Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Travel Plans!
So here's the latest...
We heard back via email from our USCIS officer about our new/updated I-600A/I-171H. She said she approved us on February 18th (woohoo!!) and mailed it out soon thereafter. The problem is,,,it hasn't arrived in the mail yet. :( We are hoping and praying it arrives tomorrow...
Tonight we talked on the phone with our agency rep. She gave us information about our trip and answered questions. She is working very hard on her end to get us ready to fly out this weekend!
IF C4C is good with us arriving this weekend (arranging our accommodations and booking a driver)
IF we get our referral acceptance letter notarized tomorrow and emailed back to our agency tomorrow
IF we are able to finish filling out forms and gathering documents (on our end) needed for the US Embassy
AND IF our I-171H document from immigration arrives tomorrow (or Thursday at the latest)...
...THEN we will fly out this Friday morning and be holding our son, W, in our arms by this Friday evening!!!!!!!!!!!
If things don't come together as we hope, THEN we WAIT until March 13th (?) to fly to Haiti. This is not terrible. It's not that far away. It will still be okay.
It would just be extra supercalifragilisticexpialidocious if it works out for us to leave in 3 days (insert big cheesy grin here).
Thanks, everyone, for all your interest, support and prayers. Things will all come together as they should. God is at work!
We heard back via email from our USCIS officer about our new/updated I-600A/I-171H. She said she approved us on February 18th (woohoo!!) and mailed it out soon thereafter. The problem is,,,it hasn't arrived in the mail yet. :( We are hoping and praying it arrives tomorrow...
Tonight we talked on the phone with our agency rep. She gave us information about our trip and answered questions. She is working very hard on her end to get us ready to fly out this weekend!
IF C4C is good with us arriving this weekend (arranging our accommodations and booking a driver)
IF we get our referral acceptance letter notarized tomorrow and emailed back to our agency tomorrow
IF we are able to finish filling out forms and gathering documents (on our end) needed for the US Embassy
AND IF our I-171H document from immigration arrives tomorrow (or Thursday at the latest)...
...THEN we will fly out this Friday morning and be holding our son, W, in our arms by this Friday evening!!!!!!!!!!!
If things don't come together as we hope, THEN we WAIT until March 13th (?) to fly to Haiti. This is not terrible. It's not that far away. It will still be okay.
It would just be extra supercalifragilisticexpialidocious if it works out for us to leave in 3 days (insert big cheesy grin here).
Thanks, everyone, for all your interest, support and prayers. Things will all come together as they should. God is at work!
Monday, February 23, 2015
A "Hiccup" In Our Travel Plans
As an international adoptive parent, two things you learn quickly is to expect the unexpected and expect hiccups.
This adoption is holding true to these principles... ;-)
Friday night we were on Cloud 9.
Sunday morning, after an email from our agency, we sunk a smidge below the clouds.
Our agency rep had realized that we didn't have our updated US Immigration approval (to adopt a foreign born child) so she emailed us to let us know we had to get this taken care of asap.
A couple weeks ago we submitted our updated home study along with the I600A application to renew/extend our approval. Our original approval just expired on February 16 and we've been waiting to receive our new I171H document...the piece of proof that we have current immigration approval to adopt. WE DO NOT HAVE THIS DOCUMENT. Frankly, I forgot about it. I did not make the connection that in order to travel to Haiti, we had to have this paper.
You see, while in Haiti on the Socialization Visit, the adoptive parents go to the US Embassy in Haiti to file their I600...the request for immigration approval to adopt a SPECIFIC child. And......the adoptive parents have to email their current I171H to the embassy in Haiti to request an appointment date and time BEFORE they schedule their trip and book their flights.
So we are are delayed, potentially. I have emailed and left two voice messages about our situation with US Immigrations Adoption Unit and and praying we will hear back from a real person soon. We are praying for FAVOR. We are praying our assigned immigration caseworker will be happy to help us out and get things moving quickly. We appreciate your prayers, as well.
After 2 years of looking at W's photos and praying for him...and after approximately 14 months of W knowing we would one day be his parents...this delay is actually painful.
