Update

We received this email from our adoption agency yesterday, looks like no referrals for the month of September and a two week lull in October. Not really a big surprise at this point in the game, par for the course. But according to this they think we might actually get something in October...we shall see, not holding our breathe.

America World would like to update you on the status of referrals at this time. We regret that at this time, your referral has not yet arrived in our office. Due to this fact, we want to give you an anticipated timeframe in which referrals could arrive. Because we have received all deliveries today from the CCAA, we know that there are no more packages on the way from China at this time. Today’s package included approvals for families that are traveling as well as approvals for the Waiting Children Program, but did not include healthy referrals. We have also checked and there are no additional packages on the way scheduled to arrive later this week.

Tomorrow, October 1 through October 11 is a Chinese National holiday in which all government offices are closed. This year, this holiday coincided with the Chinese Labor day holiday, which is why the office closure dates are longer than what families are used to seeing. The CCAA is now closed for this holiday and will not return to their offices until Monday, October 12. Though it has not been stated by the CCAA, we would assume that referral matching was not finalized and paperwork was not completely signed off on before all staff left for their National Holiday. We know that this is disappointing news for your family.

In light of this, we can anticipate that no packages or referrals will arrive in our office until the week of October 12th when the CCAA resumes normal business hours. It is our hope that agencies will receive referrals that week. We know that this is difficult news at this time after you have been waiting patiently for such a long time. Again, the CCAA has not yet stated the LID cut-off date for referrals, but we are hopeful that both the 3/27 and 3/28 LID’s will be included when the package arrives.

May the words of Isaiah 55:8-9 encourage you, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” America World staff continues to keep your family in our prayers as you wait for your referral and have seen time and time again that God’s timing for each family is always perfect.