Journey of Faith:Our Little Guy From China

For those of you reading, praying, listening...I need so much prayer right now!  All of us in this Nepal adoption program need prayer.  I would like to ask that you keep me and all of my fellow prospective adoptive parents in your prayers.  With no information coming out from Nepal as to referrals and travel approvals we just don't have any idea when...this is hard for me.  I am thankful and blessed to have all of you in my life!

I read some good news on a blog by Tonya today and as I was searching her blog looking to find out where they were in the Nepal adoption process, I came across a post of hers which included a video by John Waller with the song "While I'm Waiting".  This happens to be my favorite song because it speaks to me as we wait in this adoption process.  But this video is special in its dedication.  Tina:  I thought a lot about you as I listened and watched this.



The good news was, and I am going to quote from her blog rather than put it into my own words:

"The Ministry has decided to delay for a few months accepting new applications for 2010 while they continue the matching process for the dossiers submitted in 2009. They report that they received 534 dossiers (world wide) in 2009. They expect to be able to match approximately 180 children with adoptive families very soon. The Ministry is planning to continue the matching process through March and the number of referrals will be based on the availability of children within the age/gender parameters set by the adoptive parent's application...." 

I am still hopeful!

As many say in the adoption process, we are paper pregnant.  Look above!  We are 9 months pregnant today!  We have had our dossier registered in Nepal for 9 months now.  I really wish we could know when our little boy's photo was on it's way to us, but we don't so instead, I have been trying not to be selfish in my thoughts and prayers.  I have been praying and focusing on the families that have referrals and I pray that the travel approvals for those families will come this week. 

Nepal: I have so many prayers and positive thoughts about you, for you, with you--I know you are working as hard as you can and I am with you.

With this post I want to catch up writing about our new counselor meeting. A while back we requested a new counselor with our agency because of the lack of communication we have had this last year. On January 19th we met our new counselor, Julie. Going into the meeting we were apprehensive. With the communication we have had thus far we could only think that things were not going to get better and that our agency just wanted us to sit back and be quiet. Well once we met Julie we felt pretty good about our relationship. She was as upfront as she could be and respectful of us and our feelings. We felt good leaving their office that day. We did not get any new information but we had a renewed spirit about our communication. Since then I have emailed Julie quite a few times and she immediately responds even if she doesn’t have the answer. Thank you Julie!
We went into the January 19th meeting with questions. Some were about the paperwork we need to start renewing and repaying for. Other questions we had were about how they find out their information or if we wanted to change countries what would be an option (we want to be prepared with a backup plan if Nepal were not to work out). We had a good conversation with Julie and she never seemed to rush us.
One question in particular was “Does Nepal recognize that we are choosing a boy up to the age of 18 months?” The reason I questioned that is because on Nepal’s application there are check boxes for ages 0-1 and 1-3 only. When we had to check a box on the application we had to choose the 0-1 box and add in handwriting “up to 18months”. Our home study also states that we would like a boy up to 18 months and the cover letter to our dossier states this as well. I needed reassurance that we had this stated in many places. I also wanted reassurance that Nepal will look upon this favorable because there are not a lot of infants and I thought that by us putting up to 18 months would help us. I felt better looking over the paperwork showing where we stated this information, but I will never know how Nepal looks upon it.
We asked if there were more boys than girls or more girls than boys. We asked how many children are registered with the Ministry. Julie was going to ask the Director to try and find these answers out. At this time they are not able to get this information. I just sit and wonder sometimes if there are more boys than girls would we get a referral sooner. It seems that more PAP’s have requested girls.