YET we serve a Big God.
AND, after all, it is His plan and His timing that is perfect.
So we pray, wait and trust.
I'll keep ya posted!!!
This adoption is holding true to these principles... ;-)
Friday night we were on Cloud 9.
Sunday morning, after an email from our agency, we sunk a smidge below the clouds.
Our agency rep had realized that we didn't have our updated US Immigration approval (to adopt a foreign born child) so she emailed us to let us know we had to get this taken care of asap.
A couple weeks ago we submitted our updated home study along with the I600A application to renew/extend our approval. Our original approval just expired on February 16 and we've been waiting to receive our new I171H document...the piece of proof that we have current immigration approval to adopt. WE DO NOT HAVE THIS DOCUMENT. Frankly, I forgot about it. I did not make the connection that in order to travel to Haiti, we had to have this paper.
You see, while in Haiti on the Socialization Visit, the adoptive parents go to the US Embassy in Haiti to file their I600...the request for immigration approval to adopt a SPECIFIC child. And......the adoptive parents have to email their current I171H to the embassy in Haiti to request an appointment date and time BEFORE they schedule their trip and book their flights.
After 2 years of looking at W's photos and praying for him...and after approximately 14 months of W knowing we would one day be his parents...this delay is actually painful.
YET we serve a Big God.
AND, after all, it is His plan and His timing that is perfect.
So we pray, wait and trust.
I'll keep ya posted!!!
REFERRAL!!!!!
As anticipated, we did get our referral packet emailed to us today from Haiti!!!
So it is now officially official. :)
Most of the papers are in French, but our agency is working on getting the English translations. Eric and I will be so glad to have this complete file of information about our son...details we've never had about his background, his personality, his health history, etc. A fuller "picture" of our boy.
Thank you, Lord, for this precious gift, this precious child!
So it is now officially official. :)
Most of the papers are in French, but our agency is working on getting the English translations. Eric and I will be so glad to have this complete file of information about our son...details we've never had about his background, his personality, his health history, etc. A fuller "picture" of our boy.
Thank you, Lord, for this precious gift, this precious child!
Saturday, February 21, 2015
The News We've All Been Waiting For!!!
It is Friday evening and I am writing this post physically and emotionally spent, but in a very good way. Two weeks ago we learned from our agency that our match to W was almost complete; it merely lacked one final signature, that of the director of IBESR.
Eeek! Eric and I have been on pins and needles ever since!
We've been making packing lists, setting out suitcases and picking up necessities at the store. I even purchased several outfits, jammies, socks, etc. (just this evening) for W to wear when he's with us---wow, that was a crazy, surreal feeling...shopping for our son!
The definite downside to this whole process, however, is leaving our two sweet girls home. :( We know they will be in good hands with my parents and some dear friends who will be watching them, but oh how MUCH we will miss them! :( Hopefully on our next trip to Haiti---hopefully the "pick-him-up-and-bring-him-home trip"---both of the girls will be with us.
So....this evening we received an email from our agency saying that
our referral is FINISHED! It is SIGNED!
Praise Jesus, after exactly 2 years in this process,
W has been officially matched to US!!!
Now there is one small catch. We don't actually have the referral paperwork and adoption agreement *in hand*. Today our agency's Haiti rep was going to pick it up in the afternoon, but due to a meeting that ran late, he wasn't able to make it to IBESR before they closed. He intends to go back first thing Monday morning to pick up our referral and scan it to our agency. After that happens, our agency will then email the paperwork to us to sign. We already have our draft of our acceptance letter written; we will get that signed and notarized asap by our sweet friend, Lisa.
And then, Lord willing, IF it is agreeable
with the scheduling at IBESR and W's crèche, we will fly out.....Thursday??!
Just think, this time next week, we very well could be in sunny Kenscoff, Haiti,
holding our son in our arms!
 |
| He's gonna look so handsome in these! Hope they fit!.. |
Monday, February 16, 2015
A Valentine Surprise
Yesterday our church surprised us with a pasta dinner and fundraiser in honor of W and Valentines Day!
