BC Watch

Here's the latest info:

We had some trouble getting our contract agency to send the remaining funds to our referral agency. They took a very slow route to getting the money sent, but it arrived this past Friday ( 2 weeks after our OUT). Now we shall see if the check clears. Then the money will be wired to our attorney in Guatemala so that the remainder of our adoption can proceed. They were waiting on the money to get the Birth Mother's signatures as it is custom to offer to pay for their trip.

We learned that since the girls have a single decree that they have to be processed one at a time. Once one is finished, then the other will be done. Even though this seems like a real delay, our facilitator told me that they just completed another just like it and it was only 10 days. Mainly because there are so few adoptions being processed now. I hope that holds true for our little girls.

The Lord keeps reminding me that this is not our adoption but His and that we need to allow Him to work it out the way He deems best for all concerned. His ways are definitely not mine, but are becoming more so as time goes on. He is making me more teachable all the time.

In summary, after the funds reach GT this week, the birthmothers will sign off on the decrees and then the process of getting the BC's will be begun.

Please pray for the welfare of our attorney and staff in GT. He was mugged & hospitalized over the last couple of weeks. Please pray that he will have a complete recovery. I know he is back at work and he has been a champion on our behalf over the past year. Pray for him spiritually as well. That he would have a saving faith.

APPROVED!

THE GIRLS ARE OUT OF PGN WITH AN APPROVAL!!!

Time does make the blessing sweeter. Does it look like we have some excited kids or what!

New Year News ....

This came tonight from our coordinator in Guatemala:

Milton: The last thing from the second head at PGN (Assistant Attorney General); she told Otto (our attorney) in her office at PGN yesterday ( Monday morning) that, they had performed
a typo on paperwork associated with the file , but they will fix it, and she told Otto to be at the Window on Friday morning this week to pick up the file, we assume it has been approved, but let´s see.

This is encouraging news, but I am not holding my breath. It could just as easily be at the window with a previo to be fixed. Time will tell :)

Merry Christmas Girls!

Told This Morning...

Our agency facilitator told us this morning that three of her clients were released from PGN yesterday. One of them had the same previa as we do. Evidently, the paperwork that the PGN is requesting is already in the file and that is why the other family was released. The coordinator in Guatemala feels our previo will be overturned and our file will also receive a release since the cases are identical. We shall wait and see what the Lord has for us.

We continue to wait patiently to see what the Lord's plan is for our family. It's like Christmas coming but instead of the gift being the surprise, the day when it arrives will be the real surprise. The Lord is definitely teaching me to be content in whatever circumstance I find myself. I can truly say that I am at total peace and not anxious at all about our situation concerning this adoption. That is the real gift from the Lord. What a wonderful Lord we serve. :)

AG On Vacation Until After Christmas

Phoned Elisa today to check if our file was at the window. She informed me that the Attorney General is on vacation until after Christmas and thus the file will not be signed off until she returns. It used to be that when the AG was out of the office, another could sign the files for release, but nothing proceeds as in the past it seems.

I do plan to phone again on Friday to see if it is indeed stuck on her desk or has made some movement toward the window. Maybe she signed it off and it will be deposited while she's away. One can hope anyway.

We've joined the 4th Class of Previa of 2008

Just heard from our coordinator and our file has a previa. We'd changed attorneys back in July and notified the CNA of the change, but the PGN file did not have the information placed in it. They are just now discovering this and gave us a previa for it. The file should be out next week to have the paperwork inserted and hopefully resubmitted. This is like Chinese water torture with the way the small things keep coming up :(

But, we hold to the truth that the Lord knows when the perfect time will be for the girls to come live with us here in TX and we must also accept that it may never be. This is totally in His hands and not ours. We hold them with open hands and feel it's been a privilege to have been able to pray for them and love them. They will always be a part of our hearts.

Info Today...

Spoke to Elisa and she found our file on the 2nd reviewers desk (still). She said they would be transferring it today to the headquarters for final review and that she hoped she could tell me something about the file on Tuesday as to whether it has been approved or has a previo. So really nothing new to report.

