A small set back

So, the Embassy was closed this afternoon in Ethiopia due to a new building ceremony (Seriously, how many ceremonies and holidays can one place have in a month??).  Our documents will be taken over first thing tomorrow morning.  We should hopefully know tomorrow or Wednesday when we would leave (being optimistic). 

We also found out that there was a woman working at our son's original orphanage who had told a few families that they would get money for the relinquishment of their child.  This is the major reason for the hold up, besides documents in other cases that were not correct.  The families that were told they could get money were actually not given that money.  All of them told the Vice Consular Chief last week that they would still relinquish their child.  I can't imagine getting this far and having to find out now that this was the case and that she'd take him back now (that could have happened).  My heart sank as they were going over this information on a conference call this morning.  Thankfully, we didn't have this happen and we will be leaving very, very soon!

Kebele Documents and Translations

We found out today that the embassy is asking for these documents in order to process our case.  The good news is that our friends who had this happen this week received a travel call shortly after.  Bethany assured us that they will do this Monday or Tuesday of next week.  Hopefully, that means that we will receive a travel call next week sometime.  We're getting closer, day by day. 

"H" had a small medical issue last week and it sure is hard to hear about it over an email.  Not that we wish he had one at all, but we wish he was home so that we could take care of him.  The medical issue was taken care of and he is still a healthy little boy.  Can't wait to see how much he's grown.

This Means US!!

Dear International Team,
Good news! Our Country Director in Ethiopia met with Vice Consular Chief today and was informed that all Bethany cases that were on hold at the Embassy will be cleared. This includes the four cases that were under investigation. The Vice Consular Chief informed Bethany that he will direct his workers to start clearing cases that were on hold.
The Embassy may still require further information/clarification in some cases. We were told that the request for information will be only on technical or procedural issues regarding those cases. For instance, the Embassy has been asking us to provide the names of other relatives in the child's family of origin. Other times they have asked further information on the child's background.
However, the Vice Consular Chief informed us that such requests for further information/clarification will not be consequential to the decision to clear all cases that are on hold. The Embassy would not inform us regarding the order in which they will clear cases. We continue to pray for our families as they patiently wait for the union with their children. Thanks for the team work.
Sincerely,
Ethiopia team

Praying

While we are asleep tonight, the Vice Consular Chief will be presenting his findings to the US Embassy in Ethiopia.  Please pray TONIGHT that he will clear our case and that we can go get our son. 

The Latest

This is the latest email we received from the corporate office:

For families who currently have cases submitted to the US Embassy and are waiting for clearance to travel - our team in Ethiopia passed on that the Vice Consular Chief is back from his trip to the south. While in the south, he visited a number of orphanages, in order to complete his investigations into these orphanages. Our team was told that the Vice Consular Chief would begin issuing reports on cases under field investigation to agencies starting tomorrow. As there are many families, orphanages, and adoption agencies involved in this investigation, we do not know if we will hear more on Bethany cases in particular by tomorrow or even this week. It appears that as a report is finished, the US Embassy will forward it to the agency. Note that the report could include clearance for the family to travel, or it could include a request for additional information.

We heard another update from our team in Ethiopia, which was confirmed by a Dept. of State conference call on Ethiopia that we are now on. The US Embassy will no longer only permit agencies one appointment every other week, but instead, once a family is cleared for travel, the agency, family & Embassy will work together to schedule the best Embassy appt. date for all involved. So, appointments, in theory, could be made every day, with more than the normal 10 cases per agency per day, but based on the Embassy's availability (as there are other agencies that will be making appointments as well). As long as the Embassy has a slot for a particular day, and the family's case has been cleared by the Embassy, they will see that family.

Still on Hold

Well, next week isn't looking too promising for us to leave.  The Vice Consular Chief will be coming back from Awassa "sometime next week,"  Well, we would fly out on Wednesday so it looks like that's not going to happen either.  That's two more weeks now we'll have to wait (again).  We are now looking at February 9, 2011 to leave.  We are trying to be positive that this will be our date to go get him.  We will know more "sometime next week" when he gets back and hopefully has an update for Bethany and all of the parents that are being affected by this situation.  Please pray that he has good news once he makes it back and that we can all go get our babies.  This is not a paperwork issue, these are children we are talking about!  I swear if you saw me in person that I'm not this negative, this is just my place to vent about this whole situation.