Joyce and a crew of helpers prepared a delicious pasta bar. The food and fellowship was great! And several hundred dollars was generously given that will be very helpful in paying for our upcoming socialization visit. We felt special and very loved. And one day, W will find out how much he is loved by his church!
Thank you, dear church family!
Joyce and a crew of helpers prepared a delicious pasta bar. The food and fellowship was great! And several hundred dollars was generously given that will be very helpful in paying for our upcoming socialization visit. We felt special and very loved. And one day, W will find out how much he is loved by his church!
Thank you, dear church family!
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Updated Home Study - check! - and off to USCIS
Yay!! Today we received our updated home study from our social worker!
I zipped on over to the nearest FedEx and sent it with the accompanying paperwork to USCIS. It is a wonderful feeling to have this important step crossed off our adoption to-do-list. Please pray that it arrives Friday morning, as scheduled. Our deadline to re-new our immigration approval is Monday February 16th.....
February 11, 2015
I zipped on over to the nearest FedEx and sent it with the accompanying paperwork to USCIS. It is a wonderful feeling to have this important step crossed off our adoption to-do-list. Please pray that it arrives Friday morning, as scheduled. Our deadline to re-new our immigration approval is Monday February 16th.....
February 11, 2015
TO: USCIS
ATTN: Adoption
RE: Request for Action on Form I-600A
To Whom
It May Concern:
My
husband and I are adopting a child from Haiti.
Our fingerprints have
been recently updated, but we need to update our
I-600A approval.
Enclosed
are:
Request
for Action form
Photocopies
of our I-171H approval notices
An original
updated home study
A
photocopy of our original home study
Thank
you so much for your time and assistance.
Sincerely,
~me
~me
 |
| "The Binder" |
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Wasatch Adoption License - Renewed!
Today our adoption agency received their new license to facilitate adoptions in Haiti. Our agency rep, who is also director of the Haiti Adoption Program, is in country this week and was the one to go pick up the documentation. Wasatch has been working in Haiti for several years and has a healthy and respected relationship with the adoption officials, so receiving the license was not a surprise. I believe that fewer than 20 adoption agencies in the U.S. are currently licensed to facilitate Haiti adoptions. It is sure good to know that our agency is in good standing and will be able to continue their work in this country.
From our agency's facebook page: Great news for Wasatch coming out of Haiti!!! We have our new, official, signed license for that country!! Though it is all in French, it is fun to clearly see Wasatch Adoptions in the body of the letter. Our own amazing Chareyl was able to meet the Director of IBESR, Madame Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin. Madame Villedrouin thanked Chareyl for coming to Haiti personally to sign for and pick up the license. Chareyl also met the assistant director over adoptions, Mr. Andolphe Guillaume. Next, the translator took her to meet all the IBESR staff. She said that was awesome. She hugged them all and told them what wonderful things they are doing for the people of Haiti. They were very happy to hear that.
Isn't this neat?! It is awesome that Chareyl was able to make this trip. I am very encouraged by her positive impression of her time at IBESR and the positive way they interacted with her. I pray God will grant Wasatch and all the Wasatch families favor as IBESR continues to process our paperwork. Lord willing, it will be very soon that they complete all of Wasatch's waiting families (and C4C families) adoption files so that the referrals come flowing down!!
From our agency's facebook page: Great news for Wasatch coming out of Haiti!!! We have our new, official, signed license for that country!! Though it is all in French, it is fun to clearly see Wasatch Adoptions in the body of the letter. Our own amazing Chareyl was able to meet the Director of IBESR, Madame Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin. Madame Villedrouin thanked Chareyl for coming to Haiti personally to sign for and pick up the license. Chareyl also met the assistant director over adoptions, Mr. Andolphe Guillaume. Next, the translator took her to meet all the IBESR staff. She said that was awesome. She hugged them all and told them what wonderful things they are doing for the people of Haiti. They were very happy to hear that.
