Immediate Assistance Needed for Ethiopian Orphans! Please sign the petition ASAP!!

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We’ve been to Ethiopia.

We’ve seen the many orphans.

We’ve experienced the heartache and the orphans’ arms around us crying out for someone to love them and express to them how beautiful they are!

We are experiencing the restoration of our own Ethiopian daughter’s heart,  as she learns to trust us to meet her needs.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) has announced a proposal to decrease the number of adoptions they will process and approve—even by as much as 90%.  This change is currently set to begin on March 10, 2011.
Below is a petition which needs IMMEDIATE ACTION!
Take 1 minute to help save 5 million orphans!
James 1:27 states that we are to care for the orphan and the widow.  This verse has come alive for our family in a whole new way. The five million orphans waiting in Ethiopia for someone to step forward with a solution of help are real. Adoption is definitely one of the ways of caring for the orphans and I truly believe that everything possible must be done to make sure that adoptions in Ethiopia and around the world are conducted ethically.  The petition below is an attempt to stop Ethiopia from making such cutbacks or possibly closing their doors to future adoptions.
I do not think that adoption is the only answer to caring for the orphan.  Many people need to get involved in sponsoring children, supporting ministries that advocate for the widow and family preservation when it is at all possible. The fact though, is that there ARE many children on the streets and in orphanages waiting for a family to love them.
When I look at our daughter’s face, it’s hard to imagine her living on the street begging for food or still sitting in an orphanage waiting because Ethiopia has cut back or ceased adoptions.  The possible affect of this proposal feels different now, whether it is when I look in the eyes of our own daughter or vividly remember the many orphans we loved on in Ethiopia.
To attempt to counteract this proposal, the Joint Council on International Children’s Services (JCICS) has put an IMMEDIATE “Call to Action” in place. This sort of international advocacy is what JCICS does, and they do it well.
YOU can HELP!

PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE AND SIGN THE PETITION NOW! This needs to be signed by this FRIDAY!

1) Click -Sign the petition to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi – and pass it.
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43714.html
2) Have you adopted from Ethiopia? Please send us up to 3 photos and 50 words or less with what you would like the Ministry to know about your child – we’ll compile the information and send a book to the Ministry of Woman’s Affairs. Send your photos and stories to advocate@jointcouncil.org bySunday, March 12, 2011 to be included. Please note that sending photos and stories gives Joint Council unrestricted right to use the information you provide.
3) Share…Please send this Call to Action to family members, other adoptive parents, and everyone you know! Post, forward and share your adoption stories via Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. Make sure you include us in your posts so we can all hear your stories! Here’s links to our pages:Facebook,Twitter and our our blog.
4) Stay informed: Get up-to-date information regarding the situation in Ethiopia by signing up to receive information from us: click here to do so, make sure you choose “country and issues specific information” and “Ethiopia.” And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and our our blog.