I’ve been sitting on posting this update for over a week. I think it may be because I’m still holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. After the last update about the failed referral, it’s been hard for me to believe that it would ever really happen.
But it’s happening.
The Haitian Matching committee has matched us with a child and we have formally accepted. The longest waiting period has come to an end.
945 days after we entered IBESR they have matched us with a child. 945 days waiting for a match.
1,365 days after we first reached out to our adoption agency for information on adopting from Haiti. (You can see the complete adoption timeline from beginning, to today, here.)
Unfortunately, the adoption process is far from over. In fact, the day we bring our child home is the day it really begins.
I know so many have questions about just what we do next, and what is left in the process so I will try and explain it as succinctly as possible:
Next up is our travel for the bonding trip. We head to Haiti in a couple of weeks for our bonding trip. During this 2 week trip we spend our days with the child and begin to grasp just where they are from and what lies ahead.
After the socialization trip there is a variety of official documents that need to be produced and legalization steps. We will need an official adoption decree from IBESR, and then the documents are sent through steps of legalization and approval in Haiti. (Note: a lot of signatures.)
After that, there will be passport printing and US immigrations to tackle.
All of this can take 10 to 14 months after the socialization trip.
Yes, that means we go and bond with the child for two weeks and then leave them for months. Yes, it seems horribly unfair. Something tells me this next wait will be harder than the last 3 years.
If you would like to help we would value all of your prayers during the next few weeks. Specific prayer requests:
- Pray for safety and good health as we travel and stay in Haiti for 15 days.
- Pray that our children at home would be safe and not anxious about our travel.
- Pray for wisdom as we meet and spend time bonding with the child. Give us wisdom and grace. This is just the beginning for us, but the child has already been through so much trauma, and this will be somewhat confusing for them.
- Pray for us to overcome the language barrier. The creche we are working with is completely French speaking, and the children all speak French and Haitian Creole. There are no English speaking people there during our stay. (I really should have taken more French classes during High School….)
- Pray that we would have grace in all circumstances, and above all show God’s love to all we interact with while in Haiti.
- Finally please pray for our child. That they would be preserved over the next several months. That God would help prepare them for the transition, and that they would be able to sense our love and commitment to them, regardless of the language barrier.
We cannot share information or pictures of the child until he is legally ours, but trust me, once that day arrives I will be sharing with you!
Thank you for all of your love, support and encouragement over the past few years. It is hard to believe we have finally made it to this point in the process. We are really going to add to our family through adoption. Something that is just slowly sinking in. After spending years guarding my heart against expectations I am finding it hard to let the reality sink in. But each time we share the news, and each time I pray for the child by name, it becomes a little more real.
Bailey @ Becoming Bailey says
Praying for y’all and this journey to bring your son home!
Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids says
How wonderful that you have been matched with a child! Prayers for strength and courage during this next step of the adoption. Knowing some other friends who have adopted internationally, I feel like this next phase can be one of the most difficult due to the paper work and the longing for your new child you love so much to be home with you. Hugs to all of you!