FAQ (Frequently Asked Question): Why Ethiopia?

Many people have asked us why we chose to pursue an adoption from Ethiopia? Of course, the first question is why not a domestic adoption but I've already answered that one in another post. So onto the question at hand: Why Ethiopia?

Some people start off their adoption stories with a specific country or people group in their minds and hearts. Other people just start off with the desire to welcome another child into their home. I would say we are one of the latter. We have always had a desire to adopt and really didn't have any expectations or specific desires concerning his/her birth country.

It many ways it comes down to find a country and program that fits our family the best. For example, several countries (including China) require the adoptive parents to be older than us. Some countries are currently closed for international adoptions as they continue to formalize their own laws and procedures. And then you get down to specifics like how long an adoption from that country typically takes, etc.

Ethiopia has a very fast growing adoption program which has been become increasingly more popular over the last few years. Ethiopia seemed to fit us because the process is one of the more straight-forward and quicker programs (and I use the word quick loosely) available. There are an estimated 4.3 million orphans in Ethiopia, so there's definitely a need. And that's ultimately what it came down to.