Answering YOUR most common questions: Question 2

Another week has almost come to an end and I realized it is time to lay out another question for those of you on this journey with us.

Here we go: the 2nd most common question we are receiving is: Why Ethiopian adoption? Why not domestic adoption?

Answer:

   Frankly, this is a tough question for me to answer sometimes. However if you haven't noticed already, I try my best to be 100% authentic and transparent with the position of our hearts, so I'll do my best here. Although, sometimes that is difficult when not everybody seems to agree on this topic.

So the main reasons we are pursuing international adoption instead of domestic adoption:

1.) "Poor" in the United States is not really poor in the grand scheme of humanity. Orphans across the globe are simply not able to be cared for equally. Our personal desire is to serve where there is the greatest need. We are well aware of (and have been reminded a handful of times this month)  that "there are plenty of orphans here for you to adopt" and our hearts break for all the orphans & children both here and abroad! The reality is: orphans in the U.S. usually still have their own place to sleep and are not sharing a crib with another child (or two); orphans in the U.S. don't ever have to think about not getting 3 solid, well rounded nutritious meals a day. The orphan to volunteer/worker ratio in the U.S. is lower than abroad. In orphanages abroad, it would not be uncommon for bottles to have to be propped up on blankets or pillows for the babies to feed

Now- please here me on this. What I outline above is in NO WAY intended to imply that international adoption is more important than domestic adoption! We simply want to do our best to explain how our family came to the conclusion that international adoption is the best match for OUR family. Just because this is the correct match for us, doesn't mean it is the answer for you. There is great need here in the U.S. for families to become foster parents and agencies out there that will assist and equip you with whatever you need to do so!

2.) When we decided to pursue international adoption, we specifically chose Ethiopia because  we liked the idea, that through Ethiopian adoption she could have a connection to her country of birth through her home church here in Indiana. Some of you may know that as a family we attend Epic Church in Mishawaka, Indiana. Amber is a partner at the church (that's what we call staff) serving at the Director of Counseling through Epic Counseling. Anyway, Epic has partnered with a fantastic organization called Awake & Alive that is opening a school for young orphaned children in Kechene, Ethiopia. We believe this will be a long standing partnership and people from the Epic Church family will likely join Awake & Alive on trips to Kechene on an annual basis. 

So, when our little girl begins asking questions about her adoption and wants to know more about where she is from, it would be wonderful to be able to take her back to serve and love widows and children of Ethiopia through Awake & Alive. She will be able to have a connection to her country and culture of birth, while being supported by people that know and love her from her home church.

So anyway- in a "nut shell" that is why we have decided to pursue Ethiopian adoption! Keep your questions coming!

Thank You for your continued prayers and support. Oh- and if you think of it, send us your vote for what color to use for our T-shirt fundraiser later this summer! We want a color that both guys and gals would like (and be willing) to wear! 

Keep sharing the blog and the Village Key fundraising site with your friends. Together, we will bring this little angel home!