Read this post to see their latest news-- the burden to prove that Trek is an orphan now officially lies with them, and they have 80 something days to do so. How they are going to do that from Maine, only the Lord knows, but we are trusting with them that the same great big God who began this work to redeem sweet Trek will see it through to completion.
Please pray for their physical health, as well as their emotional strength and stamina as they spend this precious time with their son before they have to come home to their daughters.
Their is no doubt that Satan would prefer that Trek stay an orphan forever, so please also pray for their spiritual protection as they fight for him.
For our struggles are not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:12
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
VERY IMPORTANT-- Need your help
Please read this letter from the Davis family, our friends who have a child waiting in Nepal. The State Department has determined that their child's case is "not clearly approvable," meaning the burden to prove that he is an orphan falls on them. They will travel to Nepal shortly to begin that process, so now is a very vital time to ensure that the propaganda by anti-adoption advocates in the US State Department is countered by clarifying information about the status of the children available for adoption in Nepal, like sweet little Trek who turns 2 in less than a month.
This little boy has a very special place in our hearts.
Do you remember that our agency was expecting 3 referrals the week of the suspension? Two of the families received theirs, and we were supposed to be the third.
We were actually supposed to be the second.
The Davis's were supposed to be the third, according to when their paperwork was sent to Nepal, 3 months after ours. In fact, they were originally not even supposed to have their paperwork sent to Nepal in 2009 at all, since the agency they were originally with didn't have any 2009 spots open. But ours did, which they learned after our mutual friend Amy connected us. So Tonya called our agency and confirmed that they did in fact have a spot open, so they began the process of switching over their paperwork so they'd get a 2009 spot. Tonya and I really hit it off and were excited at the prospect of maybe traveling together to get our boys.
But God had a much different plan.
He had plans to give us Hope.
And He has plans to give Trek a future as a Davis, such plans that He was willing to let us walk through what we did just so Trek could be united with the family that God prepared for Him since before the beginning of time. That's why I'm asking for your help in getting the word out about this propaganda that the State Department is spreading. Trek was NOT stolen from his birth family any more than Lily was. Yes, there are children that the author in the videos below has found in Nepal who were separated from their parents during the war, but they are MUCH OLDER. The children who have been matched with American families were willingly relinquished by their parents. Those who are against international adoption (including Satan himself) would rather see all orphans remain as such, rather than be raised by white, largely Christian families. It is a conspiracy of the darkest kind, and we need your urgent prayer and action on behalf of these children who cannot defend themselves.
Here is the link to the petition, and the letter from Tonya:
Ruth Lincoln (Adoption Division, Office of Children's Issues Overseas Citizens Services Bureau of Consular Affairs U.S. Department of State Washington, D.C.Tel: (202) 736-4995) seems bent for some reason on doing whatever she can to keep these kids from coming home. Would you PLEASE sign this... and even pay 9.00 to have hard copies hand delivered to Obama and your Congress men and women. It will make a statement to have lots of hand delivered letters in the next few days. We just signed and are having them hand delivered.
Here's what Ruth sent to Congress.....
Dear Congressional staffers,
These three short videos were brought to the State Department’s attention and we thought you might be interested in seeing them. They were produced in connection with the upcoming release of a book written by Next Generation Nepal’s founder Conor Grennan - Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal.
Sincerely,
Ruth Lincoln
Adoption Division, Office of Children's Issues
Overseas Citizens Services
Bureau of Consular Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C.
Tel: (202) 736-4995
DISCLAIMER: The Office of Children’s Issues was made aware of the existence of short videos from the organization Next Generation Nepal. The Office of Children’s Issues had no parts in the creation of these videos and cannot verify its contents.
Conor Grennan Discusses Nepal and Little Princes
The Journey Home
Lost and Found
END LETTER FROM RUTH LINCOLN, STATE DEPARTMENT
Begin letter from an adoptive parent with a child still waiting, to other waiting parents (edited for clarity):
WE MUST COUNTER THIS "PROPAGANDA" WITH FACTS AND WE MUST GET THOSE FACTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS WHO GOT THIS LETTER FROM DOS.
HERE ARE MY INITIAL THOUGHTS:
THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS LETTER.
