Wow, I can’t believe that I have not updated my blog since May. How did that happen?
Unfortunately there is not a lot of exciting news to report on the adoption front since that time. We finally had our paperwork move into IBESR, the Haitian Social Services portion of the government, in mid-June. That was a very exciting step but also very frustrating for us in that it took many extra, unexplained months to get to that point. Water under the bridge now and now we just continue to pray that our paperwork will just move through quickly. According to Dixie, the director of the orphanage, it has been taking an average of 1-3 months in IBESR lately. That is a huge improvement over the 8-12 months pre-earthquake. We have been in IBESR a little bit over a month now and are still waiting for word.
The other disappointing part of this recently is that your first trip to visit the kids, meet the judge, and file immigration paperwork used to be once you entered IBESR. They just changed that rule so now it is once your paperwork comes out of IBESR, which just extends the timeframe before we can go meet Judith and Kerby. We asked to go in August during my slightly lighter time during school, but didn’t get the answer we were hoping for. Good thing we really know that God is ultimately in charge of ALL of the timeframe. We really can rest in that and when we start to get pretty anxious or impatient, we notice that our eyes our off of God. Time to refocus our perspective!
We have been writing the kids letters with the hope that they can get a glimpse of what it means to be a part of our family. We want them to know that they are a part of our family forever and that means love, security, support, and really has little to do with material items. We have really learned how common it is for older children in Haitian orphanages to get the idea that they have hit the jackpot; that they are now similar to royalty and sometimes develop a little attitude of the sort. We really feel it is important to communicate as much as possible with them to paint a picture that coming to America can be difficult. Yes, many of the material needs that are not available for them in Haiti are abundant (in most cases) in America, but that this abundance also provides many obstacles. We really want Judith and Kerby to know they are not coming to live with us to get the material items but they are coming to be a part of our family- to be loved unconditionally, to be accepted, to be raised by parents who can help guide them into becoming who God created them to be, and to be a permanent part of a family and all that entails. This is the tone of our letters to Judith and Kerby.
We have made some progress at home getting ready for Judith and Kerby. We got the new beds for Mark and Kerby’s room and reorganized the closet since we won’t have room for a dresser and need to fit another child’s items in there now. Getting the new bed set up really made it feel so real. I am waiting to get Judith’s room done because I need it as long as possible for my office for schoolwork. Judith will be using Mark’s old bed and I already found the bedding that I think she is going to love. I could put her room together pretty quickly (lets hope that need arises J ). When I think of all of the items that are needed to get ready for a 10 and 11 year old, it is a bit overwhelming. Silly things that dawn on me such as toothbrushes, backpacks, lunch boxes…. It will all happen soon enough I suppose.
Well, that is the latest adoption news. We wish we had more “movement” and could report something really big, but that has not happened yet. We would love your prayers for a continued pattern of clear direction from God and that Gods perfect timing continues …. We ask god for quick movement of our paperwork and that we can get Judith and Kerby home as soon as possible. WE would specifically love them to be home before we celebrate Christmas. Seems difficult at this point, but we know God can accomplish that …..Thank you for your prayers! I will post the new July update as soon as we get it for the month.
Many blessings to you!
