Estes TRIBE: December 2009

Monday, December 14, 2009

Court Date

Today is our Ethiopian Court Date. We found out the night before Thanksgiving that December 14th was our day. I can hardly function as we await the results. Once we are approved we will be given an estimated travel date. It's all just TOO exciting!!!

Time seems to move faster around the Holidays, which is a blessing because waiting is so hard.

Last month my friends and sisters (who are also my friends) gathered in Nashville, TN to celebrate our adoption. It was amazing to be in a room with so many friends who have adopted or are in the process. If you are reading this blog, watch-out, this heart of adoption is contagious!!!

Here is a photo of two of my best friends. Missy (on my left) is also adopting a boy from the same orphanage in Ethiopia. We are praying that we will be able to travel to Ethiopia together to bring our sons home. Tina (on the right) is my friend who send the original email with the boys' photo that captured our hearts. Life is so much richer when sharing it with friends like these!

That's all for now - we now will wait anywhere from a day to a month for the news of our approval and estimated travel dates... we will keep you posted as soon as we hear any updates.

FAQ

When will you get the boys?

The time frame for adopting children in the waiting program from Ethiopia is about 6 – 9 months. The earliest possible date would be December ‘09, which would be amazing.

Are they full orphans?

Yes, both parents have passed away. They arrived at Hannah’s Hope Orphanage on May 19, 2009. It’s an amazing and wonderful place that provides a care-mother for every three children. We are confident that they are being well cared for during this process as they await their “forever home”.

Do you go to Ethiopia to pick them up?

Yes, we will need to be in Ethiopia for about 7 days to complete this process. We are not permitted to go to the orphanage or to see the boys until the Courts in Ethiopia approve our completed Adoption Dossier (which could possibly be in early December). Until that time, they are being lovingly cared for by the Caregivers at Hannah's Hope Orphanage in Ethiopia.

Do they speak English?

They can say their ABC’s and count-to-10 in English, but the language at the orphanage is Amharic. They are actually from the southern part of Ethiopia where the language is Wolaytta. There is no Rosetta-Stone program for Wolaytta, so we are learning a little Amharic. We will need to teach the boys English, so we’re learning how to do that as well.

How much will this cost?

The cost to adopt one child from Ethiopia is approximately $25,000. Due to the fact that we are adopting siblings it will be approximately $40,000 with travel. Because of a small family inheritance and all of our savings, we have about $10,000 towards this need. We will are raising an additional $30,000. So far, we have been blessed to raise about $18k, leaving us with a goal of raising an additional $12,000. We are rejoicing in faith as we watch God meet our needs!

Besides asking friends and family to help us, we are making T-shirts to sell, as well as making available some handmade African necklaces, all of which will help us toward our financial goal of bringing our boys home without incurring debt. We know that where God guides, He provides – so we eagerly anticipate His miraculous provision as we move forward in the direction of our two new sons.

For more info on the Waiting Children Program or Ethiopian Adoption, go to http://www.allgodschildren.org/

Estes TRIBE

Monday, December 14, 2009

Court Date

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