It’s another day. I woke up feeling happy in my heart. Valentine’s Day is this weekend. I have a lot to love and be thankful for and I cannot wait to be thankful to Nepal for our son. I so dream of the day that we can meet him.
I haven’t posted more articles on what the media is saying or what Nepal is saying about the alleged corruption in Nepal adoptions. I have not posted these because they were coming so fast and furious, mainly from the media, and I believe in my heart that the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Welfare is doing everything they can to get adoptions moving. I have a lot of admiration for Nepal for stepping up and putting out these articles and defending themselves and this new adoption program. Because of the report that came out from the Hague Conference on Private International Law, Germany and Sweden have closed (or at least suspended) to Nepal adoptions. Canada is not allowing visas to be given. If a Canadian family gets a referral they cannot accept it at this time. What I cannot understand is how a country can close down to Nepal adoptions when, as far as I know, the report has not been substantiated. It seems to be such a hasty decision. My prayer is that the US will work with Nepal to make sure everything goes transparently.
To say the least, this last week has been a rough week for those of us in the Nepal adoption program. There are definite ups and downs. Feelings of happy, sad, mad, frustrated, loneliness, anger… I have been patient, I have not been patient, I have had hope, at times, no hope—God is telling me to focus on Him.

PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYER EVERY SUNDAY (the Nepal Prospective Adoptive Parents feel that we need to have this prayer time to pray for Nepal, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, and most importantly—the Children.)

I mean, it is a good article for the children and ultimately meant to make sure corrupt adoptions do not occur, but I was sadened to think that this is only going to prolong the already long process for us. There are not many registered orphans as it is now, I think I read there are roughly 500. With the latest news of 534 applicants to adopt Nepali children, this is not good math. Overall, I am still positive and believe the Ministry is working hard to complete adoptions.

Minister bats for tighter adoption policy
Last Updated : 2010-02-06 10:51 PM

Himalayan News Service
KATHMANDU: State Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Ram Bachan Aiyar today said that the government was committed to ensure that adopted Nepali children were not abused at home and abroad. The minister’s statement follows a public outcry over the adoption of children to foreign countries without following procedural rules.

Speaking at an interaction programme organised in the capital today, Aiyar warned that no one was allowed to abuse the adopted child or indulge in any foul play over the children’s right to care and choice.

“Orphan and abandoned children will but wait for those who are caring enough to get them into their next sweet homes,” he said cautioning that the government would go offensive against the orphanages if they took law in their own hands.

“Make room for an orphan or abandoned child at home first before letting the foreign couples to adopt them as per the government policy. Only when there are no other options left at your disposal when you have to make the hard choice of letting the foreigners to adopt,” he told orphanages.

The children who are available for adoption often live in orphanages. Nepal law states that adoptive parent or family may only have one child of each sex in their household. If one already has a son, he or she must adopt a daughter and vice-versa. The law further states that a person or couple cannot adopt from Nepal if they already have biological children.

It has widely been argued that Nepal is a safe haven for adoption. For many people living in abject poverty, placing their children for adoption is getting lot easier than nurturing them at home.

I just don't know what to think any more! Late last night I read this and I was glad to read it...

From ekantipur.com

State sees no loopholes in adoption
KANTIPUR REPORT Related News Lawyers: Stop adoption KATHMANDU, FEB 07 -

The government and representatives of organisations working for children have said that the survey report, which claims to have found loopholes in the adoption process, is far from truth.

They have urged the Hague Conference on Private International Law, which prepared the report, to substantiate its claims.

Among others, the report states that falsified reports are presented for facilitating the adoption of children from Nepal.

"The report was prepared with a view to tarnishing the country's image. It is far from truth," said Prachanda Raj Pradhan of the Child NGO Federation, Nepal.

The report follows a Terre des homes' study report, which claims that more than 60 percent of children in orphanages had parents, who could take care of them.

"With new rules and regulations in place, there's no room for malpractice in the adoption process," said Dharma Raj Shrestha, member-secretary of the Central Child Welfare Board.

Nepal reopened the overseas adoption process in May 2008 after introducing new regulations. As per the new rules, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare takes a final call on adoptions.

Foreigners can adopt only those orphans or children, who are relinquished by parents through due procedures. Prospective parents have to pay US$ 3,000 to the government and $5,000 to foster homes before adopting a child.