1) Next Generation Nepal's own web site says that the children they are concerned with ".... can be as young as three and four years old..." when brought to the orphanages -- not one to a few months as most of our children were when they were brought in. Most of our children aren't even five as of today -- so while returning trafficked children is a worthy cause this organization has nothing to do with most if not all of the children currently in the Nepal Adoption Pipeline who are far younger that the very youngest children NGN serves.
See: orphans.http://www. nextgenerationnepal.org/What_ We_Do
2) The average age of trafficked children in Nepal is eight to twelve and the children are primarily trafficked for sex, domestic work and circuses in India. Sometimes, though rarely children as young as four are taken for circus training. There has not been a significant traficking issue in Nepal concerning related to international adoption as was seen in Vietnam and Cambodia - rather child traficking in Nepal is focused on child prostituion, labor, and circus performance -- Children under the age of eight or nine are not likely to be trafficked and children under five years even less so.
www.stopthetraffik.org/projects/nepal.aspx
www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/.../tdh-nep-2jun.pdf
gvnet.com/childprostitution/Nepal.htm
3) "Produced in connection with the upcoming release of a book" USUALLY MEANS PRODUCED TO SELL COPIES OF MY BOOK -- HARDLY A SOURCE OF RELIABLE, VALID DATA TO BE USED TO CONDEM CHILDREN TO A LIFE AN ORPHANAGE.
We need to make clear to members of Congress and the President how inappropriate this letter was and how manipulative an attempt it is to taint their opinion regarding Nepali adoptions -- we must complain about how unfair such videos are. Our children simply do not fall into the category of the children of NRN.
IN ADDITION: IT SO HAPPENS THAT one of the Pipeline parents knew of NRN for a few years and actually emailed them recently about their efforts in searching for families.
She asked them about the possibility of taking her child's picture with them on their next journey in hopes that if her adopted daughter had searching parents they would be found and if nothing was found, a letter from their organization would show her child did not have parents somewhere looking for her. However, after one brief email from the executive director Hallie Tamez saying amongst other things that NRN usually relies heavily on information from the child to help narrow down the family's location -- the PAP followed up with the information that her child had been in the orphanage from one month old. She asked about NRN taking the child's picture on their next trip to show to families, but no one at NRN ever responded. The sense this PAP got was that this organization has a clear and specific focus on the children who were displaced during the earlier war.
This little boy has a very special place in our hearts.
Do you remember that our agency was expecting 3 referrals the week of the suspension? Two of the families received theirs, and we were supposed to be the third.
We were actually supposed to be the second.
The Davis's were supposed to be the third, according to when their paperwork was sent to Nepal, 3 months after ours. In fact, they were originally not even supposed to have their paperwork sent to Nepal in 2009 at all, since the agency they were originally with didn't have any 2009 spots open. But ours did, which they learned after our mutual friend Amy connected us. So Tonya called our agency and confirmed that they did in fact have a spot open, so they began the process of switching over their paperwork so they'd get a 2009 spot. Tonya and I really hit it off and were excited at the prospect of maybe traveling together to get our boys.
But God had a much different plan.
He had plans to give us Hope.
And He has plans to give Trek a future as a Davis, such plans that He was willing to let us walk through what we did just so Trek could be united with the family that God prepared for Him since before the beginning of time. That's why I'm asking for your help in getting the word out about this propaganda that the State Department is spreading. Trek was NOT stolen from his birth family any more than Lily was. Yes, there are children that the author in the videos below has found in Nepal who were separated from their parents during the war, but they are MUCH OLDER. The children who have been matched with American families were willingly relinquished by their parents. Those who are against international adoption (including Satan himself) would rather see all orphans remain as such, rather than be raised by white, largely Christian families. It is a conspiracy of the darkest kind, and we need your urgent prayer and action on behalf of these children who cannot defend themselves.
Here is the link to the petition, and the letter from Tonya:
Ruth Lincoln (Adoption Division, Office of Children's Issues Overseas Citizens Services Bureau of Consular Affairs U.S. Department of State Washington, D.C.Tel: (202) 736-4995) seems bent for some reason on doing whatever she can to keep these kids from coming home. Would you PLEASE sign this... and even pay 9.00 to have hard copies hand delivered to Obama and your Congress men and women. It will make a statement to have lots of hand delivered letters in the next few days. We just signed and are having them hand delivered.
