Another Step Completed!

It's a Match!

We just got notice that McCaule's DNA was a match at 99.95%. That was so fast. They just got the specimens yesterday. The lab said they would be mailing the results to Guatemala on January 2nd since the embassy is closed until then and there is no one to take the package. Needless to say, we are thrilled. Now the countdown to USCIS pre-approval for visa.

We additionally found out that both girls finished family court and entered PGN today! What a banner day we had. Now, we know that we will get a kick out because we do not have the pre-approval for McCaule, but the case is officially registered with the PGN before December 31 and we should definitely be grandfathered under the old system. What a blessing and we are thankful to all those who have worked so diligently on our case and others. It's neat to see how the Lord works and the means He uses.

Today's news

We received an email today verifying that McCaule's DNA arrived at Labcorp! They indicated it would be 7-10 days before the results would be verified. So we wait...

The next news is whether the family court reports have been written and submitted to the Family Court judge for approval. Once approved, then the file is made ready for submission in PGN. We will most likely not have U.S. Visa pre-approval for McCaule's portion of the case, but it is good we are only waiting on hers and not both girls. McKelle's pre-approval came last September 28th.

No additional news on the Guatemalan law front. We will probably not hear anything this week, but have been reading that the gov't is working to appoint representatives to the Central Authority who will review cases. The grandfathering issue has not been specified with details as of yet either.

Our Current Status -Where we are...

This is an updated Flow chart of how our case is progressing through the adoption. Click on the image to see it enlarged for easier reading.

Case Update

We learned today that McCaule's birth mother was not able to travel last Friday to do the DNA, but that she will have it done tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday the 19th). We are so ready for this activity to take place. On a sober note, I am sure that it will be difficult for the birth mom to see her little baby again, 5 months later. My prayers are not only for her physical suffering but also for her spiritually. May she come to know Christ through this.

Additional Info Today (Wednesday 19th): Received a copy of the approval for DNA and note from the facilitator that it was indeed taking place today (possibly this a.m. instead of p.m.) and wanted to make sure our Lab corp fee had been paid. We have verification that it was paid last July 13th! This is good, so that the info will go directly to the embassy and pre-approval process begun upon receipt of the DNA results.

Please Pray...

We would appreciate prayers for all those who are currently going through this uncertain process of adoption from Guatemala. At present, the adoption law has passed but amendments still need to be made and the term "in-process" given a definition. It is a difficult time for all who are waiting. Pray for patience and contentment during this time. Let us take this time to think on the giver of all things and not the things given to us. We do not deserve anything we have and He blesses any way.

We are thrilled for all who have recently learned they are out of PGN (the last of the Guatemalan steps) and finishing up their adoptions for the U.S. side of things!

Psalm 78: 4-7: Prayer of my Heart

4 We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

This Psalm has become one that I might be faithful in applying in the lives of the children the Lord has placed in my home. We do not choose the children the Lord gives us, but are to be good stewards with the "gifts" he bestows upon us. We see our this adoption process as the same. We had no idea which children the Lord would place before us, but even now, try to be faithful in prayer for them during this journey of bringing them into our home permanently, if the Lord wills.

Update: Family Court and PGN Holiday Schedule

For the upcoming holidays the PGN offices will be closed on December 24, 25, 31 of 2007and January 1 of 2008.

Family Courts number 2, 4 and 6 have been closed and are going to start working again on December 10.

Family courts number 1, 3, 5 and 7 will be from December 14 To January 15 of 2007.


This information was provided by ADA. Looks like our case will be with Family Court 2, 4 or 6 since our interview and DNA are to be done on the 14th.

Cute picture of the girls together!

Here are the girls on our visit trip. You see how McCaule is reaching for McKelle? She was always trying to pull on her clothes when they were side by side. McKelle would just ignore her most of the time. The times when she would pay attention to her, she was trying to poke her in the face. Needless to say, some tears began to flow.

Additional Information

Case Update: We heard from our Guatemalan coordinator today and she said that McCaule's DNA will be done next week and the social work report will begin officially on December 14th for both girls.

Family Court Social Workers take turns being off for the holidays. The first half are off from Thanksgiving until December 14. The second half are off from the 14th until January 1st. They were trying to time it so that whoever got the report would be there and so, no down time would occur and the report just sitting on someone's desk for two weeks before being submitted to the Family Court Judge for approval.

Our U.S facilitator wrote concerning the coordinator, " She was very very impressed with your lovely family……..and is working hard for you to bring these little ladies home…."

What an encouraging note. We are praying for contentment during this time and focusing on submitting to the authorities that the Lord has placed over us at this time. 1 Peter 2:13 came to mind yesterday and a friend who is also adopting from Guatemala had referenced it in a correspondence we had. It reads, "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority". Also Romans 13:1 states, "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities for there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God." As we wait, I will continue to remind myself that God is the one who holds the future and the governments He places into position. May He be glorified in all we think and do!

Grandfather clause as it reads Today

Case Update: Both girls POA are already registered, we are moving fine... this according to an email from our Guatemalan coordinator, Cindy Flores.

News Update: The Adoption law with amendments will be voted on in December. The law and amendments have been published on Guatemala's Congressional website http://www.congreso.gob.gt/ . Bloggers over at Guatadopt have been translating and discussing it. This is what Kevin of Guatadopt had to say:

The provision to be in process reads to me as being very liberal. Registering looks to be little more than filling out a form or providing some other legal document to show that the case has been started. There is nothing attaching it to being at the current PGN phase. If anything, it seems to me to a safeguard for those not yet in PGN. It sounds to me just that the Central Authority, Bienestar, wants documentation so that they can have a database of who is grandfathered. The 30 day thing is fair to me otherwise it could lead to abuse of the effective date.

Should the law pass as it is written, it would take effect December 31 per the current version. That deadline date could change with the final reading and vote by Congress. As it stands now, those already in process will proceed under the current system and need only to register so that Guatemala authorities can keep track of those grand fathered cases. We wait with anticipation for the final draft and what the Lord has planned for adoptions in Guatemala.