
Honestly, I don't know what this means for the process, other than it will be extremely SLOW now....
We need your prayers, but most of all, those 5 million children need your prayers! Just like Guatemala, Nepal, Haiti....and the list goes on....the enemy DOES NOT WANT children in families!! It's that simple!!!
Lord Jesus, PLEASE intervene in a mighty way!!! They need you!!! So many families already in process(thousands), need YOU! We need you to be victorious over the enemy...TODAY!
In the name of Jesus, AMEN!
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