Here's what Ruth sent to Congress.....
Dear Congressional staffers,
These three short videos were brought to the State Department’s attention and we thought you might be interested in seeing them. They were produced in connection with the upcoming release of a book written by Next Generation Nepal’s founder Conor Grennan - Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal.
Sincerely,
Ruth Lincoln
Adoption Division, Office of Children's Issues
Overseas Citizens Services
Bureau of Consular Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C.
Tel: (202) 736-4995
DISCLAIMER: The Office of Children’s Issues was made aware of the existence of short videos from the organization Next Generation Nepal. The Office of Children’s Issues had no parts in the creation of these videos and cannot verify its contents.
Conor Grennan Discusses Nepal and Little Princes
The Journey Home
Lost and Found
END LETTER FROM RUTH LINCOLN, STATE DEPARTMENT
Begin letter from an adoptive parent with a child still waiting, to other waiting parents (edited for clarity):
WE MUST COUNTER THIS "PROPAGANDA" WITH FACTS AND WE MUST GET THOSE FACTS TO THE CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS WHO GOT THIS LETTER FROM DOS.
HERE ARE MY INITIAL THOUGHTS:
THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS LETTER.
1) Next Generation Nepal's own web site says that the children they are concerned with ".... can be as young as three and four years old..." when brought to the orphanages -- not one to a few months as most of our children were when they were brought in. Most of our children aren't even five as of today -- so while returning trafficked children is a worthy cause this organization has nothing to do with most if not all of the children currently in the Nepal Adoption Pipeline who are far younger that the very youngest children NGN serves.
See: orphans.http://www. nextgenerationnepal.org/What_ We_Do
2) The average age of trafficked children in Nepal is eight to twelve and the children are primarily trafficked for sex, domestic work and circuses in India. Sometimes, though rarely children as young as four are taken for circus training. There has not been a significant traficking issue in Nepal concerning related to international adoption as was seen in Vietnam and Cambodia - rather child traficking in Nepal is focused on child prostituion, labor, and circus performance -- Children under the age of eight or nine are not likely to be trafficked and children under five years even less so.
www.stopthetraffik.org/projects/nepal.aspx
www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/.../tdh-nep-2jun.pdf
gvnet.com/childprostitution/Nepal.htm
3) "Produced in connection with the upcoming release of a book" USUALLY MEANS PRODUCED TO SELL COPIES OF MY BOOK -- HARDLY A SOURCE OF RELIABLE, VALID DATA TO BE USED TO CONDEM CHILDREN TO A LIFE AN ORPHANAGE.
We need to make clear to members of Congress and the President how inappropriate this letter was and how manipulative an attempt it is to taint their opinion regarding Nepali adoptions -- we must complain about how unfair such videos are. Our children simply do not fall into the category of the children of NRN.
IN ADDITION: IT SO HAPPENS THAT one of the Pipeline parents knew of NRN for a few years and actually emailed them recently about their efforts in searching for families.
She asked them about the possibility of taking her child's picture with them on their next journey in hopes that if her adopted daughter had searching parents they would be found and if nothing was found, a letter from their organization would show her child did not have parents somewhere looking for her. However, after one brief email from the executive director Hallie Tamez saying amongst other things that NRN usually relies heavily on information from the child to help narrow down the family's location -- the PAP followed up with the information that her child had been in the orphanage from one month old. She asked about NRN taking the child's picture on their next trip to show to families, but no one at NRN ever responded. The sense this PAP got was that this organization has a clear and specific focus on the children who were displaced during the earlier war.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
For Shame
Because I've been dealing with my own grief, I admit that I've gotten a little slacky about praying for the other adoptive families who have been affected.
But today I came across this video on one of my Nepal blog friend's website. She has a friend in Nepal right now with her little girl, who are among the 14 families in Nepal when the shutdown happened who have not been allowed to come home with the children who are now legally theirs.
Here's an article about another one of the families to give you some more faces and names to pray for. Notice it's a Nepali paper-- our own media has not covered this humanitarian tragedy.
