David update

We just got an e-mail letting us know that as of this week, David can now stand up by himself in the crib. Woo hoo, way to go David!

I love hearing snippets of information like this. But it also makes it a lot harder not to be there with him. We're planning a trip for mid-January to go to Haiti and meet him. We wish we could go there tomorrow, but practically we know that it makes more sense to wait. We're definitely looking forward to planning the trip!

We have entered IBESR

Our dossier is now in the hands of IBESR.

Here's a more detailed description of the steps to come (taken from this website). We're through the first two parts and are onto the third part.

Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) (2-4 weeks)
First Legalization (1st Legal). This is where all of the papers are authenticated.

File prepared for IBESR (Concurrent with MFA) (1-4 weeks)
When the paperwork is at Foreign Affairs, your lawyer must prepare your file for IBESR. IBESR requires that the paperwork be in a certain order. The social history and psychological examination required by IBESR for your child must be made during this period. It involves putting the child's social information into a home study format with your home study information.

IBESR (2-6 months)
Your child's paperwork is put together with your documents and the file is then presented to IBESR (Haiti's Social Service Department) where a social worker will look over all of your documents and decide whether to approve your adoption request.The director of IBESR, the IBESR lawyer, the head of adoption services at IBESR, and the IBESR social worker must all sign off on your dossier. This is four stages of approval.

Parquet (2-12 weeks)
This step involves one person(?) releasing the child(ren)'s file(s). Parquet is the head commissioner. He is intertwined with court. He asks all of the birth parents to come for interviews to make sure that they understand that there children are being adopted. Apparently there was some fraudulent activity going on and he wants to protect the birth parents interests. i.e. make sure they are in agreement.

Civil Court Legalization (2-8 weeks)
The adoption is finalized. After this point, the children are legally yours. (2nd Legal)

Minister of Interior Affairs (MOI)/Haitian Immigration (2-14 weeks)
The file is submitted into the passport process. The passports are printed in the adopting parents last name.

DHS Processing (U.S. Parents) (1-3 weeks)
I-600 is filed by adopting parents. File is reviewed and approved by DHS.

DNA Testing (0-6 weeks)
May or may not be necessary. Depends on DHS' opinion.

Consulate/Visa Appointment (1 week lead time)
Child receives visa in preparation for travel to their new home

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Total Time: 19 week - 76 weeks (~5- 19 months)

Cry of the Orphans Week

A year ago, Jay and I tuned into some radio broadcasts during 'Cry of the Orphan' week. What a life-changing week that was for us! From those broadcasts, Jay and I first began to seriously discuss adoption as a possibility in our lives.

Well, its that time of year again and Family Life Ministries has teamed up with some other organizations to dedicate this week of broadcasts to the Cry of the Orphan. If you want to listen to these broadcasts, they will be on the radio, downloadable from online, or available as Podcasts. Here's a link for more info.

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Here's a copy of the e-mail I received last week:

Today there are more than 143 million orphans in the world. That's approximately one-half of the population of the U.S.! Most of these children live in poverty, are malnourished and experience daily rejection. For this reason, FamilyLife™, Focus on the Family®, and Shaohannah's Hope along with Crown Financial Ministries are joining hands and voices with more than 75 orphan care providers, church-based orphan ministries, and adoption agencies to plead the cause of orphans in need. But we can't do it alone. No matter who you are, where you live or what you do, you can make a difference. From praying for orphans, to going on mission trips, from mentoring a child, to adopting one (or more), there is a place for everyone because you are God's plan for the orphan. To learn more, listen to the special radio broadcasts during "Cry of the Orphan" week on “FamilyLife Today," “Focus on the Family," and "Money Matters" Nov. 12-16, and visit cryoftheorphan.org. Join us as we boldly endeavor to answer God's call.