I just got an email from the director of international adoptions at the agency we used to adopt Amelia. She said they were working in Liberia which might be a possibility for us.
Though the thought of working with the agency again is very tempting our hearts are excited about Ethiopia.
Can't wait to hear back from Nora at CHSFS but we don't really expect to until the end of the week or so.
We were initially VERY excited about the possibility of working with All God's Children International, but have just heard from the director of our home study agency, Christian Adoption Services (henceforth CAS) that AGCI will not work with them. It appears that CAS was asked by AGCI, on behalf of a former CAS family, to sign an agreement guaranteeing postplacement reports for 18 years. CAS did not feel it wise to sign this agreement knowing the realities of a family moving, etc., over the next 18 years. It is our understanding they wanted to be truthful in what they felt they could accomplish. Through our two adoptions, it is our experience, that as adoptive parents we are responsible for completing these reports, and the placement agency (not the homestudy agency) responsible for sending them to the country.
We chose to work with CAS because we wanted to work with an agency whose mission was to care for the orphan and minister to the young women who found themselves in need of hope for their child's future. Having worked with them before, and having countless recommendations of families we have "met" personally and via adoption forums, we can say that CAS met our criteria. Unfortunately the other agencies we were told partner with AGCI are not agencies which parallel our Christian priorities for adoption or principles of life. (ie help same sex couples to adopt, not family friendly) We were perplexed by AGCI's choice of adoption partners but not shocked. Unfortunately we have seen too often how those who would call themselves Christians increasingly embrace what the world sees as normal.
In a lengthy conversation I had with an intake counselor a couple of months ago I expressed my concerns about at least one the agencies AGCI was using (now we have concerns about more...) and mentioned our desire to remain with CAS, explaining to her about the agency. She seemed interested but first and foremost concerned that AGCI's requirements had to be met. Unfortunately we have been in contact with at least 2 NC Christian families who are complaining about the hs agency they say they are "stuck" with because of working with AGCI. We were hoping our case would open the door for them to work with CAS as well. Also, in the interim, we have "heard" a few things about the agency we are not comfortable with, at least without lengthy investigation. We are saddened because of AGCI's lack of discernment with this but feel it has all worked out for the best for us.
We also feel that though the placement agency is the agency who will place your child, it is the hs agency who you become intimately involved with, even after your child is home, through the postplacement process. Bringing someone into your home to meet with your family is a very personal issue and one we do not take lightly. We want to feel at ease and trust the individual we work with and feel they are available to offer assistance if we need it. This we have found working with CAS. All that to say, we will stick with CAS!
It was only a few weeks ago we were so set on adopting from Viet Nam and now we are BEYOND excited at the thought of adopting from Ethiopia.
We are amazed at the difference a few weeks has made. Where we had not even thought of Ethiopia then, now the thought brings tears to my eyes, and the photos of African babies a smile to my face. It is truly amazing how prayer and a whisper from the heart of God changes your life.
Psalm 68: 31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God....
Right now the “biggie” in our adoption journey is what agency we will adopt through. Though we cannot use the agency we used for Amelia’s placement (they do not do adoptions in Ethiopia) we can use the homestudy agency we used and LOVE. YAY!!! It is so important to us that the agency that comes into our home be like minded in the mission to care for the orphan and widow. It has to be a ministry, first and foremost.
The other priority, which has to do with the placement agency, has to do with the facility in country which cares for the children. Since the Ethiopian government does not charge a fee we want to make sure the agency uses the fees they charge to care for the orphans in country. Not only those who will be adopted but those orphans who will remain behind. Also humanitarian aid to the country is also very important to us.
Samuel contacted All God's Children for Ethiopia adoption information and I requested packets from SEVERAL other agencies. I also signed up for several Ethiopia adoption yahoo groups!
We have asked our homestudy agency, Christian Adoption Services here in NC, to contact All God's Children to be added as one of their partnering agencies. Without this we will not be able to use AGCI.
I am assured that God knows where our baby will be and will lead us to the agency that will help us bring him home!
Today started like any other Monday. Family discipleship, breakfast, school ...but shortly after we had started Language Arts Samuel came running down from his office and said, " So what do we need to do to move forward?" "Where did that come from?", I asked. My heart was racing as I waited for his response. He told me that he had been praying about what the Lord wanted for us to do. He had wondered why Ethiopia had been on his heart and if that had been his own idea or the Lord's. He shared that along with his thoughts were struggles. He had never thought of adopting from Africa and was wondering if this was too far of a stretch, too different of a culture? Could he relate to the culture? Could he relate to this child as his own? Of course the Lord knew what his struggle was and as he prayed this morning God spoke to his heart..."You do not need to be afraid". With that my husband immediately knew God's direction and that HIS grace would be sufficient for the marvelous journey He was taking us on. He also said God had used the adoption program we had watched the night before to speak to his heart. These are the parts of the adoption show that really touched Cliff's heart, and mine:
I have to add that hearing my sweet husband I wanted to laugh. I had gone through the same feelings ,when for our first adoption ,we began to consider adopting from Asia. I knew I could raise a Latin child, to help them know, love, and embrace who they were and even deal with the prejudices of being Latino in our country; but an Asian child? Could I be what they needed as a parent? My answer came at a skating rink as the Asian adopted daughter of a friend fell and began to cry. Without thought, I ran out on the rink, picked her up and held her close, and as I did so the Lord whispered to my heart, "You do have the arms to hold this child, and the heart to love this child". As I wiped a tear from her face, with my heart full of love for our unknown child, I thought, "I can be your mother, I can wipe your tears, and I can love you!"
Now it was my husband's turn to hear the voice of God and as he did for me to be amazed at how God had answered my prayer.
