Why Adopt? Question 4

An Open Look into the Sutton Family's Decision to Adopt--Question 4

4). Why adopt from Ethiopia?

After we had made the decision that we would adopt internationally, we had to decide from which country we would adopt. We were given a sheet that told specifics of each country, like how old the children were that were available for adoption, the income of the adopting parents, how old the adopting parents could be, how long the adopting parents had to be married, how long the adoption process would take, how many trips to the country it would take... and several other things.

In the beginning, we were open to any country. As we prayerfully looked through the requirements of each country, we crossed one by one off the list until we were left with only Ethiopia. Some of limiting factors were both of us were under the age of 30. We wanted an infant. We had been married for less than 5 years. We wanted to make only one trip to the country. And of course, expense was a large factor!

Some of these things have changed since we started the process. For example, Ethiopia changed it's policy soon after we started so that we have to take a second trip to the country. But I am certain that God used all of these factors to move us in the direction HE wanted us to go!