HOPE in Kenscoff, Haiti and beyond

This video was produced this fall to be presented at Chances for Children's annual Night of Hope in October.  Somehow I missed it...until tonight!

Oh.my.goodness.  My heart breaks and smiles all at once.  Please view this short video so you can see the great needs of the children and families in Haiti, and what one ministry is doing to help.

God bless you, C4C!!!

**This video is best viewed full size on a computer screen. (p.s. yes, our boy, W, is in the video! you'll have to try and guess which cutie he is ;-))

WE EXITED IBESR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, after 735 days in the Haitian Social Services (IBESR) phase of our adoption, we received the most amazing news---WE HAVE EXITED!  Praise God from Whom ALL Blessings Flow!!!!!!!  (Merry Christmas to the Johnson Family!)

First thing this morning I opened a facebook message from the director of W's creche saying we had received our Authorization of Adoption from Haitian Social Services (IBESR) and exited!

This was immediately followed by my happy sobs, one of our girls coming to see what was wrong, me saying "Go Get Daddy!!, screams, hugs, jumping, shouts of "Thank you, Jesus!", etc., and repeat.

I'm walking as if in a dream today.

Part of that could be the exhaustion, an under-the-weather feeling and the general funk that follows a trip to Haiti, BUT I know that a good part of that dream-feeling is finally, FINALLY, having reached the point of our adoption where we are ON THE DOWNHILL SLOPE!!!

We have 4 major steps to complete before we bring W home.  Here is kinda how I explained the remainder of the process to him just the other day:

1) Our adoption file goes to Parquet / Court where the judge rules that W is our son, he gets our last name and we receive our Adoption Decree.
2) Our adoption file goes to MOI (Ministry of the Interior) where ALL of the adoption documents are reviewed in great detail for accuracy and completeness and given final approval to complete the adoption process.
3) Our adoption file goes to Haiti Immigration for W's passport to be printed.
4) Our adoption file goes to US Immigration (USCIS in Haiti) to receive W's visa so he can come home to Tennessee!

Do be aware that these steps are greatly simplified.  There are many mini-steps within each major step.

I can hear you asking, What is the timeline to homecoming?

Best Case Scenario?  6 months,,,maybe.  BEST case scenario.
It could still take 12 months, but I guarantee, the Johnson's are praying for a summer homecoming!!

The Kenscoff Court and Office of Civil Status building.
I have no idea if the court proceedings for our adoption
will happen here (most likely in a court in Port-au-Prince),
but it is a pretty new building. :)

Haiti Visit #3

(oops, I just realized that I never posted details about Haiti Visit #2 back in July when I traveled with a mission team!  hmmm, I'll add that to my "to do" list)

I just got home from an absolutely amazing visit with our son!!  

I was there for 1 week and was joined by Jane, an adoptive mom from the same creche, and Tina and her family, also adopting from the same creche.  We've been friends online for a couple of years and we finally got to meet each other IN PERSON!!  SUCH a blessing.  We were fortunate to be able to stay in the C4C guest house and had our kids with us overnights.  W, who is all boy, was surrounded by 4 girls during the week, but he enjoyed himself immensely. ;-)

I have wonderful stories and experiences to share that I hope will be an encouragement to those of you adopting, particularly for parents adopting older children of a different culture and race.  I also was able to capture some breathtaking scenery...with my smart phone, not a "real" camera, but hopefully it will be a taste of the beauty to be found in Haiti.

In the coming days I will post stories and photos, but right now I am so completely exhausted, both physically and emotionally.  I do give all praise to God for providing this wonderful opportunity to bond with our son and connect with my friends!

~TTFN

Go HERE to read the full details of trip #3!