We recently got news that our “referral” from China has been delayed again. We were originally hoping for a “fly to China date” in late fall of 2007, but then it got pushed to the winter of 2008 and now we are facing a date in the summer of 2008. However, going by the increased waiting times each month, we figure it’ll be more like November of 2008 or later. It was disheartening, to say the least, and we thought maybe we’d need to check into other options. We prayed and talked and looked into other countries and found we are only eligible to adopt (our choice of younger than 2 years) from Ethiopia with our current agency, but since we don’t feel called to that country, we’ll stay the course with China and wait our 2 years plus from our Log in Date of 11-6-06. (Other countries are not only more expensive, but have lower age regulations and sometimes large amounts of time “in country” that we can’t afford.) We’ve thought about trying to do a domestic adoption through another agency in the meantime, but I’m a bit weary and ragged right now when I think of another paperwork process and more expense (it feels too overwhelming) so we’ll see what the next month brings. Guess we need to remember as Frank Peretti once said, “the wealth is in the waiting”…or at least the growth of character is. It just doesn’t feel like it when you’re in the midst of it.
The next paperwork part of our China adoption will take place in November of 2007 when we’ll need to update our expired Home Study, Fingerprints, and our Immigration paperwork. These deadlines have been pushed back in hopes that we won’t have to do them a third time before we fly to China.
As you think of us, we’d appreciate your continued prayers for us to grow in trust and submission to our heavenly Father, through this. Thank you.
We know that when we finally receive our daughter, the joy will be unspeakable and the frustrations and disappointments of the waiting time will have melted away.
