Small Delay in Adoption Process

It has taken us a few days to process recent news in our Kyrgyzstan adoption process and we have chosen to keep this information to ourselves until we were able to take it in, talk with our agency and others in the process, get a true feel for what it means and decide how we feel about it.

Apparently, an individual who was over adoptions in Kyrgyzstan has resigned his position. Because of this, and probably some other things we might not be privy to, the country is taking some time to look at its adoption process, determine if any changes need to occur and try to make this process better for the children in orphanages. Because of this, the Kyrgyzstan Embassy is not currently processing any dossiers.

We are told this process is a positive step for the country and for adoptions but that it might delay adoptions. I've heard numbers mentioned of between two to six weeks. This has happened twice before in Kyrgyzstan without negative impact at all. We have no reason to think it will be a problem this time.

So, you are asking, just like I did, how this will affect our adoption. We don't know exactly yet. We are still number one on the list for a referral. We do not know if referrals will continue during the restructuring time or not. I am going to make a call tomorrow to find out if they will still be receiving referrals. I have heard from two other families with our agency that they were told referrals will continue. HOWEVER, with that being said, I'm 50/50 about whether I want my referral right now. Granted, I most definitely won't turn it down, but it will be more difficult, I think, to have a photo of my Ellie and not be able to travel for an undetermined amount of time. The good news with that is that if we do get a referral, she will continue to get closer to her three month age (which is how old she will have to be to go to court) which will reduce the amount of time we might have to wait to return to pick her up. We still do not have our I171H, though, and now our dossier might have to have additional processing work done on it. I’m not worried; that’s what our agency’s job is.

We have looked for the blessings in this. We really wanted to travel after school was out so that Josh wouldn't have to miss the last (fun) weeks of school. We will have just a bit more time to raise funds -- that's always a plus.

We do not know, nor does our agency, what sorts of changes might come out of this, but we don't feel concerned about it affecting us in a negative way. It might affect us financially (it seems to always affect us that way), or change our timing a bit, but it also might not change anything. I think speculation at this point is fruitless. Our agency is communicating very well what little information they have.

The thing we know is that God knew this was going to happen and He is already there and handling it. I am reminded over and over of the verse in Genesis 50:20 that Joseph says when talking to the brothers who sold him into slavery about what they meant for evil against him, God meant for good, to save others. While my situation is not like Joseph's and I know no one means this for evil, I know that God can and does turn bad things to good. I've seen it many times during our llllooooonnnnnggggggg adoption process. I trust Him. I know He will take care of us. I know He did not bring us to this next-in-line spot to disappoint us. So, I will wait, again.

I had some sort of crazy dream about getting our referral last night. I've tried really hard to remember what it was, but I can't. I suppose it's just been on my mind a lot. We've not let this stop us from continuing to prepare for her arrival. My heart continues to tell me it won't be long.

We appreciate your continued prayers for this process to move along quickly so that we can get on with Bringing Home Ellie.