PGN is Moving Again!

Today 5o cases were released to attorneys. 40 had previos and 10 were approved. All of these cases had confirmed birth mother interviews and included in the file was a brief statement concerning the interview done. This information comes directly from the Guatadopt website from their sources in-country. It is exciting to finally see the doors opening. Hopefully, more good news to come.

Promising PGN Info...

Phoned PGN today and asked about our file. The lady said we had finished our review without a previo. She also stated that our file should be released in one week. This is very promising news. We have not had a birth mother interview. Hmmm.

We also learned that there are 300 files ready to be released that have had birth mother interviews. They will release them 100 at a time, some with previos and others approved.

We are ready to see some movement of files outside of PGN. It is also our understanding that there are now some US officials watching what's going on at the PGN and advocating fair tactics with regard to the interviews of the birth mothers.

We're look forward to seeing what the coming days hold.

Three's A Charm!

We went to bed the same time as the girls did last night which helped tremendously in their sleeping. McCaule is especially auditory and any sound wakes her.

We went down for breakfast after their morning bottles at 7 a.m. McKelle ate evertyhing we put in front of her. McCaule won't eat anything but the scrambled egg. She'll try a new food and then shiver.

We had a very delightful day with them. We took them on a couple of walks outside and visited with other patrons of the hotel. We took a lot of video and pictures.

The foster mothers arrived a little after 6 pm and the girls didn't even acknowledge them. I guess they enjoyed us afterall. We did have many smiles and giggles today from them along with being content more when we were not holding them. We gave the fosters extra food for the girls that we had purchased along with some new clothes as well.

We helped them out to the taxi and said our goodbyes. It was a sweet time.

Our coordinator stayed behind to visit with us and gave us an update of what it's like in the PGN and CNA at present. It's really a zoo. The CNA says they are "rescuing" children and sent 9 up to PGN for them to do something with them and PGN sent them to hogars. The children are the ones being punished here. It's sad. The "interviewers" of the birthmothers are not people with any experience. They are basically like our FBI interogating the mothers even at times screaming at them. It is not a pleasant experience for them. There is no set practice of interviewing and every day promises something new.

We need to be in prayer for the situation at hand and as we shared with our coordinator Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes", our prayers must be ones that bring honor to Him as He is the only one who can remedy the situation and change the hearts of those who for whatever reason are causing so much pain to so many. In the end, may Christ be glorified!

Day Two With The Girls

We woke quite tired this morning as it took the girls until 10:30 to fall asleep and then McCaule woke at 3:30 to be fed. So much for both girls knowing how to sleep through the night. :) We put them on a schedule of sorts for the day.

McKelle ate everything we put in front of her today. She's a real chow hound. McCaule really only prefers the formula. She'll try things but not much of them.

Gave both girls a bath. McKelle hated it at first and then warmed up to it. McCaule loved it from the start.

Both girls took a really good afternoon nap for 1 1/2 hrs and then we kept them up the rest to help them sleep better tonight, hopefully. McCaule does not know how to fall asleep on her own, so she cries a lot and often wakes periodically after going down.

We had dinner with our former pastor and his wife who are serving as missionaries down here. They also brought their youngest two with them. We had a lovely dinner together. They brought the girls some gifts (toys).

We've already put the girls down (8:00 guatemalan time). McCaule slept for about 15 min and now is fussing, but hopefully she'll settle down soon.

Most families that are here are picking their kids up. It's really like a ghost town compared to when we were here in November. There's one other family her fostering and no others visiting that we've met.

All for today.

We're Back!

We arrived last night around 9 pm Guatemalan time. Had a good nights rest. Our room is #25 and in the corner of the hotel, so it's quiet here. There doesn't seem to be as many famiies as in November of last year for sure.

The girls arrived around 10:30. We got to meet their foster moms. MiMi is around 25 years old and is caregiver for McKelle. Rosa is approx. 55 and takes care of McCaule. One could tell they really love our girls.

We found out that both girls were having trouble gaining weight, so the Dr. put them on a strict feeding schedule of every 2 hrs and has added fatty foods to their diet. They have been gaining. They are not much bigger than when we saw them in November.

