We are beginning a fundraiser to help with the cost of travel. As time gets closer to spring and summer the cost of airfare continues to rise. We are still working on "buddy passes" and frequent flyer miles, but because the only airline that actually flies into Liberia is Brussels Air we will need to purchase tickets as well.
So here is how you can help us. Go to our website www.magfundraising.com/AdoptAfrica and order or renew your magazines. It is very easy! The second thing you can do is let all your friends, family and co-workers know. The more subscriptions the closer we will be traveling to Liberia.
We are still waiting for the country to open up and provide us a referral. We want to be ready on our end to travel as soon as we receive the ok. We have wonderful friends and family praying all over the country, as well as over seas, that the Lord would provide the funds and open the door for our referral. Please pray also that our immigration paperwork at the USCIS office is completed soon. We are waiting to here from them anyday.
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Friday, February 20, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Yes we're waiting....
We have had the news confirmed by the Ministry in Liberia that currently all adoptions are on hold. Many orphanages have been closed, many children returned to their parents in Liberia. Liberia is saying that by February the new laws will be in place and adoptions will begin again. Our lawyer has offered a solution to the government in Liberia to help fix many of the issues they are facing. Our agency believes that adoptions will again be taking place, as many of these children need a home, but we are not holding our breath that by February it will all be resolved.
On the home front here we continue to wait. We are not waiting on the government of Liberia but on the Lord. He is truly in control and in His time His will be done. Many wonderful friends have emailed and called reminding us they are praying with us and for us, but more importantly for the little ones in Africa.
So we are waiting...may I encourage you to also wait on the Lord? Whether your marriage is hurting, your finances are slim, you are in need of a job...wait on the Lord!
Psalm 27:14
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
Psalm 33:20
"Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield."
Psalm 40:1
"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."
Isaiah 40:31
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Lamentations 3:25
"The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."
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On the home front here we continue to wait. We are not waiting on the government of Liberia but on the Lord. He is truly in control and in His time His will be done. Many wonderful friends have emailed and called reminding us they are praying with us and for us, but more importantly for the little ones in Africa.
So we are waiting...may I encourage you to also wait on the Lord? Whether your marriage is hurting, your finances are slim, you are in need of a job...wait on the Lord!
Psalm 27:14
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
Psalm 33:20
"Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield."
Psalm 40:1
"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."
Isaiah 40:31
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Lamentations 3:25
"The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."
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While I'm Waiting.....
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait
I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord
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Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sad News
On Thursday I received news that the government of Liberia had closed down six orphanages because of misconduct. Our orphanage was not one of them and as of Friday things were still moving ahead although slowly.
Tonight I read a speech given today by the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Here is a quote,"The gross mismanagement of the adoption program (which aims primarily at placing orphans in homes in the United States), by both Liberian and U.S. personnel in the concerned NGO is the subject of a report by a Special Committee which I appointed for this purpose. Essentailly, we have discovered that many of the children in these orphanages are not in fact orphans but children taken from thier living parents on the promise of support and a good life in America. Morevoer, we found that young children were being sexually abused at some of these orphanages, while others including officials of government, have used the program to extort money from potential adoptors. We have thus suspended the adoption program until laws, policies, and proper guildlines have been estabished and we have asked our concerned friends and partners in the United States to be paitent as we try to correct the serious malpractices which exist. We expect the National Social Welfare Policy and National Adoption Act which will be submitted to you during the course of the year, will provide guidance and prevent such abuses in the future. "
I will be speaking with our agency tomorrow to gain a better perspective. One positive is that our lawyer in Florida has a very good relationship with the Ministry Department over adoptions in Liberia.
We will continue to trust the Lord! May His will be done! Please continue to pray for the healthand safety of the children in Liberia.
.
Tonight I read a speech given today by the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Here is a quote,"The gross mismanagement of the adoption program (which aims primarily at placing orphans in homes in the United States), by both Liberian and U.S. personnel in the concerned NGO is the subject of a report by a Special Committee which I appointed for this purpose. Essentailly, we have discovered that many of the children in these orphanages are not in fact orphans but children taken from thier living parents on the promise of support and a good life in America. Morevoer, we found that young children were being sexually abused at some of these orphanages, while others including officials of government, have used the program to extort money from potential adoptors. We have thus suspended the adoption program until laws, policies, and proper guildlines have been estabished and we have asked our concerned friends and partners in the United States to be paitent as we try to correct the serious malpractices which exist. We expect the National Social Welfare Policy and National Adoption Act which will be submitted to you during the course of the year, will provide guidance and prevent such abuses in the future. "
I will be speaking with our agency tomorrow to gain a better perspective. One positive is that our lawyer in Florida has a very good relationship with the Ministry Department over adoptions in Liberia.
