The Big Reveal

(Forget 100 hits every 2-3 days; we were getting over 100 hits A DAY for awhile, so I will keep you in suspense no longer!)

I'm thinking of a country. . .

*that houses 77 million people,

*yet, nearly 10% of all newborns die in infancy.


*The rest live a life expectancy of less than 50 years.


*1.5 million of them are living with HIV.

*It is one of, if not THE, oldest country on the planet. Some refer to it as "the cradle of humanity." In fact, Lucy, the upright walking, somewhat human looking skeleton was found here.

*Its language is Semitic based. No one knows exactly where the strong Jewish influence here originates. Some say it is from Moses' wife of this likely heritage. Others trace it to when the tribe of Dan migrated south after the split of Israel and Judah. Others say it began with the contraversial offspring of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba-a dynasty which they believe lasted until its overthrow in 1974. Today, there are about 80 different nationalities here.


*One of the most popular theories with archeologists holds that the Arc of the Covenant is here, under the church St. Mary of Zion.


*In modern times, seventeen years of civil war from 1974-1991, combined with the Walla famine and universal drought, left thousands orphaned, millions dead, infractructure destroyed, and economy ruined.


*Therefore, it is tied with Burundi for the lowest GDP in the world-$90 and is the third poorest country in the world.


*This country has 5 MILLION orphans, and MSN reported in 2004 that adoptable babies are becoming the country's #1 export. If ever there was a country where there is a need for adoptive families, it's here.



*The adoption fees for this country are some of the lowest available, and referrals for children are quick.

You probably have guessed by now that baby #3 will come from . . . . . . . da da DA.........................Ethiopia!

We were recomended an agency, Love Basket Inc., by Christian Adoption Services-the agency that facilitated J. and C.'s adoptions. Ethiopia is a new program for Love Basket, but one family has already brought home their six month old little boy.

Our prayerful request: a healthy baby of either gender-well under 12 months old at time of travel.

We can't complete our dossier until Tim returns in the fall, but a referral is expected within six months of dossier arrival in Addis Ababa. Travel comes about 3 months after acceptance of referral. Though escorts are available for Ethiopia, Tim and I are GREATLY looking forward to our trip to Africa to meet and bring home the new baby next year. Grandparents-get ready to watch two very excited big brothers while Mom and Dad get to visit The Continent!

Here are some blog links to three "cyber friends" I've made lately who are also in the process of, or have completed, an Ethiopian adoption. You can see pictures and read of their journeys.

www.5mcckids.blogspot.com

http://mysite.verizon.net/resotl5g/id20.html

http://eliasbrown.blogspot.com/

Love Basket=http://www.lovebasket.org/AP/Ethiopia.htm


Blessings to all, and thank you for following along this journey with us. If you have questions or comments, please leave them in the comments (below) and I will try to address them in the next post.