"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow, be patient! For it will surely take place. It will not be late by a single day." Habakkuk 2:3

Sunday, July 11, 2010

WE ARE SO CLOSE!!!!



SO.......there were a few referrals this week-and this puts the Stutzman family at either number ONE or worst case number TWO on the wait list for our baby girl-which means, we could get the call THIS week, or up to two months from now (we have friends that sat at the number 1 spot for 2 months) but we are hoping it is sooner rather than later.


The Ethiopian courts should be closing the 2nd week in August. Many people keep asking me why the courts close in Ethiopia. It is because it is the country's "rainy season time" and it rains so hard that the roads literally become rivers and impassible. It isn't like here-they don't have the infrastructure to deal with the flooding. So, many of the government offices close, and the main one that will close every year during this time is MOWA (Ministry of Women's Affairs). This is the office in the Ethiopian government ministry in charge of women and children’s affairs. They are the ones that look over everything and write up their ruling to be submitted to court. They realize that the birthfamily would have an almost impossible time traveling to the city so unless our birthfamily makes it BEFORE they close around the 2nd week of August, we will be waiting for that part of court until they reopen mid-October.
However, this may not mean that WE can't travel for the first trip and have OUR court apt.... There is a small chance that the birthfamily could squeek through and get their court apt. before their courts close-People are saying that they may still let the adoptive families travel during closure to at least pass there part. We just don't know....like everything else, this is a day by day adventure into the unknown.
So here is what the timeframe is at this point:
**JULY-hopefully sometime get our referral of our baby girl and find out WHO she is/age, etc.
**4-8 weeks later, fly over and pass our court
during this time-if they can get a court apt. before courts close, birthfamily will go to court.
*If neigher us nor the birthfamily can go to court, we will both be sitting here waiting and doing nothing until mid to late Oct. when we can both get court dates and we won't fly until then-but this is to be determined.
**4-8 weeks after both us and the birthfamily passes court, fly over and p/u our baby girl and come home!! During this 4-8 weeks she will be getting her passport and Visa and the US Embassy will make an apt. for us to go to with her in Ethiopia. Not sure why this takes 6-8 weeks-but it does. Ethiopains are on their own timeframe-they are not rushing around like crazy people like us Americans are. Life is at a slower pace, so it takes time.
Our main goal now is just to have her home by Christmas!

5 comments:

  1. I hope everything moves super fast!!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Also! I tried to find your email address! I am going to send you a money order for some shirts but needed to ask you a question about sizes!! Could you email me @ mandy@campbellfamilypartyof3.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Praying you get to see her soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. YEAH!! Referrals!!! And we pray for miracles to happen with the court closures, court dates, and embassy appts.

    ReplyDelete

Our Airport Homecoming for our 2nd Adoption~

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
A photo slideshow by Smilebox

Our Journey up to our Referral

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
Free digital slideshow created with Smilebox

Seble's Referral Video

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
Free slideshow personalized with Smilebox
"Although it may not always be obvious to us, there seems to be one distinct moment when God begins a new story in each of our lives. He writes words on our hearts that long to be spoken and strain to be lived out. Then with His own great hand, He begins to write the script. Experience by experience through seemingly ordinary days, He supernaturally orders our lives. Only when we look back and reflect on what appeared to have been the ordinary events of life does it become clear what a miracle the Lord has performed." Jan Beazely

Amazing Adoption Story!

LUCY LANE-AGCI-ADOPTION VIDEO! This inspired us to follow our dream!

WHY WOULDN'T I....WHY WOULDN'T YOU?

What Adoption is About! What a Testimony! Lundy's Adoption

We Love this family and this video is inspiring!

HANNAH'S HOPE ETHIOPIA

FATHER, BREAK OUR HEARTS FOR WHAT BREAKS YOURS~

ImageChef.com