This reminds me that it's not just about our grief. Not just about the boy who would have been ours. Not just about the hundreds of other orphans who would have had families in safe, loving homes. There are 14 families in Nepal now unable to travel back to this country that has been a beacon of hope for so many other oppressed people.
Will you re-commit to pray for these families? Without ceasing?
If you want to know more about why they shut the program down, see the post on my other blog about it. Rest assured, they were not just protecting families from child snatching. Unfortunately there is a far more sinister plot to keep the fatherless out of loving homes, and it requires our attention, our prayer and our action.
For shame, US State Department, for shame.
But today I came across this video on one of my Nepal blog friend's website. She has a friend in Nepal right now with her little girl, who are among the 14 families in Nepal when the shutdown happened who have not been allowed to come home with the children who are now legally theirs.
Here's an article about another one of the families to give you some more faces and names to pray for. Notice it's a Nepali paper-- our own media has not covered this humanitarian tragedy.
This reminds me that it's not just about our grief. Not just about the boy who would have been ours. Not just about the hundreds of other orphans who would have had families in safe, loving homes. There are 14 families in Nepal now unable to travel back to this country that has been a beacon of hope for so many other oppressed people.
Will you re-commit to pray for these families? Without ceasing?
If you want to know more about why they shut the program down, see the post on my other blog about it. Rest assured, they were not just protecting families from child snatching. Unfortunately there is a far more sinister plot to keep the fatherless out of loving homes, and it requires our attention, our prayer and our action.
For shame, US State Department, for shame.
Friday, August 6, 2010
No Good Very Bad Day
The U.S. State Department has just issued a press release stating that no new adoption cases from Nepal will be processed. Meaning, we will not be bringing home a child from Nepal. Families who have already received referrals will be able to process their adoptions, but no new cases will be allowed through. There was a line in there about hoping to open it up again, but I am not aware of any programs that closed opening up again (Vietnam, Guatemala, etc.).
This is not completely unexpected but I still feel like I've been punched in the gut. Especially since we got our hopes up this week. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to throw up.
Please pray for us. This was not a surprise to God, and we praise Him for His goodness even through our heartache.
This is not completely unexpected but I still feel like I've been punched in the gut. Especially since we got our hopes up this week. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to throw up.
Please pray for us. This was not a surprise to God, and we praise Him for His goodness even through our heartache.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Surprise Referrals for Our Agency
The San Jose International Airport has a new terminal with the greatest airport bathrooms ever. The stalls are big enough to wheel a stroller or rolling bag in with you, and the doors open out so you can get out without dumping your kid or your suitcase in the toilet on your way out. They're awesome.
What does that have to do with adoption in Nepal?
Nothing, except that's where I was when I got the call yesterday telling me that our friends, Tanya and Mike, got their referral for their son in Nepal! He is 19-months-old and shares Kyle's birthday!! The reason their referral is a surprise is because they were logged in in December, the last dossier sent from our agency, and yet there are probably 6-8 families logged in before them (although many of those families might be waiting for girls or younger babies).
If Nepal was going strictly in order, we would have received our referral first, but this is proof that the Holy Spirit is doing the matching (as if we, the parents of Kylelissaphyllisgeorgemarilynelmer Jr., needed proof of that). I told Tanya that I can't wait to watch their son grow up in their family, the family he was very clearly created for. What a blessing to see one more orphan receive a last name, a family, a legacy!
As if that wasn't reason enough to rejoice, Tanya also passed along some exciting news-- our agency told her that Nepal said two more referrals are on the way, also for children older than infants (what we requested). They were told the referrals would arrive today, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen (Nepal has the same concept of "manana" that we do I think). They have no way of knowing if one of the referrals is ours, but it gave us all a good heart jolt yesterday.
The fact that their son is 19-months-old and not closer to the top of their requested age range (3) makes me wonder if our son will also be younger. I'm thinking probably so since I've been mentally preparing for a 3 year old. And also because I spent last week with my good friend Melissa and her adorable and super busy almost-two-year-old daughter telling her, "Don't worry, it gets easier!" The 18-30 month range is NOT the lazy mom's ideal season! But we will be delighted to have Tow Truck home for as many of his months as we can get him, so whether he's 13 months or 3, we will be overjoyed!
