Say What????

So, maybe its been awhile since we last talked...For a few months now we have been saying that we are going to adopt from Vietnam. Let's just say that over the past week we have had a change in direction. Last week, Christy was talking with someone at the agency we were thinking of using and found out that we will not be able to choose whether we get a girl or not. This threw us for a bit of a loop, because we have been so sure that God was leading us to adopt a little girl. So, we started to pray...In the midst of praying, we got the impression that God was leading us to change direction and look to Ethiopia instead of Vietnam.

As we started to pray about this, there were some confirmations that came along the way and it really seemed to be right. It is quite a change in direction for us, but we both think it is the right decision. As we have done more research on Ethiopia and adoption there, it lines up with what we have been longing for...to adopt a daughter from a place where the chances of her having a life without help would not look feasible. Ethiopia is a prime candidate.

While it is one of the oldest nations, it also is one of the poorest in the world. It has been ravaged by war, famine, drought, corrupt leadership, and now the AIDS crisis. Ethiopia ranks 177th out of 194 nations in its GDP, making it one of the most impoverished nations in the world. The GDP is $1,000 per capita compared to $44,000 per capita in the US and it is estimated that this year 14 million Ethiopians will face severe food shortages and possible starvation without outside intervention. AIDS has also ravaged the land. Some estimates say there have been upwards of 130,000 AIDS related deaths to date which have resulted in over 800,000 AIDS orphans. The crisis continues.

It is fascinating to consider adopting from Ethiopia. We both remember growing up watching children on TV who were starving to death in Ethiopia during the horrible droughts and famines of the 70s and 80s. It was so surreal...millions perishing around the world while we watched them from the comfort of our living rooms. Of course it seems like such a drop in the bucket to merely help one young girl have hope and life, but that is the starting place that it seems as if God has put in front of us. We are honored, humbled and challenged all at the same time!