Simply Unimaginable

We are asking everyone to just stop and pray. Pray for the entire country of Haiti, for all those who have been dedicating their lives there as volunteers, and to the thousands of children like ours who wait in orphanages tonight...in the aftermath of the worst catastrophe to hit Haiti in 200 years. And include prayer for the birthparents and adoptive parents, who are now unsure what this means for their adoption process. The timeline is as unclear as ever as to when Pierre and Ange-Laurette can leave to make a new home here.

Still...they are alive and they are unharmed. We have received numerous confirmations that all 3 BRESMA orphanages are intact and that all the children are ok. THAT is news that we cannot stop praising God for. As frustrating and devastating as today may be, it is the reason we are offering our kids a life here. Regardless of when they arrive, they will not have to live 40 more years as they have so far. They will not have to witness what thousands of Haitian parents have today. Each month seems long to us right now, but in their lifetime the exact timing does not matter so much.

Bruce and I are still in a state of shock. We cannot believe that the sights and sounds that struck us to the core on our first visit to Port-au-Prince are actually in a pile of rubble tonight. How can a country so desperate for food and water and any sense of infrastructure be left void of ANY of it?! And where have all the reporters been for the past 20 years?! They talk about the city being without power tonight, but it was that way last week too. They talk about cots and food that can be immediately shipped from Panama, but they are not used to even sleeping on cots!

We know that God is still seated on His throne. He is weeping, but he is also watching for the World to respond. He won't let Satan take over this beautiful country, and that has been going on too long. Although the short term effects will be horrendous, the long-term ramifications may be a brighter future for this country. That can be our prayer anyway.

So, we cancel our flight to visit our children in Port-au-Prince next week. We unpack their suitcases and snacks. We know that they are being held by very loving nannies tonight, and that they are with all of their friends...out of view of the streets and death toll. That is where they need to be. We pray for their birth families and those of the nannies. As much as we want to hold them and comfort them and bring them home...this is not the time. We dread the photos that are sure to make the news with tomorrow's sunrise. Pray for water, strong shelter, and health for these kids. Life's most basic of necessities.

WHY it takes so long

Our adoption coordinator has posted the following to the adoption agency's blog regarding the many complicated steps in Haitian adoptions. Reading through this list, you will have a new understanding and, finally, an answer to "Why does it take so long?" We received an email from her last night that our process has been delayed due to one seemingly simple step: the posting of our children's names in the government newspaper following their exit from IBESR. Since their names have not posted since October 22nd, our case has not even entered Parquet Court to start he next step (although some of the paperwork has been done for this step). This "delay" is what our adoption coordinator calls "obnoxious and inexplainable" yet one of many things that happen that we should not panic about. Still it appears the children may arrive by July, but certainly not any earlier than that. We just take a deep breath, look up to God, and keep trusting that his hands are on every aspect of this process.



(from the Kentucky Adoption Services blog by Diana Boni)
The many steps listed below are those all the Creche Directors of Haiti must follow for each and every adoption. Add to their number the extreme difficulty of accomplishing each one: every step must be accomplished in person and by hand. Most of the offices listed do not have computers. There will be no communications by fax or email or even by official phone calls. Facilitators must visit each office personally to check on the status of each case, and carry it by hand through the traffic of Port-au-Prince to the next stage of the process.


Pre-IBESR ~While you are gathering your dossier and before your case ever enters IBESR, your adoption facilitator had to gather each of the following documents: Passport pictures of the child, Birth Certificate, Attestation of signature on Birth Certificate or extract from the National Archives, Legal relinquishment of custody to the orphanage from the local judge, Psychological evaluation, Medical evaluation, Laboratory tests, Social history, Process Verbal (A legal document in which the biological family grants the creche the right to place their child with your family for international adoption. Can only be completed after your dossier is in Haiti.)


IBESR and Dispensation~Your dossier can now be submitted to IBESR. If your family does not meet the criteria of the law of 1974, your dossier can be pre-approved for Presidential Dispensation and delivered to the Presidential Palace by IBESR. Dispensations are published in Le Moniteur. Following Dispensation, IBESR will sign off on your dossier and grant an Authorization of Adoption.
Time lines for this step have been highly inconsistent in the past year.


