Highs and Lows

Yesterday was a roller coaster ride for us. It started with an urgent call for us to rush to the Ministry of Education to get our referral. We received brief information on four girls, ages 6-7. We selected the girl that we had brief information about already.

We needed to be accompanied by an "inspector" to the orphanage. The inspector is a social worker who works with the Ministry of Education who's job is to see how we interact with the girl and to give testimony about that at court as we finalize the adoption. The inspector was not available until today, so we went to see the girl yesterday without her, knowing that we would have to go back today.

We first met with the orphanage's social worker. She gave us fairly extensive information about the girl's social history. Including her family of origin and the reason that she was placed in the orphanage. We then met with the Pediatrician who works at the orphanage. She gave us extensive medical information about the referred child.

We had a delightful visit with the girl. She immediately started playing a game of Animal Bingo and helped us put together a fairly complicated puzzle. She colored for us and drew a nice picture. She smiled and communicated with us very nicely. We left there very pleased.

Back at the hotel we forwarded photographs and medical information to an international adoption medical specialist at the University of Minnesota. They quickly replied to us with concerns about the girl's head circumference and facial features. Basically, the specialist feels that she has a high likelihood of having mental impairments, probably severe.

We had a difficult night searching our hearts and praying. It has not been our objective to adopt a perfect child. We know there are limitations to the medical certainty of the adoption specialist. We also know that God can supply the grace we need to parent a child with extreme difficulties. We went to bed not knowing what we would do.

This morning we had the peace to not accept the referral. We also learned that we won't be able to return to the states until July 1st because of flight availability. We hope to get another referral today, but there are no guarantees. If not today then likely on Monday.

We do appreciate your prayers for us and for the girl. We appreciate your interest in this journey of ours. It is not going how we would have planned but we are moving forward. Thanks again.