Ethiopian Adoptions - Ways to Help

We love to look back from time to time at pictures and videos of our earlier days as a family (which, consequently, began to grow just eight years ago!).  It's easy to forget what life was like those first days, weeks, and months at home.  Some of you may not realize, or perhaps have forgotten like we sometimes do, that none of our children spoke English!  When Eyasu (a.k.a. Joshua) arrived, he began learning English from his Ukrainian siblings who themselves spoke a broken Russian-English language with a Mississippi accent.  You never knew what would come out of Joshua's mouth (still don't - ha!).  Here's a favorite clip of those earlier days...
     As you may be aware, there are currently delays in the adoption process in Ethiopia.  Thirty families have already passed court and over 200 families are currently in the middle of their adoption process.  Here are some easy action steps to advocate on behalf of the fatherless in Ethiopia and their forever families:

* Ask your member of Congress to pursue the expedient resolution of the adoption process for these families currently in adoption process 

* Send a letter to the Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington, D.C. requesting expedient resolution of the current adoption suspension for the 200+ families currently in the process

FOR THOSE WHO PERSONALLY KNOW SOMEONE -
Here is a sample letter you can copy/paste and edit (personalize accordingly):

Embassy of Ethiopia, Washington, D.C.
3506 International Dr NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Phone: 202-364-1200

To Whom It May Concern:

I am sending this letter out of concern over the recent decision by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MoWA) to suspend processing intercountry adoptions in Ethiopia. 

I personally know a family who is currently in the process to adopt a child from Ethiopia, and it is heartbreaking to consider that their process may take much longer than it should to bring their child home into their safe and loving family. 

It is with this deep concern that I am requesting that you please advocate for the expedient completion of the adoptions for the 30 families who have already passed court, and for the more than 200 families currently in the process. In alignment with the U.S. Congressional Letter to the Prime Minister, I respect Ethiopia as a sovereign nation and its right to make decisions on all future policy, but I also humbly request that you advocate for intercountry adoptions in Ethiopia to remain open to help orphans find safe, loving families.

I am grateful for the continued work your office is doing to strengthen diplomatic relations between our countries. Thank you for your time and attention to these matters. 

Sincerely, 



[NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE]
[ZIP CODE]
[DATE]

FOR OTHERS OF YOU WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP -
Here is a sample letter you can copy/paste and edit (Personalize accordingly):

Embassy of Ethiopia, Washington, D.C.
3506 International Dr NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Phone: 202-364-1200

To Whom It May Concern:

I am sending this letter out of concern over the recent decision by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MoWA) to suspend processing intercountry adoptions in Ethiopia. 

I am part of a community in Raleigh, North Carolina that has several families who have adopted Ethiopian children and another family currently in the process to adopt a child from Ethiopia. These children have been a blessing to our community and it has been an honor to love and cherish these precious children. Each of these beautiful children adds vibrant joy to their families and to our community, and it is heartbreaking to consider that other Ethiopian children may not fill our communities with such joy in the future. 

It is with this deep concern that I am requesting that you please advocate for the expedient completion of the adoptions for the 30 families who have already passed court, and for the more than 200 families currently in the process. In alignment with the U.S. Congressional Letter to the Prime Minister, I respect Ethiopia as a sovereign nation and its right to make decisions on all future policy, but I also humbly request that you advocate for intercountry adoptions in Ethiopia to remain open to help orphans find safe, loving families.

I am grateful for the continued work your office is doing to strengthen diplomatic relations between our countries. Thank you for your time and attention to these matters. 

Sincerely, 



[NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE]
[ZIP CODE]
[DATE]


------------------------------
Thank you for your continued prayers!

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