Pray of the Ethiopia program

So, we heard from Bethany Christian Services that there are some worries about the program. I guess a lot of the American families are taking their new Ethiopian babies/kids out shopping and staying in hotels while in Ethiopia and Ethiopian citizens aren't happy.

Given that the vast majority of American and European families adopting from Ethiopia are Caucasian or other non-black, the adoptive families and their Ethiopian child are easily distinguished and are often a point of curiosity among Ethiopian citizens. Understandably, due to misconceptions about adoption some Ethiopian citizens even look upon American and European adoptive families with suspicion. Cultural differences in parenting and child behavior are contributing to this suspicion.

It's a cultural thing so I don't totally understand it. The locals are complaining to the government. So, Agencies are asking that adoptive parents stay in guess houses and not take their babies/kids out in the local shopping centers. Some families are not following these recommendations and are jeopardizing the program.

Please pray that this will get worked out, that families will be sensitive to the culture and that the program will continue to thrive. They are expecting over 3000 adoptions out of Ethiopia this year. That would be amazing for these kids who need forever families.

Such exciting news!

So, Ethiopia is a fairly new program for Bethany Christian Services. I think they've only been doing it for close to a year. Anyway, we just got this email which I thought was SOO exciting!!

Hi All!!

Have you read the Ethiopia Blog?? http://www.bethany.org/blogs/ethiopiablog.nsf If you have, you would see that we received four referrals last week!! To say that we are thrilled for the families and children is an understatement. Four healthy baby boys, all under 5 months old were matched for their forever families. We pray for their health and care as they are in the Bethany transition home awaiting their adoption processing.

Another note of celebration is that we've had 8 children join their forever families (6 families), and one more forever family will be joined this week! What a joy it has been to see the program continue to blossom and children be blessed!


Thank you Father for Your blessings for the children and families we are able to serve in our Ethiopia Program.
Alison Adema
Bethany Christian Services
Program Coordinator for:
Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Korea, Philippines