Well, I think a question we might get the most is, how did you decide on Ethiopia? Our initial look into Ethiopia was a result of wanting an infant instead of an older child to adopt. We currently have a 2 and 4 year old and we wanted to stay in the birth order.
After doing some research about the country, the number of orphans that needed homes, and despite it all, the joy that seems to come from these people, the Lord would not let me turn my head another direction.
I would try to look into other countries and even into domestic adoption, and the Lord continued to lead me back to Ethiopia - the adoption blogs, the country statistics, the videos of the many 'gotcha' days on Utube. My heart simply melted and felt pulled toward this country and these children.
Whenever I get nervous or scared about the choice to adopt, I continue to look at the following statistics:
- One in 100 babies die before they're 1 month old.
- One in 10 babies die before they're 1 year old.
- One in 6 children die before they're 5 years old.
- 44% of the population is under the age of 15.
- Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school.
- Ethiopia is 2 times the size of Texas, and has 4.8 million orphans (and growing).
If we don't help these children, who will? We feel that God is calling us to help in the form of adopting one of these beautiful children of Ethiopia, and though it's scary and nerve-wracking, we are honored for the call. We will respond in faith.
No comments:
Post a Comment