Twenty out of 534 applicants got a nod for adoption in 2009, said an official at the ministry. The prospective parents are from Italy, the US, France, Canada and the UK. Paperwork for 39 applications is complete.

Amid claims of flaws in inter-country adoptions, Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Ram Bachan Yadav pledged to take action against anyone found involved in malpractices.

He asked the organisations to work in the best interest of the children. No communication could be established with Terre de homes office in Kathmandu for comment.

This is a long one. I meant to post some everyday life things such as my sister Kim and Brian my Brother-In-Law, having a baby because I did not have adoption news to post. So I guess I waited too long........but first, I have a new nephew, Kyle! He was born at 1:15 am on January 19th. He is healthy and cute! So now I have 3 nephews on my side. Here are a few photos with Mommy and Daddy, Auntie Shelly and Uncle Tim (us) and Kim with Kyle at home.

Now about the adoption news....because I didn't get around to posting, within the last few weeks there has been some messages from PAP's on the Nepaladopt Yahoo group stating that agencies were hearing that the travel approvals were being approved and should be out by the end of January. The message was also coming through that new referrals would be coming and that agencies were being told that the 2009 dossiers would be matched with in a few months or by the end of March or by the end of April. We were hearing very consistent information, which was exciting. We also heard that the Ministry was not accepting 2010 dossiers until the 2009 dossiers were complete. We also knew there were new people in the Ministry working on adoptions. So I never posted any of that...and just as well...
Then yesterday, when I got into work I logged on to the Yahoo group and saw that the Ministry had posted a new Notice. The last notice on there was from April 30 2009. So you can just imagine the shock I had to know something was posted. Here is the newest Notice.

Date : 4 Feburary, 2010

Government of Nepal
Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare
Investigation, Recommendation and Monitoring Committee

Notice

This is to inform all the concerned Embassies/ Diplomatic Missions/Adoption Agencies and Adoptive Parents to take the following notes:
1. For the year 2010, application should be submitted from 15 April, 2010 to 15 July, 2010.
2. Application should be submitted enclosing therewith a checklist of 5 major documents such as Guarantee Letter, Consent Letter, Home Study Report, Medical Report and Character Certificate.
3. Application without valid and complete documents shall not be entertained.
4. Application exceeding the quota shall not be entertained.
5. If it is found that the Agency has, upon receiving allocated quota, submitted an application for further quota, the Ministry shall take necessary action against such Agency.

So this seemed promising. If we were hearing that the Ministry was to be done matching all 2009 dossiers by March/April, this Notice would seem to follow along with that idea. Get the 2009 dossiers matched and then accept 2010 dossiers. Yep, all seemed good. Until I read....

Experts urge Nepal to ban international adoptions
http://pearadoptinfo-nepal.blogspot.com/2010/02/experts-urge-nepal-to-ban-international.html

Nepal 'should suspend' adoptions
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8497473.stm

Oh my goodness, I nearly cried. Then there was another note for Canadians that due to some concerns raised visas will not be issued for Nepal adoptions. PAP's can have their file at the Ministry but cannot accept a referral. I am sadened for them. I do hope that issue can be resolved soon.

After all this news came at me in a short amount of time and my emotions went from happy to sad and angry I realized that I have to keep my faith and trust that the Lord is in this. Sometimes that is hard for me to do. After the years of struggle to have a child, one child, I say that is not easy to do. I am human, I want to fix the problems, I want, want, want. But when I really think about how selfish I am I can bring myself back and realize the most important thing in my life is the Lord Jesus Christ. So I am back to feeling good about most things and cannot wait to hear about and see the child that the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare has picked out just for us!

I know I forgot some things, probably many things and I will try to keep up.

To all you PAP's that may be reading...I think of you all, all the time! I pray for you. I pray for peace for all of you, those that have been waiting years and those that have been waiting months. I thank God for the Nepaladopt group.

I love you all!