Needless to say, I will keep you posted....
Friday, July 30, 2010
Good News, I think
Actually, maybe even two pieces of good news. First, it appears that travel approvals and referrals are continuing to come out, despite the lack of a prime minister.
Second, it looks like our time in Kathmandu may be cut a little bit shorter. The US Embassy has until now been waiting until families were in Nepal to begin their investigation (required to prove orphan status before a visa can be issued to the child to allow them into the States), which has caused a 3-4 week stay. It appears they are now looking to do that investigation before the family arrives (but after the travel approval has been issued), so the time in country may be reduced to more like two weeks.
Of course-- this is all information I have pieced together from various sources-- no official word from our agency yet.
The other side benefit is that this may give us more warning before our trip. For previous families, they sometimes would leave literally within hours of their TA-- can you say chaos? (not to mention expensive plane tickets!) I know we will want to leave as soon as we can-- I sure was ready to go get Lily as soon as we got our referral-- but this time some advance warning will be especially helpful since we'll have childcare, dogcare, and jobs to situate. We had dogs and jobs back then too, so I guess Lily is really what will make the advance warning helpful.
On another unrelated note, I had a dream last night that we were trying to adopt two children who were here from another country on humanitarian parole. It was an older girl who mysteriously spoke English and a toddler boy. How awesome would it be if Little Man had a big sister and Nepal let us adopt her too? As far as I know that is unprecedented and outside of their legal adoption parameters, so I'm thinking that instead of a prophetic dream, it was a borrowed storyline from a friend-of-a-friend who is adopting a brother-sister sibling group (4 and 8) from California (which is sort of a foreign country to me). Sigh....I still can't shake the thought that we have an older girl out there somewhere...
Second, it looks like our time in Kathmandu may be cut a little bit shorter. The US Embassy has until now been waiting until families were in Nepal to begin their investigation (required to prove orphan status before a visa can be issued to the child to allow them into the States), which has caused a 3-4 week stay. It appears they are now looking to do that investigation before the family arrives (but after the travel approval has been issued), so the time in country may be reduced to more like two weeks.
Of course-- this is all information I have pieced together from various sources-- no official word from our agency yet.
The other side benefit is that this may give us more warning before our trip. For previous families, they sometimes would leave literally within hours of their TA-- can you say chaos? (not to mention expensive plane tickets!) I know we will want to leave as soon as we can-- I sure was ready to go get Lily as soon as we got our referral-- but this time some advance warning will be especially helpful since we'll have childcare, dogcare, and jobs to situate. We had dogs and jobs back then too, so I guess Lily is really what will make the advance warning helpful.
On another unrelated note, I had a dream last night that we were trying to adopt two children who were here from another country on humanitarian parole. It was an older girl who mysteriously spoke English and a toddler boy. How awesome would it be if Little Man had a big sister and Nepal let us adopt her too? As far as I know that is unprecedented and outside of their legal adoption parameters, so I'm thinking that instead of a prophetic dream, it was a borrowed storyline from a friend-of-a-friend who is adopting a brother-sister sibling group (4 and 8) from California (which is sort of a foreign country to me). Sigh....I still can't shake the thought that we have an older girl out there somewhere...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Looks Like Another Slow Down
While we wait, we pray for our little boy, that he is being loved and nurtured. We learned our lesson last time that worrying will not make this journey one second shorter, so instead we pray. We are also intentionally living each moment while we wait as a gift, being careful not to rush through this God-appointed time. If He wanted it to be shorter, He could surely do that. Since He hasn't, we know there is purpose for this wait so we seek Him for that purpose. When you're praying for our son, will you also pray for the other families throughout the world who wait for their Nepali children? It is the first adoption for many, and the wait the first time is SO hard, especially with all the uncertainty.
