“In the silence, in the stillness, YES we can know You are good.”
At church
tonight these lyrics hit me like a ton of bricks. Lord, let this be true of our hearts during
our wait. It has been a while since an
update so I decided it was time to share my thoughts, sing praises and express
hardships.
You guys,
this journey is harder than we could have ever imagined. Yes, some of you reading are saying to
yourselves “I told you so.” Right about the
time when we submitted all of our paperwork in early 2014 is when rumors began
floating around of Ethiopia closing its doors to international adoption. Obviously that didn’t happen, but since our
official wait list began in March of 2014 things have been painfully slow. Why?
You ask. Let me explain…
Ethics have
become the main focus in the adoption world which is a very good thing. Orphanages are following through with
additional steps to make sure an orphan is a true orphan by seeking out any
family or distant relative to take in the child. This occurs for two months before a child is
up for adoption domestically (within the country of Ethiopia). Next comes domestic foster care and finally
international adoption. You can see why
this has meant little to no movement for families waiting as the country and
regional governments attempt to implement a whole new process. We have been informed that this extensive
process and the current wait times are the “new normal” and we have quite a
ways to go on the wait list. Needless to
say, there has been a lot of tears shed and confusion. As we have been processing through all of
this something has been brought to the surface.
In our hardships and challenges that we meet face to face we are truly able
to see how weak and powerless we are. It
then enables us to see our need for a Savior.
“And we know
that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to
those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
This is what
continues to keep us hopeful and obedient to that which He has called us
to. I find myself clinging to the
scriptures now more than ever before as truth.
This journey isn’t ours, but His, we just get to be a part of it. It has been difficult no doubt, and He
doesn’t always promise us clarity and answers, but we know He does promise to
be with us through His spirit always (1 Corinthians 6:19). I had a dear friend remind me the other day
in my sadness that if the movement were any different in our monthly update it
would not be baby Schwoch. Such truth. God is sovereign friends.
Yes, it is
hard. No, we aren’t quitting and our hearts
are forever softened towards the orphan.
It got me to thinking about how our God pursues us continually and
unconditionally. He doesn’t quit
fighting for His children ever. We ask
you to continue walking along side of us.
Specifics you can be praying and asking for:
- Our steadfastness and hopefulness in the highs and lows of this process
- The process in Ethiopia to be perfected (as much as things can be on this earth) to create much movement of bringing orphans into forever families
- That the Lord would continue to surround us with adoptive families and bring even more resources and support into our life during this tough season
I would like
to close with a recent story of God’s abundant provision and presence in the
here and now that is leaving us in awe and singing His praise. I end with this because in the thick of it we
can begin to lean on our own emotions and so easily forget of His continual presence and promises. Recently we
were notified from our agency that our adoption fees will be increasing as a
result of the current orphanage crisis in Ethiopia. Long story short,
orphanages are running out of money and having to send kids back on the streets
due to the slowdown in referrals. Orphanages primary source of money is from
international adoptions and as the government focuses more and more on
adoptions and foster care within Ethiopia, orphanages are no longer receiving
the funds necessary to keep their doors open. As a result, agencies are being
forced to increase the fees in order to support the orphanages. No
international adoptions equals no orphanages and no orphanages equals no
international adoption. Therefore, while difficult to hear, we support the
changes in fee structure.
Why do we
tell you this? God & His provision showed up in a large way to say the least. After learning of the increase in
fees we were a little frustrated and began wondering how we were going to raise
the additional money when we still had a good amount of fundraising to do. We have some dear friends who we met just over a
year ago. These friends had served overseas spreading the gospel and had come
back to raise more support in order to return overseas to serve once more. These
friends thought they might like to adopt and began saving money. Over the
course of the last year it became apparent to them that God was calling them
back overseas and they didn’t feel like adoption was in their near future.
Instead of spending the money or using it as part of their finances to go
overseas, they felt strongly that the money should be used towards adoption
whether or not it was their own. Our friends decided that they would support us
in our love for the orphan and support us by giving us the money they had
saved. The check literally arrived the day after the news of the increase in
fees and will make a significant dent in the additional amount due. Praise God,
praise Him indeed! “He has made
everything beautiful in its time. Also,
he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God
has done from the beginning to the end.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11
To those who
continually pray for us and for our process, for those who send a simple text
or call to see how things are moving, to those fasting specifically to pray for
our adoption, to those who have hosted Noonday trunk shows to help fundraise
for baby Schwoch we are forever indebted to you. You all truly show us the love of Christ and
keep us pressing on.
Happy
Thanksgiving, grateful for you readers.
Jen &
Luke Schwoch