Parquet Court~ The 'step' we refer to as Parquet court is actually a very complex series of steps and processes involving multiple offices and repeated trips between them. Attorney addresses a Request for Judgment to the Chief Justice of Parquet Court. Birth parents are interviewed in Parquet Court
Parquet Court signs off on "approval judgement for adoption. Facilitator takes approval to DGI for stamp of authorization. Back to Parquet for enforcement of the approval judgement. Authorization and redaction from the Civil Registrar Officer for legal Adoption Decree. Verification in parquet of the adoption documents by the Civil Registrar before signing the adoption decree
First Legalization of the Adoption Decree, in Parquet Court. Second Legalization of the Adoption Decree, at the Ministry of Justice. Third Legalization of the Adoption Decree, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Obtain attestation of Adoption Decree from the National Archives


Ministry of the Interior~ All international adoption cases are reviewed by the Ministry of Interior. In order to obtain authorization to request a passport, the following documents must be submitted for each child: Four passport sized pictures, Birth Certificate, Attestation for the Birth Certificate, Extract from the National Archives for the Birth Certificate, Relinquishment, Proces Verbal of adoption, Adoption approval judgement, Adoption Decree, Attestation of the Adoption Decree, Power of Attorney for creche director and/or attorney
Stamp from DGI, Notary letter for the passport, Identification card of facilitator and/or attorney on the case, Biological parents' identification cards, Adoptive parents' MOI form, identification, and passport photos. The Ministry of Interior will grant authorization to submit the dossier to Haitian Immigrations for a passport.


Haitian Immigrations~The facilitator will submit authorization to apply for a passport to Haitian Immigrations. This is generally a quick process - one to two weeks, if all equipment is working properly.


US Immigrations ~ (Note to international readers - US Immigrations performs the most rigorous investigation of international adoptions. Other nations' Immigrations process are different. Please check with your agency to learn about the process for your home country.) Parts of the US Immigrations process can occur concurrently with the Haitian process, however USCIS cannot sign off on the case until they have verified the final Adoption Decree and the child's passport. DNA may be requested at any time. American families are advised to work closely with their agencies to ensure a smooth and efficient US Immigrations process for their child. Approximately three to four weeks following completion of all USCIS investigations and adjudication of the I600 for the child, the case will be forwarded to the Department of State for issuance of a Visa. The Department of State also has the right to request DNA testing for birth parent and child. Adoptive parents need not be present for the Visa appointment.
Parents who can prove that they visited their child prior to the issuance of the Adoption Decree by Parquet Court will be issued an IR-3 Visa. Their children will be automatically granted full US Citizenship upon arrival in the US.


Families who did not visit their children prior to the date of the Adoption Decree must file for citizenship for their children. Failure to file for citizenship will leave the child as a legal immigrant and unprotected by the rights of full citizenship. Please refer to the USCIS website for form N-600 and instructions on how to file.

Summary
These steps were provided by Margarette Saint Fleur of BRESMA orphanage. All legitimate adoptions facilitators must follow each one of them, and must do so under extremely difficult conditions. Haitian adoptions are taking far, far too long. Children are waiting in orphanages for months and even years while the process drags on. And yet, when we look at the immensely complicated process, we must realize what a miracle it is when each child comes home.

A Merry Christmas in Haiti!

We received these photos of Pierre and Ange-Laurette receiving their packages from Santa. This was the celebration the mission group Answered Prayers organized. They made decorative paper chains, taught handwashing and food preparation, and shared the individualized gifts we had been able to send down in November. Both kids look so good!!! Actually ALL the kids and nannies were beaming from ear to ear!

Ange-Laurette is now 9! Her birthday was on Sunday. Another family was arriving in Haiti that day, so we sent along a birthday surprise for her. We will celebrate again when we see her in January, with cupcakes like we had brought along for Pierre last time. Ange-Laurette is a petite 9 but has the life-experiences of a much older girl. Her huge grin tells us she is doing well and likely enjoying her new participation in a nearby school Monday through Friday. It will be fun to see her new school skills in math...although we are most excited to just hear that laugh of hers!

Pierre was hard at work in other photos from the mission trip. He could be seen in any shots of kids doing artwork or coloring pages. He outlines each object before coloring it in...and he takes it all seriously until completion. We will need to make room on the frig for all the masterpieces he is sure to bring home from school one day. :)

How much we miss them!!

Just a quick entry to share how much we are missing Pierre and Ange-Laurette! The holidays are so bittersweet: one of our favorite times as a family but also without two very special kids here to join us. We know that they will be receiving their Christmas boxes within the next week. We also know that my parents are working hard to send the orphanage some of the fortified rice packets from a mission they support, Kids Against Hunger. We celebrated my dad's birthday this September packaging over 2500 meals! My niece was part of another packaging that actually may end up in Haiti. It is a wonderful mission and so much more meaningful once you have seen firsthand the difference in a child once they receive the nutrients they so desperately need.