Back to our boy, Kyle recently informed me that he's not so sure about the name we had originally picked out, so I'm relieved we never told. This could happen a dozen more times till the little man comes home, so don't bother asking what the latest name choices are :)
Lily recently informed me that she doesn't want a little brother, little sister, big sister or big brother. In fact, she doesn't want "anyfing." It was in the context of sleeping in her room with her brother once he comes home, which I'm sure is what caused the ill feelings. So, Little Man, if you're reading this down the road-- you are very wanted, even by your rather spoiled big sister-- she just doesn't want to have to give anything up due to your arrival. Little does she know though, she only stands to gain! My brothers have been two of the biggest blessings in my life, and I know she'll say the same thing one day. Hopefully sooner than 35 years from now...
Monday, May 24, 2010
Update on Families in Nepal
(Cindy, thank you for the reminder that I needed to do an update!)
****Update: Got an email from our agency just now saying the two families from our agency who were in Nepal are now home with their little girls, and they reported no serious issues. They had to be there an extra week because of the shutdown, but I don't know what the total time was that they were there.
I don't have an update on the families from our agency who were in Nepal, but the one family whose blog I was following came home yesterday with their little boy. They were there about three and a half weeks. Not ideal, but not horrible considering there was a big shutdown while they were there. It seems as if there were no major snags in the process- that's huge!
Beyond all of the cost associated with a long trip, I try to prevent myself from spending too much time wondering whether we can be away from Lily for that long. It is borrowing tomorrow's worries, and we have no way of knowing how different the process will be when it's finally our turn. As of right now it doesn't look like a great idea to take Lily, but the thought of being away from her for that long makes me want to throw up. I know she'd be fine with her grandparents (by the way G&G and N&N, can you take care of her??) but I'm not sure I would. We know families who have taken their children and left them, and we know there are pros and cons both ways. Right now all I see are the cons to both ways...
Anyway, praise God for protecting the adopting families in Nepal and for placing these precious orphans in families!
****Update: Got an email from our agency just now saying the two families from our agency who were in Nepal are now home with their little girls, and they reported no serious issues. They had to be there an extra week because of the shutdown, but I don't know what the total time was that they were there.
I don't have an update on the families from our agency who were in Nepal, but the one family whose blog I was following came home yesterday with their little boy. They were there about three and a half weeks. Not ideal, but not horrible considering there was a big shutdown while they were there. It seems as if there were no major snags in the process- that's huge!
Beyond all of the cost associated with a long trip, I try to prevent myself from spending too much time wondering whether we can be away from Lily for that long. It is borrowing tomorrow's worries, and we have no way of knowing how different the process will be when it's finally our turn. As of right now it doesn't look like a great idea to take Lily, but the thought of being away from her for that long makes me want to throw up. I know she'd be fine with her grandparents (by the way G&G and N&N, can you take care of her??) but I'm not sure I would. We know families who have taken their children and left them, and we know there are pros and cons both ways. Right now all I see are the cons to both ways...
Anyway, praise God for protecting the adopting families in Nepal and for placing these precious orphans in families!
Monday, May 3, 2010
pray for the families in Nepal now
There are families in Nepal now, including two from our agency, and they need a lot of prayer. There is a huge protest going on, and the Maoist protesters are intent on a government overthrow. The result is a complete shutdown of the whole city, including the US Embassy. If the Embassy isn't able to work, they aren't able to process visas for the children to come back to the US. Please pray for the Lord to intervene and allow the adoptions to be finalized and visas to be issued so these families can return home with their new children. Also pray for them to be protected against fear or discouragement, and for bonding to take place despite the obstacles.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Finally, Good News!
Just hopped on the Internet to check the recipe for the very special lemon cake I'm making for Easter, and found out that Travel Approvals have FINALLY come for the families who have had referrals since September! This means nothing for us directly, except that the program is moving.
It also means that in my flesh I am tempted to begin to worry that we won't have the money when our referral does arrive, but it's Good Friday so I am asking Jesus to take every worried thought to the cross with Him! It is SIN to forget that the Lord provides for His children, and He took every last sin to the cross. Thank you Lord for willingly being our blameless sacrifice, so that we could have life, and so we could become your children that you will provide for throughout eternity, which began on this very Friday so many years ago.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
You can help!
I haven't written much lately because, quite frankly, I have been pretty depressed about the state of Nepali adoptions. Although some new referrals have been received in the past few weeks, there is reason to still be very concerned because travel approvals still have not been issued to the families who received referrals six months ago. Without travel approvals these new referrals, although undoubtedly very exciting for the families receiving them, really don't signify that the process is moving again.
