Against All Odds

We got a call from our adoption agency this week to talk with us about our home study.  We were told in the beginning that it will most likely take longer for us to get a referral because we are LDS, but I guess there is another issue that might hold us back even more than our religion.  Depression runs in Jason’s family and he has suffered with it on and off throughout his life and the first few years of our marriage.  He was on medication for a time and did receive some counseling.  He now has his problem under control and no longer needs meds or counseling and hasn’t for almost 2 years now.  Our agency told us that the Philippines has a big problem with adopting to anyone with mental issues and depression is one of those issues.  If Jason was still on meds or seeing a counselor then we would not even qualify for the program.  We  were not told any of this before we began this process.  They said that because he now has the problem under control that we can be part of the Philippine program but it may take even longer to get a referral because of it.  We asked them what the maximum amount of time could possibly be, but they were unable to give us that information.  It all depends on how many people that are applying for the program and what their circumstances are.  First priority goes to those with Filipino heritage and second priority seems to go to those who are Catholic or Protestant.  They said we will end up with a referral, but they just have no idea how long that will be.  They said it could be as long as 3 years or more.  They told us it might be a good idea to think about applying for a different country or try domestic adoption.  The thing is that we know our child is in the Philippines.  The Lord has made that very clear to us.  We just have to keep on hanging to that hope and know that even though it seems like all odds are against us right now, it will happen and He will bring our child home to us.  Even if we do have to wait 3 years or more for it to happen, I am ok with that.  I know people who have waited much longer than that for their child to come to them.  It will all be worth it in the end.  I just have to keep remembering that through all the discouraging times.