Adoption Woes...

Well, I just got off the phone with our adoption agency, Dove Adoptions International. Things are moving forward, and at the same time, going nowhere. Our paperwork is continually being processed, and the adoption could be complete within a month. So what's up? We are travelling to Ethiopia with an awesome family from Portland. We have already connected well with them by phone and e-mail and we share similar lifestyles and similar motivations in our adoptions. It appears that there are necessary delays in their process and so our travel is being pushed further out. They are adopting 2 beautiful babies into their family, one boy and one girl. Because these childen were abandoned at the orphanage, Ethiopia (rightfully) requests they be in the orphanage for 3 full months before they are considered orphaned. This won't happen until the beginning of December. Dove is working very hard to get our adoption complete before the first of the year, but I am concerned they won't allow us to travel over the holidays due to price constraints. I guess, as with the whole process, this is another lesson in patience.

There are so many people involved in the process in the States, in Europe and on the ground in Ethiopia that it is not feasible or affordable for the whole travel process to be completed for one family at a time. Currently, there are 3 families in our travelling cohort and this delay may allow for the addition of another. This would decrease our on the ground costs (transportation and translation) while in Ethiopia, but not by much. Additionally, plane fares are reasonable right now, but looking out don't look so good.

We're just praying for the best case scenario that could occur in a timely fashion. Additionally, we are praying for our new friends and their children and that their patience be strengthened as well.