Isn't this neat?! It is awesome that Chareyl was able to make this trip. I am very encouraged by her positive impression of her time at IBESR and the positive way they interacted with her. I pray God will grant Wasatch and all the Wasatch families favor as IBESR continues to process our paperwork. Lord willing, it will be very soon that they complete all of Wasatch's waiting families (and C4C families) adoption files so that the referrals come flowing down!!
Monday, February 2, 2015
Haiti Really Needs Our Prayers Now!
Prayers are greatly needed for Haiti.
Political unrest and frequent demonstrations have been the scene in the capital city of Port-Au-Prince and surrounding areas for several weeks. Some violent protests have left people injured and there are even some deaths attributed to the unrest. Citizens have been advised to stay in their homes. For many, it would be difficult to get out and about, even if they wanted to do so, because of the many blocked roadways and the Public Transportation Strike that is going on today and tomorrow.
Government offices, school and business have had closures in the past few weeks due to the sometimes violent demonstrations. IBESR is one of the government offices confirmed closed today, meaning adoptions are not being processed at this time.
The United States and other countries have issued a travel advisories for Port-Au-Prince and surrounding areas. Please pray for the safety of Haiti's citizens, but also pray for protection for the adoptive families that are currently in that region either processing adoption paperwork at the U.S. Embassy or completing the final steps of their adoptions to bring their children home. Also pray that IBESR staff and other adoption officials can safely return to work this week (tomorrow, please...) to continue their important work for finding forever homes for the orphans in their communities.
You can read about the cause of the political unrest HERE.
While you are here visiting our blog, I wanted to share one other important request. Our adoption agency coordinator, Chareyl, is flying to Haiti today and will be there for a week and a half. She has a very busy schedule, including going to IBESR to check on the status of our (and other families) adoption case. She will also be meeting up with a friend and colleague, Shannon, to work on behalf of their non-profit organization, Haitian Roots. I encourage you to check out their incredible work HERE. I ask that you please pray daily for Chareyl (and Shannon), for her protection, and for her trip to be fruitful. I hope she is able to accomplish all her goals for her trip while in Haiti.
Thank you all SO very much for your continuing support and prayers.
Political unrest and frequent demonstrations have been the scene in the capital city of Port-Au-Prince and surrounding areas for several weeks. Some violent protests have left people injured and there are even some deaths attributed to the unrest. Citizens have been advised to stay in their homes. For many, it would be difficult to get out and about, even if they wanted to do so, because of the many blocked roadways and the Public Transportation Strike that is going on today and tomorrow.
Government offices, school and business have had closures in the past few weeks due to the sometimes violent demonstrations. IBESR is one of the government offices confirmed closed today, meaning adoptions are not being processed at this time.
The United States and other countries have issued a travel advisories for Port-Au-Prince and surrounding areas. Please pray for the safety of Haiti's citizens, but also pray for protection for the adoptive families that are currently in that region either processing adoption paperwork at the U.S. Embassy or completing the final steps of their adoptions to bring their children home. Also pray that IBESR staff and other adoption officials can safely return to work this week (tomorrow, please...) to continue their important work for finding forever homes for the orphans in their communities.
You can read about the cause of the political unrest HERE.
Haiti's new 'consensus' government fails to satisfy opposition
(Reuters) - Haitian President Michel Martelly has named a new cabinet as he tries to end a wave of street protests against his rule of the impoverished Caribbean country, but opposition leaders said he broke his promise to create a consensus government...While you are here visiting our blog, I wanted to share one other important request. Our adoption agency coordinator, Chareyl, is flying to Haiti today and will be there for a week and a half. She has a very busy schedule, including going to IBESR to check on the status of our (and other families) adoption case. She will also be meeting up with a friend and colleague, Shannon, to work on behalf of their non-profit organization, Haitian Roots. I encourage you to check out their incredible work HERE. I ask that you please pray daily for Chareyl (and Shannon), for her protection, and for her trip to be fruitful. I hope she is able to accomplish all her goals for her trip while in Haiti.
Thank you all SO very much for your continuing support and prayers.
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