We have two learning opportunities in the next week. We will join a webinar tomorrow and then a conference call on Tuesday to learn more about the steps in the Haitian adoption process. Bruce and I are eager to learn absolutely everything we can to help prepare us....and to help the kids adjust to this new culture, while still maintaining as much as we can of their own culture and traditions. Please say extra prayers this Christmas, for all the children just like ours who are without a family and without even the necessities of life this holiday season. Pray that Christian mission groups reach out beyond our borders to touch their lives in significant ways!

Christmas Stockings en route!

Every year, Answered Prayers sponsors a Christmas Stocking Drive complete with a Haitian Santa Claus and presents for each child and nanny at BRESMA. Parents are invited to sponsor their own children if they would like. They didn't have to ask US twice! We also chose to sponsor one of the nannies. We had fun choosing these recommended items for each: an outfit, sandals (hard to find in SD in November!), soap, toothbrush, book, and a couple toys. It is so fun now that we know their favorites in characters, types of toys, and colors. Since it is Christmas, we didn't worry as much either about if it was a toy that would get destroyed or if it could be shared easily. All the kids would have something their very own (for the day), so we could splurge. :) Ange-Laurette got a doll with hair, which she always requests. Fixing hair is a BIG thing in their culture, and she does it well! We also found a "skipper" which they spin around one ankle as they jump. That will keep her endless energy channeled. :)

For Pierre, we enclosed an "American futbol" for him and the other big boys. That will be a skill he will definitely want to have once he arrives here, between his younger brother's obsession and the recesses with other boys at school. Then, we added his hero, Spiderman, on a battery operated 3-wheeler. I can see all the younger kids making their Spiderman hand gestures now! We so wish we could be there to witness the frenzy when the packages arrive. It is so much like our Christmas morning....yet so very different. I was laughing with the postal worker as I mailed each child's package yesterday: If only we could limit our American children's gifts to one shoe box in size!

We prayed they'd sense our love as they were opened. Bon fet Noel, to our kids a world away!

PRESIDENTIAL DISPENSATION....GRANTED!!!

Last night we thought we heard the phone, in our sleep, about 11 p.m. Then, I got that sinking feeling that it might have been one of those emergency phonecalls and went to check the message. It was Diana with the phonecall she promised...anytime day or night~

We had received Presidential Dispensation to legally adopt AND both Pierre Cardin and Ange-Laurette's cases had moved out of IBESR (Haitian social services). This is the longest, toughest, and most unpredictable step. This is the place so many before us had gotten "stuck."

Diana explained that this marks the halfway mark. Things usually proceed in a more orderly fashion after this....and the adoptions should be complete within 9 months. It also means that bringing the kids home during the warmer months in South Dakota is a likelihood! We will have time to adjust as a family before having to deal with school!

We will now begin to plan our January visit, where we will finally get to bring Pierre his Granmay Gran (my mom)!

Precious Phonecall from Haiti

We were able to call the kids while our adoption coordinator, Diana, was visiting there early October. She does not yet have a cell phone with speaker phone capabilities, but she did her best to interpret for us. As she searched for "our girl," she put Pierre on the phone. He said timidly, "Ah lo?" Bruce greeted him and told him it was "dad." Pierre responded again, "Ah lo?" It must be awfully strange for them to hear these foreign voices on the end of the line and not be sure what to say. Bailey jumped in to say, "Hi Pierre!" He excitedly answered, "Hi Mom!" When I asked him how he was doing, he said, "I'm good." And he sounded good, as well, as he said hi to Nate and Bailey as if they were long lost buds. Then, Ange-Laurette got on the phone, with her much-improved English. She seemed to understand most of what we said, answering, "I'm fine. Me love you, too." When Bailey emphasized that she missed her, Ange-Laurette genuinely responded, "Me, too."

We asked Diana to tell them that Nate is taking good care of Pierre's soccer ball and truck....that Bailey's friends are excited to meet them...and that we will visit in January. She shared their comments: Pierre said that he needs to come to South Dakota because he loves South Dakota (that on a day we were getting our first snow and freeze!). Ange-Laurette wanted us to know that she prays for us everyday. Both were eager to tell us how hard they have been working in school. They would send school work with Diana to give us and we would be proud.

We asked Diana to tell Pierre that it was ok that he was sad on our last visit to Haiti. She quickly explained that he would not be at all embarrassed for crying...that is an American thing. :) We asked her to describe Ange-Laurette's hair for the day. Ange-Laurette described the pony tails and barrettes, adding how happy she was that it was getting so long. I asked her to have Diana take a photo for us. Ange-Laurette shocked us all by saying, "Diana already did!"

We were all beaming ear to ear! Their joy was obvious and the connection between all of us was so real. Bruce said, after we said our long goodbyes, that he could actually picture them here in our home with us, for the first time! Later that week, we received these priceless photos of our babies. We cannot thank Diana enough for moments and photos like these!!