McKelle suffers from anemia and is therefore taking iron daily. They also said the doctor has them eat two eggs a day blended into their milk. They are both sitting and play happily with toys reaching for them and exploring them. McKelle is crawling but McCaule is not.

McKelle has 8 teeth while McCaule is still working on her first. They went down for naps shortly after we got them today, thus the time to make this entry. They are so sweet.

We found out today that the girls fosters live next door to one another so the girls see one another quite often. Also, the doctor who sees them has his clinic in their neighborhood and is very strict and checks on them often(at least weekly) to make sure they are doing well. They are receiving weekly weight checks.

McKelle ate over half a banana today, but McCaule just took a couple of bites. Neither really cared for the avacado.

We did take them both on a short walk around the grounds of the hotel. They seemed to enjoy that. It's been cool and rainy off and on today. The front desk said this is their winter season.

Two Things...

First, we sent off the home study update and i600a application today to extend our I-171-H to adopt internationally. Hopefully, it will not take them too long to review it. Little has change since the first home study.

Second, we are going to visit the girls this week, Lord willing. We noticed that ticket prices were down a bit and it was the only week we both had "little" planned, so off we go. We're excited to see how much they've both changed since we saw them 6 months ago. I am sure they will be a little tense and wondering who these "babysitters" are. :)

We will stay at the same hotel next to the Embassy. Maybe we'll get some good news when we're there also.

Before we leave town, we need to celebrate our oldest boy's 16th birthday. He's got plans to see "Prince Caspian" with his dad as a part of his gift from us. Time has flown!

The Interview Process

This information comes from a gal who has completed 3 adoptions and spoke to her attorney last evening, who she has remained in contact with since her completed adoptions:

• PGN has 10 tables set up to conduct the interviews
• They are interviewing the birthmom and FM. The attorneys also.
• The baby must be present so they can check the picture from the file with the actually baby.
• They check a list to confirm the baby hasn't been reported as stolen.
• They check the docs including the voluntary consent that they mother gave the baby for adoption.
• The interview lasts approx. 45 minutes.
• PGN has not announced a protocol for these interviews.
• The first lawyers to be interviewed are ones that have had problems in the past.
• Attorneys that have many cases in PGN are being targeted. They want to know how could so many children have been found by these attorneys. Some have as many as 200-300 cases.
• Some targeted attorneys also have prior legal cases against them and are interviewed.
• Yes PGN is pressing the birth mothers change their minds.
• Detectives from the police have been present.
• The offering of money to the birth mothers to change their mind has happened, but not in each interview.

Lessons On Affliction From Job

This was from church this past week...

When we cannot comprehend the good and wise purposes of God in affliction or evil, we should not respond in these ways:


1. We should not curse God for evil that occurs in our lives or in the world (Job 2:9)

2. We should not blame God for wrong-doing. God alwys does what is right (Job 40:8)

3. We should not doubt God's perfect wisdom, or His mighty power, or His abiding love.

4. We should not neglect God due to confusion or frustration in the midst of our affliction.

5. We should not absolve God from ultimate responsibility for all that happens in the world, including all affliction, devastation, calamity and evil (Ephesians 1:11)

When we cannot comprehend the good and wise purposes of God in affliction or evil, we should respond in these ways:

1. We should praise God in and for the affliction (Job 1:21, 1 Thes. 5:18, Eph. 5:20)

2. We should accept the adversity God brings into our lives and into our world. We must be humble before Him in the face of such affliction (Job 2:10)

3. We should examine our hearts to consider whether it might be the case that our own sin has brought this affliction as divine discipline. If so, we should repent. But if not, examine what lessons the Lord has for you though the affliction.

4. We should pray earnestly, seeking God's merciful deliverance from the afflictions. (2 Cor 12 - Paul's thorn)

5. We should enlist the lasting afflictions of our lives for the good and wise purposes God has in and through, and not apart from, them.

6. We should work to relieve unjust suffering of others.

7. We should remember that Christ endured the greatest affliction possible - all the sin and guilt and pain and suffering of the world, and even more, God's full wrath against our sin - and look to Him who understands the depth of suffering far more than we could ever experience.