We will continue to trust the Lord! May His will be done! Please continue to pray for the healthand safety of the children in Liberia.
.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Homestudy Arrived!!
Friday our homestudy arrived from Options 4 Adoptions. We had a hold up on our employment verification letter. Now it is all complete and a copy has been sent to the United States Citizenship Immigration Services.
This week we will accomplish a list of items for our dossier. I also have to get a medical waiver to release me from the yellowfever vaccination. Because Abigail is still nursing we are choosing to ask for a medical waiver allowing me to be exempt from the vaccine. Andrew will still get the vaccine, but will also do as much as possible to boost his immune system before hand. We are working with our Doctor to do all that we can to keep us from getting ill while traveling.
We are still working on finishing our fundraising. We know that the Lord will provide the needed money.
Andrew went to the sporting goods store this week to check on prices of soccer balls. We would like to take some dolls and soccer balls to the children in the orphanage. If any of you know a store that would be willing to donate please let me know.
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This week we will accomplish a list of items for our dossier. I also have to get a medical waiver to release me from the yellowfever vaccination. Because Abigail is still nursing we are choosing to ask for a medical waiver allowing me to be exempt from the vaccine. Andrew will still get the vaccine, but will also do as much as possible to boost his immune system before hand. We are working with our Doctor to do all that we can to keep us from getting ill while traveling.
We are still working on finishing our fundraising. We know that the Lord will provide the needed money.
Andrew went to the sporting goods store this week to check on prices of soccer balls. We would like to take some dolls and soccer balls to the children in the orphanage. If any of you know a store that would be willing to donate please let me know.
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Friday, January 9, 2009
New adoption timeline
Those of you who know me know that I like calendars and organization. I like to plan and schedule. And those of you who have adopted know that plans and schedules are not very reliable in adoption. When we began this adoption I had all my ducks in a row. I had ordered everyone's birth certificates, made copies, lists of paperwork needed; but when you deal with a fourth world country you must be flexible. My husband has been teaching me flexibility for seventeen years! Now I get to practice it.
On the left you will see a timeline of our adoption process. I will be updating it regularly as we go along.
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On the left you will see a timeline of our adoption process. I will be updating it regularly as we go along.
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Thursday, January 8, 2009
Apostilles arrived!
Today I received the notarized and apostilled birth and marriage certificates from California. For those who don't know, an apostille is a statement attached to a document verifing that the notary is a licensed and is official in that state. All of our documents going to Liberia will need a notary stamp as well as an apostille.
Our documents come from all over the country and half way around the world. Thankfully I was informed to start ordering these documents early. I sent Andrew's to England before Thanksgiving. I then had to send two of our children's certificates to Washington State, four to California as well as my birth certificate, our marriage certificate and Andrew's naturalization certificate to California.
Today I received the last of the certificates from outside Georgia. I will now need to get all the paperwork we have...physicals, financial documents, employment verification, and reference letters notarized and taken to Atlanta to be apostilled.
We are waiting for an appointment with the Immigration Services to get our fingerprints taken. After that we should receive the approval of our I600a, petition to adopt internationally. This and our other documents will be sent on to Liberia in what is called a dossier.
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Our documents come from all over the country and half way around the world. Thankfully I was informed to start ordering these documents early. I sent Andrew's to England before Thanksgiving. I then had to send two of our children's certificates to Washington State, four to California as well as my birth certificate, our marriage certificate and Andrew's naturalization certificate to California.
Today I received the last of the certificates from outside Georgia. I will now need to get all the paperwork we have...physicals, financial documents, employment verification, and reference letters notarized and taken to Atlanta to be apostilled.
We are waiting for an appointment with the Immigration Services to get our fingerprints taken. After that we should receive the approval of our I600a, petition to adopt internationally. This and our other documents will be sent on to Liberia in what is called a dossier.
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