a little update

We got an update from our agency today - Yay! We had been hoping to hear from them soon. The updates contain information about the number of referrals, status of any changes in legal requirements, how the care centers are developing, and other things related to the whole process. Though we still don't quite know where we are at in the wait, it is still comforting to hear some word from them. It is surely a strange thing to have such a big change coming that depends on the workings of so many other people. It is sometimes hard to wait between updates as we wonder what is going on.

What I think is really cool about Holt is that they do a lot of work in country to preserve families. Adoption is not their first choice for the children. Holt has programs in place in Ethiopia where they teach a mother, father, grandparent, or other family member caring for the child in need a new trade and provide them tools by which they can make a living. This way it may be possible for children to stay with their biological families if poverty is the reason adoption is being considered. Holt has also established a medical clinic outside of Addis that they have planned for the purpose of having a clean safe place for mommas to deliver their babies. Both of these projects focus on, as I understand it, the two main reasons there are so many orphans in Ethiopia - either the momma dies in childbirth or the family simply cannot feed their children. There are many who, wrongly in my opinion, accuse international adoptive families that they buy their children from those who are less fortunate. I do trust Holt that they are acting in the best interest of the children in that they don't limit their services to adoption, but also are very proactive in serving the families of Ethiopia.