Finishing our Homestudy

On Tuesday we will be meeting with Kelly to complete the paperwork side of our "homestudy". We have acquired birth certificates, a marriage license, dog vaccinations, proper security for our firearms, letters of reference, letter stating our septic is adequate, physicals for all eleven of us, employment verification, etc.

On Thursday we will meet with Kelly for a final appointment and a chance for her to walk through our home. She will take notes on beds, sleeping arrangements, and checking to see that our home is safe for little ones.

Once our report is written it will be returned to us. We will then send it on to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. From there the report will be approved and sent onto the Embassy in Liberia. At the same time we will be working on several steps here in the United States.

Together with our agency in Florida we will be collecting documents to send in our dossier to Liberia. These documents must all be notarized and apostilled (an official stamp from the state that the notary is registered).

At the same time Pastor Flomo in Liberia will begin to find children for us. The children will be staying with members of Pastor Flomo’s church until we have clearance and funds to travel.

Speaking of funds…each of these government agencies require money to do their job. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Office requires $1340 for investigation and clearance for us to adopt and $160 for our fingerprinting. The government in Liberia requires $6000 for all the work done on behalf of the girls in their country. Our agency here in Florida requires $2500 for the work here in the states. This is just to give you an idea of what we are in need of raising in the next month or two.

As soon as our funds are raised, clearance is given for us to adopt internationally and the girls are formally declared orphans, we will be ready to travel.

This week will put us one step closer to bringing the girl’s home. Please pray that all goes smoothly. Also pray that we will be able to raise the funds needed. We have seen the Lord provide each step of the way. May He be praised!

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