You might be asking yourself that
question.
Haven't blogged in a bit.
Why is that?
Well, for the most part there hasn't been anything to "really" blog about. I mean, we are totally in a waiting game (if you want to call it that) right now. So, it's hard to post things when we are still just 'here'.
Truth be told, there is a little more to this waiting period we are in currently. While part of me didn't really want to blog about it, I know THIS too is part of our journey and so here it is...
Here is a note from our US coordinator that came out about a month ago:
"Someone
on the big Ghana list (fyi: this is a Facebook group for people adopting from
Ghana) just posted this notice from the State Department regarding adoptions in
Ghana. It appears that possibly the Embassy is going to respect the letter from
the minister--the one that puts a hold on all Ghana adoptions until further
notice. If this is the case, it is unlikely that they will process cases that
go to court AFTER the date the letter was sent out. I feared this might happen.
Please continue to pray that the question of legality is brought to the
attention of the U.S. Embassy--the fact that several officials in Ghana don't
believe the minister can legally put a halt on adoptions. Pray that cases may
proceed to visa processing even if they go to court after the letter was sent.
There ARE SW Directors ready and willing to continue adoption cases in their
regions."
This is NOT news you want
to hear when you are adopting.
Why is this happening? The
new minister must have heard news of some corruption going on within the
adoption system. By ceasing adoptions, she wants to take time to review processes/procedures
in place.
I am not sure if you were
aware of this, but Ghana is NOT like the US. Nothing is fast, nothing is easy.
To do something like this could and would take years...just because of the pure
nature of things. It is sad that corruption exists with adoptions, but it does.
We are human and where there are humans, there is sin, which ultimately means
corruption. I cannot speak for all the organizations out there assisting with
adoptions, I can only speak to the heart of the agency we are working with
...and, quite honestly, it doesn't get any better. We are extremely thankful
for the high ethics and standards they keep themselves to. And it is evident
time and time again as we hear wonderful, encouraging words from other families
that have been there and witnessed this first hand! God is doing a great work
thru the wonderful people that work on the Eban Project!
We were told prior to
starting this process to be prepared for set backs, bumps in the road, delays,
etc. THEY were RIGHT!
Our organization is taking
a careful approach to this news. They do not want to give out referrals at this
time just in case this could become law and adoptions were to cease in Ghana.
While I respect their decision, it is still hard. They do not want someone to
have a referral and literally possibly wait years and years to bring that child
home, or never. Never? I know, I hate to even write that word, but it is always
a real possibility with adoption. Any adoption. Until it is final, nothing is
final.
So, what now?
We wait. We wait on the
Lord who ultimately we want directing our steps.
We wait some more. We wait
on the child or children that will come to our forever family...because it will
happen. Just maybe not the way we pictured it would be or originally thought it
should look like.
And we pray. We pray that
God would open doors and these children, these orphans, and they would be
welcomed into families all around this world that are trying to adopt. Yes,
including us. But we are not alone.
Lord, hear our prayer...
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust
in the Lord with all
your heart,
and do
not lean on your own understanding.
In
all your ways acknowledge him,
and
he will make straight your paths.