Twice the Pregnancy

I just realized that the waiting time to get our son right now is twice that of a pregnancy.  Yes, I don't have morning sickness but the emotional side of this "pregnancy" has taken a toll (oh, and the weight gain that I'm trying real hard to lose).  I keep getting asked now if I'm sick of being asked when he will come home.  I'm not, I just don't want to have to answer it.  I want him home.  I'm sure with the situation right now we will not make the next embassy date either so we are looking into February.  My stomach is in a knot and my heart aches for this little guy.  I think about what he's doing during the day and that he probably has no idea of the love for him on the other side of the world.  He's probably walking by now too.  He was walking great holding onto our finger when we were there.  He is very determined too so he's probably not walking but running! 
I was thinking about walking down the hall at the GR airport to meet Kendal when we get home and I am so excited for that day.  She is such a good big sister.  She had to draw her family for a poster at school and didn't think twice about adding "H" to it. She said she likes his hair longer so she made him with longer hair.  :)  She added Rem to it too with only three legs - kind of funny but accurate.
Thanks everyone for all of your prayers.  I know I've said this before but we are so blessed to have so many people love this little boy without meeting him.  So, hopefully the contractions will start and we will have a "delivery" of this little guy very soon.

Vice Consular Chief

We didn't know there was such a person but he is the person we are praying for now.  This man will be traveling to southern Ethiopia (Where H is from) to address the concerns with the orphanage.  We will not have resolution on our adoption case until he returns and decides what he will do.  This is because of some unethical paperwork procedures in the orphanage that "H" originally came from.  Please pray that he does not find specific evidence in our case and that as soon as he gets back we get the GREEN LIGHT to go. 

Key Word of the Day: Frustration

So, no one knows anything about what is going on thousands of miles away where our little boy lives.  We have fingerprints that expire on March 7th and we were told we'd better get them updated.  If I don't travel to get our son before March 7th, I will need some serious counseling.  Some parents who have documents expiring in April and May were told the same thing.  The hardest part is not knowing.  We would have known yesterday if we were to go to the next Embassy appointment.  That puts us now at least two more weeks behind.  That will be a month from when they first told us we could expect to travel.  I know we've all heard of adoption horror stories, but it hasn't happened to OUR family.  Now, we wait.  Please God, listen to our prayers and let us go get our son. 

Merry Christmas "H"

Tomorrow is Christmas in Ethiopia.  We were supposed to come home tomorrow.  So sad that our little guy will not be with us any time soon.  We found out that no one has any idea as to when he could come home.  The Embassy is reviewing cases further and especially from the orphanage that he is at (long story). 

The good news is that we got an update on Tuesday.  He still is a "very active little boy" they say.  He's smiling in all of his pictures and his cognitive and motor skills are right where they should be.  He even gained almost three pounds since we've left!  Who knew we would have a chunky baby from Ethiopia!  He's playing with the rings that my sister sent with us to give to him in one of the pictures.  We so miss him and feel such a connection to this little guy that we've been praying for, for years.  We love him so much and can't wait to get that email that says to pack our bags.......oh, wait they ARE packed.  :)  We could leave in about 20 minutes if we need to! 

Trying to remember what the Christmas season is about today.  God has given us a gift and he is our son.  Jesus was "adopted" too.  I know that God has a plan for our family and I am confident that this little boy will bless us with his presence very soon.  Merry Christmas "H."  We love you.

Changes to "H's" Orphanage

We just found out today that the orphanage our son is at is now not going to be an orphanage Bethany is going to work with anymore.  They have found some "unethical" paperwork procedures being done (not finding out enough about the child before they give a referral).  They had been given warnings and didn't follow through.  So, Bethany is now not going to have a working relationship with them anymore.  The obvious problem is that our son is there now and the workers there do know about the situation.  The Embassy is not happy with this orphanage either and that is why the extra review process with our children.  We are praying that the orphanage does not get shut down (because the government can do that) and that the review process goes quickly so we can get him out of there. 

Patience is not a Strength of Mine

So, today would have been the day we picked up Hagirsa from the orphanage.  Please pray that we will get to go soon and that he remains a happy, healthy baby.  I'm so glad that he's too young to know what's going on. 

What to Say?

What do you say when asked something you don't know the answer to?  Unfortunately, "I don't know."  We've had to say that a lot the last couple of days.  We've been asked a lot, "when do you get to go?" or when are you going?"  It's so hard to not know the answer to that.  We really don't know.  Hopefully we'll be able to be at the next Embassy date which would be January 18th.  I'm not holding my breath.  The Embassy could take as long as they want to review everyone's case.  Well, our bags our still packed and we are ready to go when we get the call (or email).  Hopefully, this time we will have more than 24 hours to plan for it!