Category: adoption
Haiti in Feb 2010
Here is an example of what Haiti is up against in the 2010 elections.
They are facing a very tumultuous election in Feb 2010. The government, economy and society of Haiti hangs on such a thin thread that any type of instability has the potential of having vast negative impacts for millions of people.
Please pray for the leaders of Haiti that their democracy will only become stronger, that they will listen and serve the people of Haiti. Please pray for the people of Haiti in their poverty stricken country, that they will not lose hope, that they will feel empowered to work along side of the rest of the world for the good of their country; please pray that God will continue to raise up people with a heart and compassion for the men, women and children of Haiti, to not only show them the love of Christ in spiritual redemption, but to find ways to offer them food and clothes and medical care and other human necessities, so our light as Christians will shine in what was once known as the Pearl of the Antilles. Please pray for the children being adopted and the adopting families; pray that the laws and processes and people that take part in the adoptions will not be hindered, rather that perhaps new laws will be effective in stopping some of the horrible things like Child Slavery, but allowing the families who are working so hard to bring life and health to the Children of Haiti an end to their wait.
Our God is an awesome, loving and merciful God, and He hears his children when they pray, If you have a heart for Haiti please pray for them without ceasing.
The good news and the not so good…
The great news is that I received a brief note saying that the interviews went “well” – no more details yet – but praise God – that’s got to be good news!
The bad news is that our lawyer was unable to make his November trip to Haiti because other clients papers were not completed; and when he went to rebook his plane tickets, the prices had almost tripled for the end of the year – so now he is unsure if he is going to be going to Haiti before the new year. 🙁
We have still have so many hurdles to overcome – first, the fact that we need a legal waiver to even adopt in Haiti because we have biological kids and our under 35 (we have been married almost 12 years though – so we at least have 1 of the three requirements met); second, if we receive that waiver, we also have to get a presidential waiver; third is that next year is an election year in Haiti, and historically it seems that during election time the country has the ability to become very unstable, and legal processes seem to stop in their tracks.
So, my new prayer is that:
- first and foremost we will be able to get into the legal system as quickly as possible,
- second that God will use our amazing lawyer to overcome all the problems that are put in our way and our children will come home quickly,
- third that for the sake of the people in Haiti that their country will remain stable and the elections of 2010 will show a turning point in the history of the democracy of Haiti,
- and fourth that our legal process will not be held up because of the elections.
Pray for us and them today and tomorrow….
The U.S. Embassy has scheduled the interviews for David’s biological mom and Christella’s uncle tomorrow. This is a very important step in the whole process. It is during that interview that they will determine the eligibility of David and Christella to im to the United States as Orphans.
It will be a very trying time for David’s mom too – as she will be faced with a lot of tough questions aimed at ensuring that she is indeed committed to the adoption.
We also found out that the final documents are ready for our Lawyer – so we are hoping that he will be able to submit our papers into IBESR by the end of the month.
Such little steps; such big steps; He guides our steps, may He be glorified.
Pray for us and them – today and tomorrow especially
The U.S. Embassy has scheduled the interviews for David’s biological mom and Christella’s uncle tomorrow. This is a very important step in the whole process. It is during that interview that they will determine the eligibility of David and Christella to im to the United States as Orphans.
It will be a very trying time for David’s mom too – as she will be faced with a lot of tough questions aimed at ensuring that she is indeed committed to the adoption.
We also found out that the final documents are ready for our Lawyer – so we are hoping that he will be able to submit our papers into IBESR by the end of the month.
Such little steps; such big steps; He guides our steps, may He be glorified.
A smile that can last for days…
Every second Sunday we get to see our children as they wait in Haiti to come home and live with us. The internet connection is never that great; they can hear us fine; but we can’t hear them (has to do with the satellite connection having a much better download than upload speed). However, the couple minutes we get to see their faces, and to hear their voices is always such a blessing – it brings a smile that can last for days.
Help needed for HIS Home for Children Orphanage
I typically do not like to do anything like this; but I realized that when we don’t know of needs, then there is no way we can help if we are able, and if we aren’t able to help financially, prayers are always sought on behalf of the Children and directors and staff of HIS Home.
As you all know, our family is in the process of adopting two children from an Orphanage in Haiti. This Orphanage – HIS Home For Children – has been down significantly in their financial giving this year, and as a result, they are currently at risk of losing one of their two children’s homes.
