Adoption Advocates International Program/ Embassy Update

We want so much to keep you informed of what is happening in Ethiopia but recent information has been spotty and some of what we were told previously ultimately proven to be incorrect. Communication has been challenging with Gail out of the country. Although our Ethiopian staff speaks and reads English very well; written communication is difficult for them and when complex matters come up, it is even harder. Telephone is also not very satisfactory but sometimes we are able to get a good connection. Gail returned this this past weekend and we expect the situation to improve shortly.

Twelve AAI cases passed the court in the 10 days before it officially closed. Since then, the judge has remained available to approve cases as MOWA letters are issued including two AAI cases finished in court last week. Soon she will take a vacation but we are told she will return to Addis before the official reopening of the court to approve cases that have MOWA approval letters at that point. How this will play out in reality we do not know. We have not yet received a list of cases that were filed with the court in July. We hope to have that next week as I know there are several of you who are hoping your case was one of them, but unfortunately we don’t know yet. No new cases will be filed until the court reopens in October. We had previously been told the court would reopen in mid-September; now we are told it is October.

The U.S. Embassy has been increasingly difficult to please. They have asked to have wording changed in adoption decrees and have requested more and more information on relinquishing parents. While we commend the U.S. Embassy personnel for their diligence and will continue to provide what they ask for, this has certainly created more challenges for our staff.

We know that adoption is sometimes a frustrating and mysterious process and it is frustrating for us too in that we are not always able to give you current and accurate information. However, we can assure you that cases continue to be completed, and children are traveling to their new homes. We thank you for your patience.