Agency conference Call

This week the USCIS held a conference call on the findings from a joint trip of USCIS and Department of State officials to Ethiopia in January 2011. A hand out from this meeting can be found through the following link here. Our adoption agency held a conference call yesterday to go over the status of adoptions in Ethiopia and the findings of the USCIS and DOS visit.

It was a long call here are the highlights:

• The Ethiopian government, judges and MOWCYA are all committed to international adoptions.
• The infrastructure is not there for the number of international adoptions taking place. They are doing the best they can. They are committed to ethical adoptions.
• MOWCYA is not stating the number of letters it is writing each day, but it appears to be processing a good number per day.
• Our agency is hearing conflicting reports on whether or not the number of MOWCYA letters will be impacted for families whose court dates were issued after that date.  They should know more in the next few weeks.
• The court is being more meticulous with the documentation needed to complete an adoption. In some cases judges have asked for additional documentation. While this can be frustrating to adoptive parents AWAA supports this as the judges are trying to make sure all adoptions are ethical. 
• USCIS and the Department of State has reviewed the process and adoption program. They did some baseline analysis based on 4000 cases. They were looking for abnormalities. Generally, they did not find fraud but some paperwork was not 100% complete. The process may need some refinement and they are working with the Ethiopian government.
• The Department of State sees some weakness in the processes. They have proposed a voluntary option (this is not in place now and no dates were given) which would allow the Embassy to do it's investigation after the referral but prior to the family's court date. This may slow the issuance of a court date but could make the court to Embassy visit faster.

Overall, the call was positive and AWAA stated over and over the Ethiopian is not closing the international adoption program.

If you were on the call and I missed something major- please feel free to comment.\
Thanks!

One day without shoes

Today we participated in TOMs One Day without Shoes to raise awareness for children who live without shoes.
The day started out cold and rainy!  Henry insisted on wearing shorts... which makes sense if you are going barefoot all day (right?).  He was a little reluctant to get out of the van during the downpour.

The preschool director allowed Henry attend preschool barefoot this morning saying she supports raising awareness for children who live without shoes.  She also invited Henry's classmates to join him.
We were so excited to see Henry's best friend and their teachers barefoot when we arrived at school!

Several of Henry's friends in his class were also barefoot for one day.

Henry's Aunt Shawn and friend also went barefoot.

It was a great day of conversation and awareness. 

US Department of State Update 4/5/2011

Today the US Department issued the following alert click here or see the text below.
Our agency- America World Adoption sent an e-mail today about the release saying:
We are continuing to monitor the situation in Ethiopia and will be in touch with families as we confirm information.
Since the reports of MOWCYA changes in early April, America World has continued to see many families pass court in March and April. The recent staff turnover at MOWCYA has led to many families successfully passing court at their first scheduled appointment. Additionally, we know the court is committed to continuing to process adoption cases in a timely manner.

The US Department of State's alert sounds alarming but I am taking a deep breathe and turning it all over to God.  Currently the number of AWAA families which are passing court on the first court date is a very high percent.  Three families passed court today on their first court date!  Things may slow down so please continue to pray for officials at MOWCYA.

We are asking for prayers for the families who have had a court date (in January, February and March) but did not pass because of the MOWA letter was not present.  These families files are in a backlog.  Please pray the judges would work through the backlog quickly.  Please also pray the judge would issue our cour date.
thanks so much!

US Department alert:
Notice: Significant delays remain likely for cases presented to Ethiopia's Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs after March 8, 2011
The Government of Ethiopia's Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs (MOWYCA) told the American Embassy officials that adoption cases presented to the Federal Court of First Instance prior to March 8, 2011 will be processed expeditiously. However, cases presented to the Court after March 8 will be processed in a more deliberate manner to allow greater scrutiny and oversight. Based on their March 8 announcement the American Embassy anticipates that MOWYCA will process these cases at a rate of approximately 5 per day.
 
It is unclear whether there will be an official announcement from the Government of Ethiopia regarding the plan to reduce the number of cases adjudicated daily.
 
Prospective adoptive parents who did not reach the court summons stage before March 8, 2011, should expect significant delays in the progression of their paperwork through the Government of Ethiopia. Prospective adoptive parents should be in close touch with their adoption service providers to confirm the status of their cases.
 
The U.S. Embassy continues to work with Ethiopian government officials and adoption agencies to gain a clearer understanding of these procedures, and will continue to post information as it becomes available.

One day without shoes

Tomorrow we are going barefoot.  We are joining TOMs in their One Day Without Shoes campaign to raise awareness for the millions of children who don't have a choice. 
Our friends at One Child Campaign have partnered with TOMs to raise money for our Care Point in Kombolcha, Ethiopia. 
If you are looking for a knew pair of shoes- check out TOMs! KICKS FOR KOMBOLCHA IS HERE! For each shoe purchase, Toms will donate $5 to One Child Campaign. The money will go toward funding service projects for this year's team to do in Ethiopia. Order online a TOMS.COM use offer code "KICKS".

Are you going barefoot on April 5?

Ethiopia update

We have been told that the backlog of MOWA/MOWCYA letters have been written!  The letters are now with the judges.  The judges are going through the backlog of cases daily. This is great news!

In other news, we received an e-mail regarding our little girl.  Please pray for healing.  She is sick again.
thanks

TOMS SHOES/ONE CHILD CAMPAIGN - KICKS FOR KOMBOLCHA!!!

Help support our Children's Hope Chest care point in Kombolcha, Ethiopia.   Thanks to the Stums and the amazing team at First Baptist in Cleveland, TN.

KICKS FOR KOMBOLCHA IS HERE!

For each shoe purchase, Toms will donate $5 to One Child Campaign. This money will go toward funding service projects for this year's team to do in Ethiopia. You can join the team by applying at http://onechildcampaign.showitsite.com/#/trip-dates--events/

Order online a TOMS.COM use coupon code "KICKS" online and One Child gets the $5. Spread the word!

Two families passed court today!!

Great news- Two families with our agency passed court today - on their first court date!!  We are delighted for these families and their children!!

We do not have a court date yet.  I have been assured by our agency they have everything they need to obtain a court date.  They hope to receive one soon.  We hope and pray for the same thing.

I read a fantastic blog post about abandonment and institutionalization of an orphan.  You may read the post here.   This week we have been living out some of the impacts of institutionalization.  I have thoughts about the blog post but I am still processing them. 
 
I should be getting baby girl's room ready- cleaning out the guest room, moving everything out and putting her things in but I'm in some weird holding pattern.  I walk in the room, open the closet and slowly close the door... perhaps everything in there will mysteriously disappear on its own??
Next week is spring break.  My sister is coming for a visit.  Maybe I will be more motivated while she is here... or we'll take the kids to the zoo!