The result of losing their boys home will cause them to combine approximately 130 children (teenage boys and teenage girls and all the toddlers and babies) into one house which is barely big enough for the just the girls toddlers and babies. While there are some natural potential adverse reactions to combining teenage boys and teenage girls into a single home, there are also concerns for the health and stability of having so many children under one roof.
Additionally, the boys house which is in jeopardy of closing is where the school for the orphanage is too – so that will be a significant loss to the children as well.
In response to a final notice for rent, HIS Home has written a post-dated check for 8600$ (the remaining balance of this year’s rent) for next Wednesday, and have placed their trust in the Lord that if it is His will that he will provide for this great need. However, good Stewarts know that prayer is only one piece of the arsenal that God has given us to accomplish His will on this earth; God works through the hands and hearts of His people.
A couple donators have offered to match dollar for dollar up to $2,000 for donations that are received prior to next Wednesday November 4th. This means that if you are able to donate $25, then it will become $50 towards the necessary goal.
Donations are tax deductible, and as you all know me, I can attest that I have seen firsthand this money being used in service to God and the families and children of Haiti.
For information on Donations, you can visit the His Home Website – http://www.hishomeforchildren.com/ – under the Donations link. Donations can be sent through PayPal from that site, or you can send donations to the Lima OH address listed under the Contact Us page. However, donations must be received by Nov 4th to take advantage of the generosity of the matching fund.
Above all please take a few moments in prayer, routine prayer, that God will continue to bless the work that Chris and Hal are doing to help the families and children of Haiti, and that His name will be honored in everything that they do.
Jediah Logiodice
(Jas 1:27) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Getting closer to starting our adoption
It’s unbelievable in one respect; after almost 11 months, our adoption hasn’t officially started yet… It just seems unacceptable… it took us 4 months to get our paperwork done, it took another 6 months to get the children’s paperwork done. However, rather than asking ‘why’, now it’s just time to be thankful that we’re almost to the starting line.
Our lawyer has a copy of the children’s paperwork and is doing a final review on it. If it meets with his approval (please, please!), then it will go to the MOFA to be authenticated, will be combined with our Dossier, and will be submitted to IBESR. This is where the real work begins!
Braeden has been very preoccupied with the health and safety of Christella and Jeddie (David) lately; I’m very happy, but I’m not sure why. Even in his sleep the other night he said to Amanda: “Don’t worry mamma Christella will be home soon” (He sleep walks worse than I do).
So anyway; this week or next we’ll hear back from our Lawyer and we’ll get an idea of when the triathlon officially starts!
Trusting & Working
Today in Church we were talking about “trusting in the Lord” and “not worrying”; but understanding the biblical idea of trust: trust with works.
Jesus said:
"Consider the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matt. 6:26).
Take for example our adoption. Some people we know love their children as much as we do, and want their children to come home as much as we do; and yet, they have chosen to sit back and let the Lord do all the work – in His time and in His way.
On the surface, that seems to be the more ‘spiritual’ approach – trusting the Lord in everything; however, when I read Matt 6:26 – I think the bible is expecting a lot more out of us than just trust.
Consider the birds of the air’ they don’t plant, they don’t store up, and yet God feeds them. However, it’s not as if God brings them breakfast in their nest – they have to go out and work and gather to survive. God expects them to work for what He has promised them.
And so, I believe it is with our adoption. God has put it in our heart to help needy children; we met and have fallen in love with our son and daughter, and God has given us the direction that He wants us to open our hearts and homes (It’s amazing how easy this comes once you set down that path). Yet, God doesn’t want us ‘waiting around on Him’ – He wants us to recognize and realize that He is in control, and things work all in His timing; He wants us to rely on His love and mercy, and give Him the Glory – but He wants us out their working, toiling, committing and investing our hearts, our minds, our finances, and our abilities that He has given us to accomplish what He has directed us in.
So, for that reason, I wrote a quick verse during church today; I think it says everything that needs to be said:
A Call to Arms!
I trust in the Lord with all my might,
So I take up my armor to engage in the fight!
My day just became even happier!
It’s been two weeks since we have talked to our children in Haiti – we got the call today; the weather was really bad; so we weren’t able to talk very long, but it’s so great to see their little faces!
David’s ears are all better, and Christella has finally been able to move up with the big girls… she is growing up so fast!
