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!!!