Random Ghana Orphans (Not ours)
Greetings Friends,
My apologies for taking so long to update this blog! To say we've been busy the last few months is an understatement. In fact, I don't know when we have ever been as busy as we are right now. Nonetheless, I promised updates, so here is one of several updates:
First off, yes we have changed countries from Ethiopia to Ghana.
In March while still on track to go with the Ethiopia program, we were informed of some major changes both on our government's side, but the changes for Ethiopia as well. The biggest change with Ethiopia was the government was seriously considering mandating that the adoptive parents to travel to Ethiopia twice. Previously there was a representative from our adoption agency, with Power of Attorney for our first court date in the country so we were not required to be present. Ethiopia was "thinking" of changing this but our agency was not aware of when they would get around to doing it. Jeff and I crunched the numbers for going to Ethiopia twice, our lodging, and plane tickets. The additional costs for going to Ethiopia twice looked like it would be around $10k. $10k on top of the $30k we were already budgeting for the full cost of the adoption. So total cost would be closer to $40k, an additional $10,000 we had not budgeted for.
Along with this, the US government changed their policy on International Adoptions. Here is the official statement from the U.S. State Department: "The Department of State shares families' concerns about recent media reports alleging direct recruitment of children from birth parents by adoption service providers or their employees. In response to these reports, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa has implemented some changes to adoption visa processing. Adoptive parents should be aware that an I-604 (Determination on Child for Adoption, sometimes referred to as "orphan investigation") must be completed in connection with every I-600 application. Depending on the circumstances of the case, this investigation may take up to several weeks or even months to complete. Therefore, adoptive parents should not plan to travel to Ethiopia until they have confirmed with their adoption agency that their visa interview appointment has been confirmed." So in a nutshell it means that each adoption would need to be investigated by the U.S. government. Although we do believe this is a good action concerning recent events of Americans trying to adopt children internationally albeit illegally, it was a lot to take an in one setting.
Compounded with this, we were sent referrals of children each week. Beautiful, sweet, lovely children who just wanted a home and family. We viewed orphan brothers and sisters, who in order to be adopted, had made the agonizing decision that they would split up if it meant that they would each be able to have a family. These children who were making th decisions were only seven or eight years old. An unbelievable task for someone so young.
Day after day we looked into all those ebony brown eyes and saw their beautiful white smiles, despite the hand which they have been dealt, and our hearts ached for these children. The overwhelming sense of responsibility to take care of the orphaned as we Christians believe, has never struck me so deeply as it has the last few months. We inquired about numerous little boys; unfortunately the website was not quick in removing children whose adoptions for pending or has already gone through. Needless to say, we prayed, pondered about each little boy that we were interested in. The overwhelming task of picking just one was very difficult for us.
Our home study was approved in late March early April. The high court ruling in Ethiopia came back right around this time indicating they were going to mandate the adoptive parents to travel twice. All during this journey we have felt the hand of God leading us. With this ruling was set in stone, and our lack of confirmation regarding which child to adopt, both Jeff and I were very uneasy about pressing forward for the first time. We knew we were still to adopt, that confirmation was sure. We felt like we needed to regroup and seek further inspiration and knowledge from our Heavenly Father.
The first fast Sunday in April we, (all three of us) fasted for two specific things: First off, that the Lord would lead us and give us direction as to how to come up with the additional funds. Secondly, we fasted and prayed that when the time came to choose a child, we would get the confirmation that he was supposed to be with our family.
As with other things in life, the inspiration did not come right away, but a day later. Monday night as we were getting ready for bed, and I was sifting through a bunch of pictures of children who needed to be adopted, we started talking things over, Ghana was brought up by both of us several times. When we discussed the possibly changing adoptive countries to Ghana, a wave of peace came over both of us. Knowing Jeff as long as I have, and having the privilege of feeling the spirit of God fill our hearts and touch our souls countless times over the years, no words needed to be exchanged, we were both feeling the same peace and assurance.
So as we said our prayers that night and knelt together and prayed, we asked the Lord if Ghana was where our son was. Again the same peacful feeling washed over us.
Over the next few days, I spoke with our adotpion agency who also does adoptions in Ghana, and got the information and details. Because we were in the beginnings of the Ethiopian Dossier, switching over was not too difficult. We made the final decision later that week. Ghana was where we were supposed to be. The financial costs were also more in align with what we had budgeted for but certainly not the deciding factor of the change.
The country of Ghana has its own set of challenges. But the urgency and excitement to get our little boy here, to be with us, has not only returned, but accelerated.
In Ghana there are 1,000,000+ orphans in a country of 20 million with a land mass the size of the state of Oregon. Due to economic hardships many orphaned child's extended family is not able to take them in, leaving children and sometimes toddlers to fend for themselves on the streets. All of the children eligible are age 2 ½ years and up. Babies from time to time, but this is not an infant adoption program. There are many sibling sets. Most older children speak some English. All children are tested for HIV, Hepatitis B & C and are generally healthy. Medical information, photos and social history provided, in English to all adoptive families. Education is another common factor. In many countries, birth control is not widely offered nor is it taught in the family, community or in school. Birth mothers also can lack education on how to parent a child or have the capability to earn a living wage to support the child. So education can play a large part in children becoming available for international adoption.
In some situations, when a birth mother does become pregnant she may be shunned by both her family and her community. Many times this leads to desperate situations that force a birth parent to either abandon or relinquish their child.
Sadly, there are other factors that create orphans, war, worldwide famine, and drought and in some countries the AIDS epidemic has also created a need for adoptive parents.
The Adoption Process in Ghana:
Once your Dossier is completed (we are
SO close!!!), our Adoption Agency will ship it to Ghana. We will be matched with a child in need of a family according to our terms which are: A boy between the ages of 2 to 4 with no special needs. A Ghanaian Social Welfare Officer picks our child or "referral" (as they are referred to) within our specifications. Each family must decide for itself whether or not it will be able to meet the needs of a particular child and provide a permanent family placement for the referred child. Although this may seem a limiting it to some people, we are happy the child will chosen for us. The stress of trying deciding which one was to come to our home was overwhelming.
After the Dossier and the child's paperwork are sent to the Ghana Social Welfare Department, our Attorney will file the adoption petition with the High Court in Ghana. The High Court will award a 2 year interim adoption and our Attorney will file for permission to take the child out of Ghana. This child will become a permanent alien in the United States with a social security number, and we will become permanent Guardians until the adoption is final. There have been times when the high court has issued an adoption without the waiting period but it is not likely. To date we know of no children who have been taken away from families after the two years. Once we wait the two years, an attorney appointed by the adoption agency will represent us in Ghana for the final adoption two years after the interim adoption is granted.
Although all of this is subject to change, regardless we feel so prompted to press forward.
Yesterday it I wrote on my facebook wall: "It takes a village to adopt a child." We are so grateful for our little village. We cannot fully express the gratitude we have for those of you who have chosen to participate in the joy of this amazing journey. Because we are following what God has directed us to do, I have never felt closer to Him than I have over these past few months. Setting aside the fear if the many unknowns and fully submiting ourselves to do as He has asked us to do, has been worth all of the bumps along the way.
Below is a picture I cut and pasted from my adoption agencies website. Just imagine looking at little angels like this when trying to choose which one should be with your family.
Much more to come, we'll keep you posted!