What PGN said today...

Phoned this morning around 9:30 Gua time. Elisa checked physically on our file which took about 10 minutes. She told us that our file was on the 2nd reviewer's desk and that it would be sent to the Attorney General's desk for signature on Monday. The AG has to sign it regardless of whether it has a previo or approval. She said to give it a week to make it to the front window and then she would be able to tell me whether it had been approved or had a previo.

Elisa has been so nice to take her time to really find out what's going on with the file. The Lord's blessing to us during this time of waiting. We'll call again next Friday and see if there is any updated news at that point.

Thanks to all who've prayed for the situation over the months. We truly appreciate it.

Break My Plans..Prayer of My Heart

Latest Off The Press From Our Coordinator in Guatemala:

"The previas were placed by the interviewers at the birth mother interview, and written in the document of the birth mother interview (by the CNA), so the approval can´t be signed by the PGN attorney until these requirements from the birth mother interviews are fullfilled, the best way to do it was affidavit statement.

Milton's previa from the birth mother interview required a statement affidavit by the two foster moms declaring they are fostering the two baby girls. (This is weird as they were at the interviews in person)

Miltons are already back at PGN. I will check tomorrow, we are just waiting to be out.

The previas have been corrected and the file resubmitted. I believe they are giving you old dates when you call."

Well all of that is encouraging news, but I still have questions and probably always will have more. That's the crazy thing about this process; you get some answers which just lead to more questions.

Makes Sense Now...

I phoned PGN to inquire about the status of our file today and spoke to a fluent English speaker, Elisa. To my disappointment, she told me our file had a previo and to my shock, it occurred about three weeks ago. We were never told of this. It makes sense to me now, why our attorney would make an appointment with the Attorney General to discuss our file. Needless to say, today has been a trial in attitude. We thought it was just a short amount of time and our file would be out, but it drags on, now.

On a good note, we hope to make another trip to visit in December. Still trying to iron out the details. Hope it works out, but this latest news does change the tenor of the visit some. We will continue to have hope they will one day live in Texas but also hold them loosely in our hands. We do appreciate everyone's prayers. We are thankful that we have God to comfort us and the truth that this life is not all there is.

Newest Pics of the Girls...

A Happy McCaule



A Somber McKelle

Found out that the girls now have the same foster mom caring for them. We are thankful for that. She is really good with the girls. We met her last Spring. We can't believe how much the girls have changed in 6 months!

Still waiting to hear any news of whether the meeting actually took place between our attorney and the Attorney General.

As We Understand...

Received information while we were at a Biblical Conference this past week that our attorney is suppose to be meeting with the Attorney General today about our file and one other. The meeting was at the request of our attorney handling the case. We'll wait to see what the Lord has in mind.

About the conference we attended at Glorieta New Mexico. It was tremendous. The theme was "Excel Still More" based on the verses from I Thes. 4:1. The topics were in Exhortation, Teachability, Being Steadfast, by Refusing Rejection, In Love, In Purity, In Obedience, and In Prayer. We were challenged and encouraged by our time in the Word.

Thanks to all of you who've encouraged us over the past few weeks. Your words have been a wonderful reminder of how believers lift one another up.

Soon Very Soon....

We were told once again today that our file has not been released but it will be soon. Those should be encouraging words, but we've been told that for the past month... you are close, it will be soon, in a week, etc. It does wear on a body.

I was thinking last evening about the length this process has taken and the truth that nothing happens that's not for our good and His glory. Rather than look at the delays of this adoption as our misfortune, I am seeing it as a wonderful opportunity to bring glory to the One who suffered on my behalf. This is all much bigger than my life and what I want. This is the Lord's plan for our family and the girls we hope to adopt. He does not make mistakes, so I am the one who needs to adjust my ways of viewing this whole situation. We want to consider it all joy and do the rest of this adoption without further complaining.

