The Paper Chase
I never knew adopting a child would require the accumulation of so much information. Nor did I know that said information would need authentications on several different levels to validate it. In order to adopt from Haiti we needed to do the following things: Home study, Physicals, Police Report, Birth records, Tax records, Pychological Evaluations, wait a second...Psychological Evalutations?!? For Haiti? That country the size of Maryland that is now ranked the most corrupt country in the world? Yes, chuckle, Psychological Evaluations, Bank Statements (even scarier), Employer letter, Fingerprinting, Letters of Recomendations, okay- you get my point. Lots of stuff about little ole me. Then all that information had to be translated into French. Now facts about little ole me sound fancy.
Oh, and there was a deadline....December 20, 2006.
In October, the IBESR (Haitian Social Services) recieved a new director. This new director decided to uphold the Haitian Adoption Law of 1974. Great, you may think, she is not corrupt but rather she is following the laws of her country, what's the big deal? Well, the law is the big deal. In this law, couples wishing to adopt cannot have any biological children, they must be married at least 10 years and one of them must be at least 35 years of age. We did not qualify under this law because of our three children and our age. The new director said she would accept "unqualified" dossiers submitted before December 20th but that after that all dossiers must comply to the law. Can you spell, panic?
I am so thankful that God knew about this. He knew Jeff and David were meant to be our sons and He knows how they will come to us. He assured me that He was going to take care of things for us. He also encouraged me to diligently go about getting my dossier completed as quickly as possible.
This was an opportunity for us to trust God once more. To have childlike abandonment in our faith that He is the One in control of our lives.
And now is my public opportunity to praise the Lord for all that He provided:
-monetary donations of $10,000 toward our adoption
-affordable home study $1,200
-free translations from our dear friend, Katia saving us anywhere between $200- $500
-new friends, Wilson and Medja, native Haitians that helped us with some translating. Wilson traveled with me to the Haiti Embassy to help. Not to mention, the intercession they have offered for us from day one.
-David's test showing that he was not Sickle Cell disease positive
-Dr. Y. who agreed to see us for the psychological evaluation at an affordable price
-Scott made it to the State Dept. in DC within seconds before the office closed and was able to get our documents authenticated that day.
-supportive friends, neighbors and family members who prayed for us and encouraged us
And last but not least,
-The courage to prepare our dossier without using an agency, saving us thousands of dollars. He helped me to send our completed dossier to Haiti on Dec. 14, 2006. It was submitted to First Legal on December 19, 2006. We felt like this would be in our favor when it went to IBESR.
This is a picture of me trying to organize the dossier (with 4 copies) to FED EX it. The package ended up weighing 7.25 lbs. (about what each of my babies weighed).
This is a picture of Wilson in front of the Haiti Embassy in DC. He helped me discuss our urgency with the consulate officer and she was very compromising- she authenticated my dossier later that day and overnighted it to me.
Oh, and there was a deadline....December 20, 2006.
In October, the IBESR (Haitian Social Services) recieved a new director. This new director decided to uphold the Haitian Adoption Law of 1974. Great, you may think, she is not corrupt but rather she is following the laws of her country, what's the big deal? Well, the law is the big deal. In this law, couples wishing to adopt cannot have any biological children, they must be married at least 10 years and one of them must be at least 35 years of age. We did not qualify under this law because of our three children and our age. The new director said she would accept "unqualified" dossiers submitted before December 20th but that after that all dossiers must comply to the law. Can you spell, panic?
I am so thankful that God knew about this. He knew Jeff and David were meant to be our sons and He knows how they will come to us. He assured me that He was going to take care of things for us. He also encouraged me to diligently go about getting my dossier completed as quickly as possible.
This was an opportunity for us to trust God once more. To have childlike abandonment in our faith that He is the One in control of our lives.
And now is my public opportunity to praise the Lord for all that He provided:
-monetary donations of $10,000 toward our adoption
-affordable home study $1,200
-free translations from our dear friend, Katia saving us anywhere between $200- $500
-new friends, Wilson and Medja, native Haitians that helped us with some translating. Wilson traveled with me to the Haiti Embassy to help. Not to mention, the intercession they have offered for us from day one.
-David's test showing that he was not Sickle Cell disease positive
-Dr. Y. who agreed to see us for the psychological evaluation at an affordable price
-Scott made it to the State Dept. in DC within seconds before the office closed and was able to get our documents authenticated that day.
-supportive friends, neighbors and family members who prayed for us and encouraged us
And last but not least,
-The courage to prepare our dossier without using an agency, saving us thousands of dollars. He helped me to send our completed dossier to Haiti on Dec. 14, 2006. It was submitted to First Legal on December 19, 2006. We felt like this would be in our favor when it went to IBESR.
This is a picture of me trying to organize the dossier (with 4 copies) to FED EX it. The package ended up weighing 7.25 lbs. (about what each of my babies weighed).
This is a picture of Wilson in front of the Haiti Embassy in DC. He helped me discuss our urgency with the consulate officer and she was very compromising- she authenticated my dossier later that day and overnighted it to me.
Comments
lori (http://fromourbunchtoyours.blogspot.com/)
I am in the process of doing it for a second time! UGH!
That means our two children will not come home at the same time. I don't even want to think about it!
Also, $10,000? Did you do fundraisers? Just curious since we are on child #2.
When we decided to adopt Jeff, a couple that shall remain anonymous gifted us 5k. Huge blessing!
When we decided to adopt David we were not sure where the money would come from...our dear friends withdrew their dossier for an adoption from our same orphanage and since the deposit was non-refundable they gifted it to us. They had raised the money through a raffle fundraiser in our neighborhood with friends/companies donating services for the grand prizes. The raffle ticket cost $20 and they had a party at the clubhouse for the drawings. This raised exactly 5k! This was a bittersweet gift to us because we knew that their hearts were broken over their adoption not happening. Also, along the way, we have received MANY other donations from friends, family and folks we don't even know! God is amazing in how He provides!
Could you please email me so we could talk. My husband and I are about to take the adventure of adopting from Haiti. We are thinking of completing our own dossier.
Thanks!
:)jamie
jamie@spur58.com
Hope to see you again someday. God bless you all and may your sons be home for Christmas! Love, Linda