Over the weekend I confirmed with some contacts in the adoption community that the processing of adoptions is slowing down in Ethiopia. Partners of Children’s HopeChest have been unable to process adoptions since mid-November.
From what my sources are saying, there is some activity between the Ethiopian courts and the Ethiopian government about the future of their inter-country adoption program. I am not sure it is completely over and done with just yet. And that is why we must pray through this until there is more news.
Again, there’s nothing official posted on the U.S. State Department Web site or any other official indication from Ethiopia. But this is all pointing toward a drastic reduction in the number of Ethiopian children being placed with U.S. families.
I want to start a continuous prayer movement on behalf of the children of Ethiopia. Please pray for the following:
1. For God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
God is in control. For those of you who are facing being stuck, remember that God is in control.
2. For God to breakdown strongholds of the enemy.
Every child deserves the right to grow up in a health family, and adoptive families provide that for thousands of children each year. Pray that God would demolish the strongholds that are set up against adoption.
3. For God to fulfill His promises.
God defines Himself as the Father to the Fatherless. He declares He will set the lonely in families. He warns those who would interfere with His plan to bring justice and mercy that is due to them. Find the orphan scriptures, pray them to God, and ask Him to fulfill those promises to the children of Ethiopia now.
4. For the courts and judges and government officials making this decision.
Ask the Holy Spirit to permeate the courtroom and convict the hearts of the judges and other government officials. Bring the power of the Holy Spirit into these discussions and proceedings–not that we would get our way–but that God’s perfect will would be fulfilled in these decisions.
5. For the children and families
That God would shorten their wait times. Fortunately, God is bigger than these obstacles. Pray that waiting children would receive comfort. And pray that waiting families would experience peace, grace, and love from those around them.
While things are uncertain, our best response today is prayer. I will post more news as it comes available to me. Please pass this on to all your friends and contacts who care and are concerned about orphans and adoption.
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posted March 7, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Hmm… I too, as an adoptive mom, am concern for truly orphaned children. However, I do support the Ethiopian government’s claim that they are attempting to make adoptions from their country more ethical. I pray that a balance is found where children who are truly without families to care for them would find families. But I also pray that families are not taken advantage of in an attempt to produce more “orphans”. I am sure this is not the Father’s plan either.
posted March 7, 2011 at 1:30 pm
*concerned. I hate typos. :-/
posted March 7, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Tom, thank you for posting this. I will pass it along to others. We serve an awesome God. He created this universe and he can do anything!
posted March 7, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Amen, the Lord is more than able to help these little children. Prayer is what it will take to help these little ones come home to their adoptive families. I have been so honored to help some of these families with their adoption travel by providing them with missionary and humanitarian airfare for their flights. It has been such a testimony just watching the Lord’s hand moving all across the world to bring these little ones safe into a family who loves them and cares for them. Praise the Lord!! God bless you for sharing this. Thanks so much.
Blessings and prayers,
Tabithas
posted March 7, 2011 at 3:03 pm
While there has been corruption in Ethiopian adoption, I believe prayer IS the best response right now. If you care about the fatherless at all, then you want there to be BOTH an ethical process AND the opportunity for an orphan to have a family. Yes, there have been families broken up in Ethiopia-that is the sad truth. Hopefully, those in Ethiopia can come up with a way to prevent that. However, there ARE orphans in Ethiopia, and the prayer is that THOSE children will be kept safe, healthy, and united with a family that will love and care for them without years of waiting. How can you NOT pray for that????
posted March 7, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Thanks for posting this. There are so many kids that are hanging in the balance right now.
posted March 7, 2011 at 5:37 pm
Last Friday when this news broke we had HUNDREDS of families fasting and praying for the situation in Ethiopia. Myself and a few other waiting mommas are committing to fast every Friday until our babies come home! Join us!
http://www.familyboulton.blogspot.com
posted March 7, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Thank you Tom for your thoughtful words…I will be praying however for something a little different. That children like mine, who have lost their first families needlessly be given justice. That first families who lost their children due to someone else’s greed are freed from their pain by knowing not another child will be stolen. Lets remember these families too.
posted March 7, 2011 at 6:37 pm
Thank you, Tom, for posting this. I am sharing it on my fb page. As a family waiting to be united with our precious 11 year-old daughter in Ethiopia, we cannot help but see this as an attack by our enemy, Satan, against the family and against the gospel message, which is: WE ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ADOPTED BY GOD INTO HIS FAMILY!! Keep praying!!
posted March 7, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Thank you MC. That is what I am praying for as well.
posted March 7, 2011 at 8:49 pm
Our family is in prayer for the children and families in Ethiopia too. Our two girls are beautiful Ethiopian princesses. Their first family remains in Ethiopia still grieving their loss and praying for them every day. My prayer is that other families don’t have to be ripped apart like my girls’ first family. My prayer is mostly the same as Tom’s, but has a different focus. His prayer centers is for adoptive families in the US. My prayer is for Ethiopian children and their first families.
Taken from Tom Davis’ prayer
1. For God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
God is in control. May God bring hope to Ethiopian families facing difficulties such as disease, lack of basic necessities or lack of medical care.
2. For God to breakdown strongholds of the enemy.
Every child deserves the right to grow up in a healthy family. May God strike down strongholds that make it difficult for single mothers to keep their children. May God bless the hands that bring peace to hurting mothers and helps those families who need medical care and food for their little ones. May the hearts of those who would condemn single mothers be moved to help rather than hurt. May God be the enemy of those who seek to profit from taking children from their Ethiopian families.
3. For God to fulfill His promises.
God’s promises are many. We claim them for ourselves and for the families in Ethiopia.
4. For the courts and judges and government officials making this decision.
Ask the Holy Spirit to permeate the courtroom and convict the hearts of the judges and other government officials. Bring the power of the Holy Spirit into these discussions and proceedings–not that we would get our way–but that God’s perfect will would be fulfilled in these decisions. Amen and AMEN!
5. For the children and families
That God would strengthen Ethiopian families. That God would protect them from those who would profit from taking their children. Pray that God would protect and preserve Ethiopian families first, and preserve adoption only for those orphans who truly need it.
posted March 7, 2011 at 9:15 pm
These comments provide a beautiful balance. As an adoptive father, I resonate with both sides so strongly. Thank you for being so gentle and winsome in bringing up the need to pray for first families, and showing others how to do it. It is a really valuable perspective, and I appreciate how thoughtful and heartfelt your comments are.
posted March 8, 2011 at 1:31 am
I totally agree with Mr Matt… i totally appreciate ur thoughts
posted March 9, 2011 at 1:42 pm
I volunteer for New Hope International Orphan Care which has been running a program in Ukraine which places children from orphanages into Christian homes in Ukraine. Would this kind of program be feasible in Ethiopia?