8. We should entrust to God the certain judgment & justice that He will bring about for immoral and evil actions (1 Peter 2:23)

9. We should hope & rejoice that because Christ has conquered all sin and evil, in our lives and in the whole created order, we await a day free from all tears, all sadness, all pain, and all suffering, a life filled with endless joy and glad satisfaction in all that God has for us in Christ.

10. We should value the magnification of the glory of God above all else, including above the well-being, health or happiness of His creatures.

Conclusion: "When you can't trace His hand, trust His heart" - know God in the good days so you have strength of soul and conviction to withstand the challenges of difficult days.

Some Encouraging News...

The last two days were tense waiting on information regarding the first birth mother interviews. Gladly, for the most part, the interviews have been painless and thus far not one has been shown to be suspect. All have been approved. The interviews consist of the attorney, the birth mother, foster mother and child to be adopted. The birth mother is asked if she intended to give her child up for adoption. That's basically it. We did learn that all cases will be interviewed eventually. Attorneys may reschedule appointments if they are unable to locate the birth mother for the interview.

The attorneys do believe these interviews are a violation of the birth mother's privacy and will be filing an amparo soon to try to have them stopped. We'll see what the courts decide.

We have not heard whether our case has been interviewed as of yet. Last we knew, our girls' file was on the 2nd reviewer's desk. We do know they are reviewing the files previously approved by the prior attorney general first and then will work their way backward. Our file will have been inside PGN's doors for 7 weeks on Monday and one of our little girl's celebrates her first birthday as well. We will continue to watch and pray as this unfolds.

Very Scary Post... Please pray!

http://www.adaguatemala.org/English/news/

Let's watch and see what the Lord has planned for these children of Guatemala. Definitely a time for testing of our faith and looking to God who controls all things to perform His will and for us to accept it. Please pray for His will to be done and our faith to increase no matter the outcome. We have tried to hold these children with an open hand and this is definitely an opportunity to exercise that reality. We must rest on the truth that God is sovereign and never makes mistakes and all is to His glory.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

The Current PGN Saga...

According to the Prensa Libre on May 5, all adoptions are being put on hold for a month in order to validate the legitimacy of the cases. The story can found here:

http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2008/mayo/05/236311.html.

This is what the Guatadopt staff posted today:

1.) Birthmom interviews - we do NOT have any info to indicate any plans for ALL birthmoms to be interviewed. I'm not saying it won't happen, just that we have no info to indicate it will.

2.) There were somewhere between 40-50 cases that had been approved by the old PGN regime but not yet picked up. PGN has sent out a courrier with a notice to the Notarial attorney on those cases with an appointment date of this Thursday for the birthmom, child, and foster mom to appear before PGN. They are usig the addresses given on the CNA registration form.

3.) On at least some of those addresses, the courrier was unable to find the attorney. Either the office was closed or in some instances it appears as though it is an incorrect our outdated address. PGN is continuing to try to locate these attorneys and I have no info on "what if" they don't locate them or if the appointment is missed. I also don't know which attorneys they need to locate.

4.) An amparo was filed with the courts to question PGN's legal right to do interviews when there is no probable cause. Note: my legal explanation may be incorrect, I'm not a lawyer

5.) On all of this, my advice would be to encourage folks to comply with the request and not fight while they wait for the ruling on the amparo. Everyone I have spoken to who has had contact with the CNA and the new folks at PGN says that they seem to be well intentioned and willing to work with the attorneys. One of my best contacts emphasized that I deliver the "don't panic" message.

Two other important things:

1.) We have learned that the CNA has been developing procedures for enacting the new system. We hope for those be offiicial and released soon so that children can once again find homes with permanent families. I have no info on the details of this, just that they are very close to being done!

2.) We have learned that there are a large number (100+) cases that were not registered with the CNA. Some of them may have been registered with the "original" CNA but not with Colom's. EVERYONE: make sure you got a registration number from the CNA. DEMAND IT from your agency and attorney. The "original" CNA did not issue numbers, just a stamp. So having a number should mean you are okay. If you find out your case was not registered, the adoption is legally invalid and could be in jeopardy. I would recommend you contact adoption supervisors and/or have your attorney officially petition the CNA for resolution.