Why Adopt From Ethiopia

~ 1 in 10 children die before their 1st birthday
~ 1 in 6 children die before their 5th birthday
~ 44% of the population in Ethiopia is under 15 years old
~ Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school
~ 88% will never attend secondary school
~ Ethiopia's doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000
~ Ethiopia has approximately 4.3 million orphans and the country is twice the size of Texas
~ Per capita, Ethiopia receives less aid than any country in Africa
~ 1.5 million people are infected with AIDS (6th highest in the world)
~ A child adopted in a christian home is a child who will know the love of Christ!
~ 720,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS alone
~ 60% of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition
~ The median age is 17.8 years old
~ Per capita, receives less aid than any country in Africa
~ In the 90's the population grew faster (3%) than food production (2%)
~ Drought struck the country from 2000-2002 (first year no crops, second year no seeds, third year no animals)
~ In 1993, after 30 long years of war, broke from and became an independent nation leaving landlocked without any major seafaring ports

6 Months Waiting

We are officially 6 months waiting today. It doesn't get any easier, possibly it gets harder. March has been a great month for referrals and court. There have been a ton of referrals (a lot of girls) and quite a few families have travelled to pick up their little ones. We continue to pray and dream of the day we get "the call" that says today is your day, we have a little boy here just for you! Time is coming, I know we need to wait patiently for God has a plan and it will happen in his time and according to his will. We are going to celebrate and praise God like there is no tomorrow when we get that call. Meanwhile we continue to prepare, decorating his room and putting toys away. Keep praying with us for more referrals and passing of court so as families rejoice in picking up thier children we are one step closer to seeing our sweet baby boy for the first time!

Moving Court Dates

Praise God - court dates are moving again in Ethiopia!!!!! Several families posted on the YG (yahoo group) that their dates have moved from the end of April to the end of March. There are approximately 19 families with court in March that we know of. This is truly a work of God. MOW@ decided to process more than 20 requests a day and another judge has just come back to work. The faster families move through court, the quicker they can pick up their kids making more room for kids at the TH (transition home) which means more referrals YEAH!!!!! Keep praying with us that with this transition - more referrals will be passed out and moved through court before court closures from August-October. We do not want to get caught up in court closures. Praying for a referral in the next couple of months!!!!!