It is a pretty helpless feeling for all of the 500 or so families currently waiting, but there is something we can all do to try to get the attention of the powers that be. Click here to sign a petition urging the authorities in participating countries to help Nepal get back on track so more orphans can be placed in families.
Thank you!
It is a pretty helpless feeling for all of the 500 or so families currently waiting, but there is something we can all do to try to get the attention of the powers that be. Click here to sign a petition urging the authorities in participating countries to help Nepal get back on track so more orphans can be placed in families.
Thank you!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Two bits of news
There are two bits of news coming from official sources today that I may as well report, although I'm still taking them with a grain of salt.
First, Nepal has announced that they will accept the alotted 10 dossiers per agency from April through July of this year.
The timing is interesting in light of what the US Embassy is reporting, that Nepal has told them that they plan to process all 2009 dossiers (that's us) by March of this year. The Embassy adds that they are doubtful that such a large number of matches could be made in such a short period of time, but it proves consistent with the rumors that have been circulating. I'm not sure that makes it any more likely to be true-- an untrue statement that is often repeated is still not true. However, I would be happy if they even started back on the 2009 matches in March and finished them by the following March. So my expectations are rather low, but perhaps more realistic.
I have resisted the temptation to even predict when our referral will arrive, mostly based upon the fact that there is practically zero data on which to base a prediction (unlike China where there were at least monthly referrals that could be counted on). But based on this post from our family blog yesterday, I'd say there's a good chance that we will get a referral this summer and be home with Little Bro in the Fall. But please realize that is based purely on what would be the most ironic timing for me-- not on reality whatsoever, so please don't take it to the bank.
Instead, pray for continued peace and patience and for provision so that we can afford the remaining fees when the blessed event finally does occur. And most of all, please pray that Little Bro is warm, loved and has a full belly while we wait for him.
First, Nepal has announced that they will accept the alotted 10 dossiers per agency from April through July of this year.
The timing is interesting in light of what the US Embassy is reporting, that Nepal has told them that they plan to process all 2009 dossiers (that's us) by March of this year. The Embassy adds that they are doubtful that such a large number of matches could be made in such a short period of time, but it proves consistent with the rumors that have been circulating. I'm not sure that makes it any more likely to be true-- an untrue statement that is often repeated is still not true. However, I would be happy if they even started back on the 2009 matches in March and finished them by the following March. So my expectations are rather low, but perhaps more realistic.
I have resisted the temptation to even predict when our referral will arrive, mostly based upon the fact that there is practically zero data on which to base a prediction (unlike China where there were at least monthly referrals that could be counted on). But based on this post from our family blog yesterday, I'd say there's a good chance that we will get a referral this summer and be home with Little Bro in the Fall. But please realize that is based purely on what would be the most ironic timing for me-- not on reality whatsoever, so please don't take it to the bank.
Instead, pray for continued peace and patience and for provision so that we can afford the remaining fees when the blessed event finally does occur. And most of all, please pray that Little Bro is warm, loved and has a full belly while we wait for him.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
No news is not good news
Unfortunately in the world of adoption, no news is not necessarily good news. I haven't been posting updates because the rumors don't seem worthy of being reported. Unlike China, news does leak out, but it doesn't seem to ever pan out. There have been rumors reasonable enough to believe, like that the ministry would be meeting "next week" to approve travel for families with referrals (who have been waiting since September-- talk about torture) and as ridiculous as "all 2009 families will get referrals by March." There's about as much chance as that happening as a speed up in China.
So, we wait. Thankfully, it has been a patient wait thus far, and I'm expectantly asking God for that to continue.
I'm also praying that God will use this wait time to allow us to foster a Haitian orphan. I have no idea if it will pan out, but there's talk of this being permitted since the situation is so dire in Haiti. How cool would it be for God to turn the many empty homes (and hearts) of waiting families into places of refuge for otherwise homeless and hopeless orphans?? I'm thankful that the world's attention seems to be focused on the many orphans in Haiti, and I already know of at least one family who has decided to adopt because of it. Lord, let the sense of urgency to place the world's orphans in families extend beyond this crisis!
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