It is good that the girls are staying in Guatemala because His timing is perfect. We are thankful that they are telling us it will be soon and will rejoice greatly when the Lord moves the hearts of the PGN to release our file. Yes, we are missing milestones, but we will have years with these girls. Our biological children love them even though they are not physically in our home. They pray for them nightly and consider them their sisters only living afar. It is a blessing to have included them in our lives from the time they were born. We are grateful for the referring agency, facilitator and coordinator who handle our file and work diligently on our behalf in a most difficult political situation. We have thought and prayed for people we never had otherwise. The Lord has truly blessed us in many ways but especially in the growth of our own faith in ways we would have never have chosen for ourselves otherwise. We will pray for the hearts of the PGN staff who view our file... not just for our file to be released but of most importance, their salvation. Our God is great and greatly to be praised!

A Big Day...

Our kids participated in this year's Reformation Fair in Celebration of Martin Luther's posting of his 95 Thesis calling for reformation of the Christian Church on October 31, 1517. Each year the kids wear fun costumes. The oldest children actually work the booths at the fair while the younger do the activities and play the games. A good time is had by all. My oldest daughter is the craftsman behind these great costumes.

Hopefully New Pictures Soon...

We understand, from our facilitator, that another adopting family, who is traveling to Guatemala today, will be taking some pictures of the girls for us. What a blessing that will be to see their little faces.

Reports say that the computer problems at PGN are the result of a lightning strike to the internet antenna. They are currently waiting on parts from the US to correct the problem. In the meantime, an effort is being made to try to use another server to enter the data into the computers. Some files are being released, but very very few (about 1 per week of those reporting online). The computers have been down now for over 2 weeks. Supposedly, they are still working the files, just cannot enter the data for release.

Please be in prayer that the system will be fully functional quickly.

As Of Last Night...

We received word from our facilitator that our file will not be released this week. The PGN holds all the cards and only want to be asked once a week or they punish those who do by delaying further the release of files. Our file was inquired about last Friday the 10th. The coordinator said we were close; thought that only counted in horseshoes :) Any how, things are very slow at PGN. The computers are still not fully operational and the last two weeks have only shown two releases on the boards.

We also learned that due to the length of this process our foster moms have not received any funds for the care of the children. That is most worrisome. Please continue to seek the Lord's protection for these wee ones as we wait on His timing. We know He holds them in His Hands, we just want to join Him in praying that His Will be done. Pray also that our will continues to match His.

Today's Correspondence...

Received this from our facilitator:

"I have word that the team anticipates the next round of release of files from the PGN in about ten days to two weeks. Yours will be in that batch.

They are very tight on funding as the files are being signed but not released. A matter of 'what is it worth to you?' It is taking payment to get the files in hand."

Our remaining fees are being held by our contract agency until we exit PGN but the attorney is requesting additional money in order to pay to have these files released. The attorneys are out of money since this process has been drawn out so long by the PGN and CNA. It is so sad to see the corruption of men's hearts. These people have said they care for these children but you see just how much they care about themselves and how much they can fill their own pockets.

Our hearts break for these children whom few really care about. We are honored the Lord has allowed us to be on this journey and demonstrate His love and care. Pray for us as we consider how to proceed.

Update: Our contracting agency has agreed to release a token amount of funds to us to assist with the shortage being experienced by the attorneys. Our understanding is that we will not be charged additional on the other end of things, we are just freeing up money now. That's a praise. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. We are thankful to the Lord for His guidance.

Trickle of News...

Guatemalan Coordinator wrote last night that "PGN has been without system these last days so difficult to register files that will be released". Makes sense because many who've emailed PGN as of late have not been getting a response for days or intermittant response. Elisa even told me that the computer screen was not available to update this week.

Hopefully, they will get their computer system up and running again so these babies can quickly be logged out. Our coordinator indicated that ours was one of the files she was pushing to have released.

There continues to be hope and thankfulness that the Lord helps us persevere through events such as these.

Please be in prayer for our facilitator and her colleages here in the states as they will be moving their offices over the weekend... for safety, ease and endurance to efficiently finish the task.