Support Letter

This is a copy of the support letter we started sending out before we left for our vacation. I have just amended it, due to the recent changes in our adoption. Some of you may have already received a letter. Some of you may eventually get one in the mail.

Dear Friends and Family,

We wanted to share with you the journey on which our family has embarked. Through many years of prayer and consideration, as of April 15th, we have begun the process to adopt a baby boy from Ethiopia.

Ethiopia, located on the horn of Africa, is one of the oldest independent countries in the world. It is a country that is slightly less than twice the size of Texas, and there are an estimated 4.3 million orphans in Ethiopia.

Many have asked us why we, a couple with three children, living in Grimes, Iowa feel like we should do this. That answer is very simple. Our desire for our family is to live as Jesus did. We want to share His love with those we encounter. We feel than, for our family, adoption is our Biblical calling.

An adoption from Ethiopia takes around eighteen months and costs approximately $24, 000. All fees are due throughout a one-year time frame. Three years ago, when we started researching this opportunity, we would have been able to get a loan for our adoption for $30,000. Because of the recent decline in our economy, we are only able to get a loan for $8,000. We would like to ask you, our friends and family, if you would consider partnering with us financially.

What we are asking is that you give us a baby gift of $25. We know that many of you would give us a gift once we get our little guy. We are asking that instead of spending the $25 on an outfit or toy after we get him, you consider giving a gift to us now that will help bring him home.

Our church has set up an adoption fund for our family. You may use this fund, so your gift is tax deductible. If you give this way, you will write a check to Two Rivers Church and leave the memo blank. If you are not concerned with the tax deduction, you can write the check directly to us.

You will mail your gift to:

Rob & Ami Randazzo

c/o Adoption Fund

100 Hickory Glen

Grimes, Iowa 50111

We can not express the gratitude that we feel for those that choose to participate in this incredible opportunity with us. Your gift will be a blessing to us and our little boy. We cannot wait to share with him how your gift helped bring him home.

Grace and Peace to you,

Rob, Ami, Zoe, Mia, and Luci Randazzo

News Flash...

There is some new news on the Randazzo adoption front...Ricky Randazzo will not be coming from Rwanda. We got a call on Friday from Gladney, our adoption agency. We were on our way out of town to our family vacation at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.

I knew the number to be a Gladney number, so I answered it right away. Whenever I see a Gladney number on my phone, my heart kind of skips a beat. I get a little "rollercoaster" feeling in my stomach. I feel like I am always waiting to hear something; anything that means we are moving. Sara, from Gladney, was a little hesitant. I could tell she was informing us of a problem.

Things have changed in Rwanda with the adoption process. I don't know if change is the right word. The process is brand new, so it is becoming more established. Because of the changes, the time line for a Rwandan adoption is now at a standstill. Another change is that health requirements for the adoptive parents have become stricter.

I am currently on medication for a seizure disorder. My doctors have written letters saying that I am healthy and capable of raising an adopted child. I have been approved by Gladney for adoption. Because of the changes in Rwanda, I will not be approved in that country. Our Gladney case worker was calling to inform us of this. Ethiopia, however, will accept me.

Ethiopia is a country that has been on our hearts since we started researching the possibility of adoption three years ago. We originally started the process with the intent of adopting from Ethiopia. We ended up choosing Rwanda because it is a new program that was in need of families to pioneer the program.

We are actually very excited for the change in plans. We feel confident that this is God's plan for our family, and it has been from the very beginning. We were willing to be used to help start a new program, but we are not able to do participate in that way.

Ethiopia is a country with a great need for families who have the desire to adopt. The cost is approximately the same. The time frame will be a little longer than what we originally expected. Everything is transferable, so we have not lost any time or money in the changing of countries.

Our prayers remain the same: everything will go smoothly in the adoption process; Ricky's birth mother will be safe and make good choices to care for the child that she is caring; Ricky, once he is born, will remain healthy and nourished until we are able to care for him ourselves.