If you are new to our journey, yes we are adopting! And yes, we are adopting from Haiti. Then why does my heart skip a beat and I
stammer when someone still asks me where we are adopting from? Well, that is because it is not really set in
stone yet. Many of you have asked what
is going on and why it is up in the air so-to-speak and why we have used the
phrase ‘trying to beat the clock’. I
hope this explains it a little.
The Hague Convention is a world -wide agreement that
safeguards adoptions. It was established
many years ago to protect the children, the birth parents and the adoptive
parents in all countries that are a part of the Hague Convention. When a country (like the US) is a part of the
Hague then we must comply with all of the laws world-wide. So far it sounds easy enough right?
Haiti has never been a Hague country and the US has allowed
adoptions with Haiti for many years with no problem. But since the earthquake, Haiti has been
pushed by many large relief organizations to become a Hague country as it looks
good on the global status. So, in June
of this year (2012) Haiti began the process to become a Hague country. This threw the adoption circles in a
whirlwind as it would have closed adoptions in Haiti immediately (because they
would never have passed the Hague standards for adoptions)!!
Many of us believe that becoming a Hague country can be a
very good thing for Haiti, but it must be done the right way, in the right order and in the right time. Doing it too soon and without the correct
preparation may cause more harm than help.
For instance, other countries tried to push things through too soon and
were not able to meet the strict Hague guidelines and were denied Hague
status. The US is allowed to do
adoptions through non-Hague countries (meaning those that have never applied
for Hague status) BUT the US is NOT
allowed to do adoptions through countries that have been denied the Hague (have
applied and have been denied). Another
country that did over 4,000 adoptions a year now does less than 10 because they
have never passed the Hague. We want
Haiti to become Hague approved but we want them to be ready to pass and
adoptions be able to continue and not be stuck on hold for years while they try
to pass the Hague standards.
How does this affect us?
First of all, we are praying that Haiti never closes its doors to
adoption! We do not want to see any
family (ours or anyone else) be paired with a child and fall in love with that
child and then not be able to bring them home.
That would be devastating!! We
also want the orphans to find forever families and closing their doors will not
allow that to happen. Personally, we need to know how to prepare our
documents. We are at a crossroads right
now. If we spend money to prepare our
documents for a non-Hague country and mail them to Haiti but before the process
is completed they become a Hague country, then our documents are null and void
and we must begin again with preparing (cost and time) new documents to meet
Hague standards.
How can you help? We
welcome your prayers!! Your support and
encouragement are overwhelming! Your
love for our child already is so wonderful and we thank you! You can pray for:
*the country of Haiti as they make decisions regarding the
Hague and preparations to put everything into place
*All adoption agencies and orphanages that must be approved
and undergo extensive evaluations to be Hague approved. (Our adoption agency
has not received their approval to do adoptions in Haiti under the new laws
that go into place Nov 1st 2012.
We are praying for their approval.
Haiti will only select 4 agencies for adoptions. We are praying ours is one of them. The orphanage we are adopting from should be
receiving their approval any day now also).
*that we can complete our paperwork quickly to get it to
Haiti (another blog to come on that later)
*that we can get started on our fundraising
*that our child will be protected, cared for, and loved on
until the day we can bring them home!
I’m clinging to my life verse right now Proverbs 3:5 Trust the Lord with
all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. I’m so glad that I don’t have to try and
understand everything. I don’t have to
plan it out and I don’t have to try and work it all out. He already has done
that! God knows our child! He knows their name, where they are, how old
they are….in fact…He know everything because He created them! He didn’t create them for this. He created them to be with their parents but
because of our broken world He has still worked it all for good and for His
glory and we will be able to bring our child home! We just need to continue to
trust and follow Him as He leads us to our child! Our God is SO good!
