You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.


Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Lena's (first) mission trip to
Haiti turned into our
Adoption Adventure!
Can't wait to see what God has in store next.....
*********************************************************

Monday, September 28, 2009

REALLY?!?!?

A straitjacket as seen from the rear.Image via Wikipedia

So I've heard bits and pieces of a new step being added to the Haitian adoption process. Really?!?!

The rumors have been swirling for the past month or two....

The first version said that the adoptive dad had to go to court in Haiti and appear before a judge to state that he was aware of the adoption, and really wanted to adopt the child(ren). Really?!?!

The second-third and fourth versions said both adoptive parents had to appear in person and confirm their desire to adopt. Really?!?!

That does appear to be the case, at least at the moment. I am aware of several families that are in Haiti right now, due to this new requirement. I hope to learn more after they return to the States.

Because we are in the early stages of the Haiti side of things (it pains me to even type that because we are at over 14 months in the process already and we are in the early part of the Haiti side of things), we have time to prepare and plan (ie raise money). I will also be looking into if it is possible for us to complete this step early-before we get to that stage of the "process". That could save an added trip.

For us, each week long trip to Haiti costs us between $1400-$1800 per person. We could save a few bucks by staying a shorter time. But we sort of figure if we are going to dole out the money for the airfare, we might as well enjoy some time with our boys and help out at the Orphanage.... It seems silly to go that far for less than a week. But that is an option.

Some other families were in the later stages, and this new step has the potential to significantly delay their process. As if 2-4 years was not enough time to process an adoption. Really?!?!

What appears to be true is that this is a certain judge, in a certain court, in a certain city. And yes, that is where our stuff will go. So it is possible that this step will evaporate before we get there. Or more steps could be added. Really?!?!

It also appears to be true that this is a politically motivated change. And that the people who "decided" this step was necessary KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THE ADOPTION PROCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously-as creative and outside the box I tend to think I cannot come up with a way that I would be able to do this without my husband's willing participation. The money. The letters. The home-study. The BLOOD TESTS. The photos. The tax returns. The multiple sets of finger prints. The psychological evaluation. The medical exams. Did I mention the money? or the BLOOD TESTS?!?! Really?!?!

Honestly, it tells me that the "powers that be" have no idea of what the U.S. requires for parents to be approved to adopt (that is a legal/court process). But worse, it tells me that the "powers that be" have no idea WHAT THEIR OWN COUNTRY REQUIRES.

There are different theories as to why this new step. I am not going to get into the reasons why.

I don't care. I really don't care why.

This is not something I am going to be able to change.

So I've got to let it go, or I will go crazy.


I.
Will.
Go.
Crazy.


And not the fun, goofy, silly, funny kind of crazy that I love to be.

The lock-me-up-in-a-room-medicate-and-restrain-me-so-I-don't-hurt-myself-or-anyone-else-and-throw-away-the-key-kind of CRAZY.

SNAP. What's that you say?
That's my break from reality.
My psychotic break.
It could happen.

So I've got to let it go.

This is a battle, people.
We need prayer to get it done.
God is not surprised by this.
God is still in control.
We need to hit our knees in prayer.
There is no other option.
None.

Join us, and the other families caught in this "process" and the children growing up in orphanages when there are loving families that CAN and WANT to provide for them.

Love them.
Feed them.
Snuggle them.
Teach them.
Care for them.
Pray for them.

Pray for us.
Pray for me.


For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12




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11 comments:

  1. It's one of those things when you don't know whether to laugh or cry. Do you know I actually have real feelings of guilt about NOT having to deal with this stuff? It's enough to make you crazy, which is where that psych eval comes in handy.

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  2. As hard as the process is for you at least there are two little boys who now know that they are loved!!!

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  3. yikes! Like I wasn't already stressed out...and I'm only at the WAY beginning....oh well, I've done it once, I can do it again, right?
    thinking of you....praying for both of us!!!
    xoxoxo
    M

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  4. I am waiting to hear if I have to go. I am well over two years in process but only in second legal. No one is quite sure if I need to go!!!!! We have both been to Haiti before. Too bad we can't just combine all the trips. In fact, I've been there four times. Wouldn't that tell that judge that I really want to adopt these twins?????

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  5. OH dear, Lena. This post was "sickly humorous" to me, only because of the way you so adequately described the torturous feelings of the inconsistent process.

    Our orphanage director hasn't said anything to us about appearing before a judge on our trip, and we are in second legal (and our orphanage is in PAP) but you can bet $$ that I will be asking. I want to do everything needed WHILE I am there, because we can NOT afford to go back until it's time to bring him home. Well. I say that, but if my boy needs me, I guess I'll figure out a way, like I did this time. Ugh. It's so frustrating. May all of this disappear by the time you reach that level.

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  6. Ugh...it is crazy making, no question. Well, on the hopeful side of things, it will change, because it always does. I will definitely pray for you and everyone else caught in the craziness! I will not forget those feelings, ever. BUT, your faith will carry you through Lena. Hang in there!

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  7. This is so very sad. Even as much as we love our boys I am pretty sure I don't have the stuff in me to adopt from Haiti again. And I hate that because I really would like to. Too much misery for the parents, orphanages, children, attorneys, etc. Too much political BS. Too much UNICEF involvement. I really feel for you and all the other waiting parents as more and more junk like this crops up. It is already awful enough! Help, Lord! You sure chose the perfect scripture, Lena.

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  8. This really is crazy and I am praying for you and everyone caught in the middle. It just grieves my heart to even think about it. Oh Lord get these children home! Terry

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  9. Stephanie, I have to choose to laugh, or I'll snap :-)

    Anonymous-you are right. We love those boys and we'll do whatever we have to do.

    Michele-thanks!

    Kathy C. I'm with you-I've also been there more than once-what a blessing we are able to travel.

    Cara-you know, I don't have the stuff in me to do this either. However, I have God. He's going to have to get me through, because I cannot.

    Terry, Lara & Amanda-thanks! I find myself say "really?!?!" alot these days. I know God is in control. Sometimes my frustration gets the better of me though.

    Thanks to everyone for reading and posting, I appreciate it.

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  10. Oh, and Cara-I chose that scripture because sometimes I really feel the oppressive "forces" at work....it is oppressive and dark, and we must fight it-with prayer....

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  11. Perfectly said! Thank you for giving words to what and how I feel about this whole thing!

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Thanks for interacting with me thru my blog. I love hearing from you.

Thanks again!

Lena