Race Against the Clock

         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 1^st 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!