This update isn't really an easy one to write. If you haven't read the March update below, now is a good time.
The letter from the regional government never came. There was always an excuse- but when push came to shove, there was a real lack of desire on their part to do it. The "short" story is, given the circumstances of our son's relinquishment and medical care immediately following his placement in the orphanage, they are questioning his placement for adoption as a child with "medical needs". Therefor, it appears that the letter we NEED in order to be given our court date is not coming.
Our question immediately was "what can we do?" It appears the answer is to challenge the court.
When speaking with our agency case worker, it sounds like this has been done ONE other time in the history of the agency. This is not a typical part of the process, and is definitely an addition of time & resources onto our case.
The process we are looking at involves asking the Ethiopian courts to review our case and make a ruling on our adoption- WITHOUT the letter from the Ministry that is 'required' to proceed. The best our case worker could predict- and that's vague because this is not a process that happens very often at all- is that we can begin the challenge process in June and it would take the better part of a month to reach the point where the judge would make a ruling. In the end the decision would have to be made in favor of the adoption proceeding without the letter, or against it.
We are ready for the fight for our son. We saw his face for the first time ten months ago. We will do whatever it takes to bring him home to us. This may be the 'long way' but when I think back to all of it, so was our initial trip into parenthood.
To all of our friends and family who have called & texted- thank you. The support of everyone is amazing and what really keeps us going day in & out. If you're praying, we are specifically praying that the heart of the Ministry official changes and he writes the letter so we don't have to challenge the court. Secondly we are praying for the heart of the High Court Judge who will hear our case, that his concern is for the best interest of our son, and that he feels that our son should be placed into our family. Lastly- and always- we pray for our son and those caring for him daily while we wait.
There is a bible verse that keeps popping up these last few weeks that seems to become something I have held on to.
Romans 8:28 We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
