1.) Who is "Z" ... and "Levi".
Yes, I have thoroughly confused you - my apologies! Welcome to my head. HAHA.
"Levi" is "Z". HUH? Well, simply put ... we named our son before we "knew" who he was. He didn't yet have a face, a birth date or a name. At the time, we were awaiting our "Referral" (a match to a child). After several weeks of the kids calling him "him" and "it" and "brother" and being totally confused, we decided as a family to name him. It also made a way for us to pray for him and to speak of him as a real child ... because he was, we just didn't know at the time WHICH child but we are certain, the Lord knew that "Z" was Levi ... and so it's all good. We chose the name Levi for many reasons to which you can find in some blog posts along the way. We held that name loosely knowing he would be older and he might not want to let go of his name. We also might love his name. So ... guess what? As destiny had it, we DID love his name. When we received his referral and his NAME, we loved it from the first moment and well, so did everyone whom we have been able to share his whole name with. With that, we have decided to name him "Z" Levi Martine. And well, something inside me thinks there is something very important about his name given by his birth Mother who had him for quite a long time.
2.) Um, so is "Z" really the name?
No. "Z" is what we call him on any public site as we are not allowed to share his name, picture and details of "who" he is until we pass court. His name BEGINS with a "Z".
3.) So, will you bring him home on this trip?
Unfortunately, No, we won't. On this trip we will go to court and stand before a judge and acknowledge that we want to adopt "Z". We will have to leave him there in Ethiopia and come home without him. Once we do pass court, our papers will be submitted by our agency to the US Embassy where we will await them to "Clear" his case and issue a visa interview date. Once we have secured that, we will go back to Ethiopia, have that interview with the Embassy in Addis Ababa and bring him home!
4.) What is the timeline or when do you expect him home?
Man that is a loaded question. First, we have to pass court on November 22. That's our first hurdle. It's not a small one either. 50% of cases fail court the first time. Why you ask? Well, that too is a loaded question. To pass court, a family must have an approval letter from MOWCYA (the ministry of woman's, children's and youth affairs). This letter is not written until the day of court for a family and is often missing from the file so no letter, no pass! Sometimes, the judge will also fail a family's case if a judge sees that they would like more information on a case. So, there are 2 scenarios. 1.) We pass on the 22 and come home knowing "Z" is now officially our son (and you get to officially know his name and his face). 2.) We fail court, come home and wait for the judge to issue our case a NEW court date. We don't return for subsequent court dates, because we have done our part. We simply await a passing one once all items are secured and cleared.
Once we do pass court, our case is then submitted to our embassy by our agency. This can take a few weeks as they have to go back to that same ministry, MOWCYA, for another document and gather a few other items. They said that usually takes around 2 weeks or so. But, Embassy paperwork can only be submitted on Wednesdays for our agency so they have to wait until the next available Wed. when they have all items in order. Once they do submit, the embassy has 10 days to review our case and give us an answer. Here we go again, they can 1.) find our case "Clearly Approvable" and we then proceed forth with "Embassy clearance" and receive that embassy interview date (where we travel back and bring him HOME) or 2.) Embassy may require more information, additional documentation, or their own investigation. This timeline is unknown. It can take only a few extra days or several more months.
SO ... obviously, we're praying for that "Clearly Approvable" case and what's behind DOOR 1 in all situations. Our agency says that typically, a family will travel back for their embassy date anytime between 5 and 12 weeks after passing court. That's the "average" for families that they see.
Do you see now why my stomach is in knots. Our journey ahead is a loaded one ... full of possible twists and turns. Thankfully, no matter what bump is in the road, we have the Lord paving a highway for us.
5.) Can you tell me his story? What made him an orphan?
Well, first of all ... I can't legally share any of those details until we pass court. But, also ... we will not be sharing much of "Z"s story as it is not OUR story to share. We can share with you that "Z"'s birth Mom was with him for quite some time. She is still alive and simply could no longer care for him. Someday, "Z" might want to share the details of his story ... but respectfully, we'll let him take that stage.
AND YES .... even this far into our journey, get this question LOTS!
6.) Why did you choose Ethiopia when their are so many children in the states?
I'm always amazed by this question. My first response would be ... because He called us there. He told us we had a son there. We listened and obeyed.
But, you are right .. in fact, their are 520,000 children in the foster care system in our country. That's a lot! TOO MANY! I hope and pray that their are families who will step up and empty that system. In fact, if you are one of those families interested ... I'd love to get you in touch with some awesome agencies who can help you in that endeavor. I am a HUGE supporter of foster/domestic adoption. We simply were not called to be that family(right now). No, after much prayer ... the Lord led us to the "ends of the earth". Just before Jesus left this earth, he told the disciples to be his witness in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to "the ends of the earth". (Acts 1). To be his witness, we are to tell those in all of those places of who he was and what he did. We are to be Jesus to them! Well, when I read about who Jesus was ... I see that he loved and cared for "the least of these". When no one else would, he sat with the leper, associated with prostitutes and the downcast of the society. Jesus loved the unlovable. I also see that he mandated us to care for the orphan. And of course, Jesus also told us to take the Gospel to the world because well, we all need to be adopted ... we were all once orphans!! He didn't say to stop in Judea when doing these things ... nope, he included the "ends of the earth" in his commands of these things.
Our family, through much prayer knows with great assurance that he called us to international adoption (and other means of caring for those internationally - sponsorship etc.). As a friend once said, just because ... he did.
Oh, I could bog you down with a gazillion statistics that validate our decision for us in our minds. Ethiopia is about twice the size of Texas with over 4.6 MILLION orphans. While I don't want to downplay the need in our country, that is about 9 times the number of orphans than here. In our country, EVERY child is given the opportunity of an education. In Ethiopia, that isn't the case. A family must pay for a child to attend school. This is a luxury and 50% of children will never attend school and of those who do, 88% will never attend secondary school. In our country, a child in the foster care system is given health care and medical insurance and .... drum roll ... a paid for college education. Look it up, it's true! Now, I will say, many don't utilize that but it's true - they have the chance!
In Ethiopia, the statistics is daunting on medical care. The doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000. And no, they are not being insured and provided with play therapy, speech therapy and doctors visits along the way. So, while I am your BIGGEST cheer leader if you are one of those families the Lord has called to Judea and Samaria, I hope you will be mine and cheer me on that we were called to "the ends of the earth".
And if that doesn't convince you, did you know all children are children of God's. He created them all and I am certain he would think that all of them should have families to love them and care for them! He doesn't see a border, why should we? My daughter was birthed in China. My son in Ethiopia. They are Chinese and Ethiopian. That doesn't define them though ... that's just where the Lord began their story.
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