ETHIOPIA VS. AMERICA

Why Ethiopia? Why not America? These are the two most frequently asked questions we get. Our first answer is, why not Ethiopia? Sounds simple enough, but there is more to it than that. We feel God led us there. That answer may sound a little “fluffy,” but we feel certain of this. Unfortunately, these answers don’t always satisfy, so we wanted to share our reason for Ethiopia and not America.
Why not America? First, our hearts ache for the children who are orphaned here in America. NO child should be left without a family. One thing remains though, orphaned children in America are blessed beyond imagine in comparison to those in less fortunate countries. American orphans are fed, most of them, three meals a day. Although it may be minimal, an orphan can also receive medical attention for various conditions. Many orphaned Americans also receive an education. In some cases, grants are offered to orphans allowing them to receive a college education as well. If one chooses, he or she can forego college and begin working in a field of their liking. If an American orphan chooses to not work and not continue their education, they can always get government assistance to provide for their needs. America will always (hopefully), be the land of opportunity. Those opportunities are here for the taking, orphaned or not. Some may disagree, but for now America still remains a Super Nation, even with a hurting economy.
Having shared the positives of America’s influence on their orphans, we must look at the negatives as well. For a family to adopt a child (older child, age three) in America they must first foster that child for six months. During these six months a child’s biological parent can “clean up their act,” which is a good thing, and take their child back. This does no good to the family who have made attachments to this child in hopes to make him or her their own. The process begins again with another child. It could potentially be years before a family can, rest assured, have their child. Today, most American adoptions are “open.” ( Some say it’s because adoption agencies get more pregnant women in the system, so they can then adopt out more babies). This means records are open to the public and biological parents can remain in contact with the child. For some, this is not an issue and is welcomed, but for others, this can become problematic. We are not experts and can’t say what is right or wrong, but as of now, this option did not feel right for us.
Why Ethiopia? Most families in Ethiopia live on one dollar a day. The future of a female child in Ethiopia is grim. Our daughter would have most likely been married and pregnant by age twelve. Or worse, sold into sex trafficking. The thought of an education in Ethiopia, is like that of a dream to become a star athlete or a Hollywood celebrity in America. Also, the probability of her contracting a life threatening disease is much higher in Ethiopia. Sadly, many disease’s can be treated with medication costing $4. Most alarming though, is the fact that many children die from starvation. The reality is this, Ethiopia has been suffering for quite some time. This fact is not the American’s problem, this is true, but it certainly is not the fault of the hungry child. Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. Isaiah 9:1,2.
God calls us to watch and care for the orphans. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27. We feel God touched our hearts for the needy in Ethiopia. He asked us if we would go…We said yes.
We are certain that God has called many to adopt children from America. He may even call us one day. For now, we will embrace the path God chose for us. We pray that many more children, American or Other, will be blessed with a loving family and a safe home. We know that questions come with the journey and we will do our best to answer each one. For now…this is why Ethiopia and not America.

Thoughtfully,
Tina and (Steve)
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