Important Update from Nik and Stacy

Below is a very important update from Nik and Stacy. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.

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Family and Friends,

When we started the process of adopting from Ethiopia, the estimated time frame was 18-24 months, but at this point we have been waiting for 3 years at this point, and the estimated wait time continue to increase.

In addition to wait time increasing, the cost has grown significantly. Longer wait means more paperwork, which means more fees. Longer wait also means that orphanages are caring for kids for longer times in the transition homes, so program fees are climbing.

Beyond this, the political situation in Ethiopia is quite unstable. There has been a push to emphasize domestic adoption--Ethiopians caring for their own rather than adopting them out to other countries. We think this is a good emphasis, but sadly it means that many in Ethiopia have moved against international adoption, or at least not in favor of it. This sentiment has resulted in difficulty for many adoption agencies in that country, such that many agencies have closed in Ethiopia.

For all these reasons (timeline, finances, destabilization and uncertain future), Stacy and I have prayerfully decided to withdraw from the Ethiopia adoption process.

The money already invested in the adoption has been paying for ongoing costs of the agency operating both in U.S. and maintaining transition homes in Ethiopia. Thus, none of the funds we've invested will be reimbursed to us. The options for shifting to a different country were not great (completely starting over in terms of timeline and costs).  But at this point our hearts remain drawn toward caring for orphans, and we are considering the possibility of beginning a domestic adoption.

While our hearts are incredibly saddened over this, we are trusting God and being comforted by him. We don't regret God's leading us into this process to begin with, and we trust his greater purposes in the world that transcend our vision and desires. We believe that his heart is for the good of orphans and we want to reflect that in some small way. Please take a moment to pray that ineffective governmental systems that inhibit care of orphans would make progress toward effectiveness. 

"Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation. You have been the helper of the fatherless. You will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more" (Psalm 10).

Grace,

Nik and Stacy

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Our hearts are grieved for Nik and Stacy, and we know that they would appreciate your prayers. Thank you all for your support over the past few years. We would appreciate your prayers as we decide how to best continue with Gifts of Grace. We will be sending out more information in the weeks to come (who/what we will be supporting, when we will be reopening, etc.). Unfortunately, it will not be possible for us to reopen on the target reopening day (October 1st) though. Thank you for your patience!

If any of you in the central Pennsylvania area know of a lawyer or CPA that would be willing to meet with us for a few minutes to talk about Pennsylvania small business laws (or answer some questions over email/phone), we would greatly appreciate you letting us know. Thank you!

Emilie & Debbi