Susana

I cannot believe I am so close, but still so far. According to Claudia at PGN my case is through being processed and waiting on final signature. She said the paperwork was fine no rejections. So what now? How long will they take to just sign off on my file. We are going out of our heads with despair. This has been a very long process, and all we wanted to do was have a family. What is so wrong with that? Please email me with any information. Thanks for everything you have done to help us soon to be families, we might not say it enough, but we so appreciate it, you are what keep most of us going on. Thanks and please keep up the work, we know in the end our children will win. Terri Reese

Anyone have an email or other address for Laura Bush that might actually get to her directly? Also, does anyone know about her opinion of intercountry adoption? With her role within UNESCO, she might be influential in this crisis.

I would also like the address of Laura Bush. I have emailed the President several times, needless to say I did not get any response. Susane we can not thank you enough for all the you do for our Children.

I understand that many of the previos have no legal basis but is that the main issue causing delays in releasing files from PGN or does it have more to do with the Director still signing off on cases? It seems the number of cases reviewed, kicked out and resubmitted far exceeds the number of cases actually released.

Does anyone know if people are responding to writing their stories and pleas to adoptionregs@state.gov? The cut off date being Nov. 14th.
I know there is a meeting being held on Oct.29th in Washington about it but also we can write in electronically. I hope everyone gets their word out! The info is all available at www.regulations.gov

I have started writing e-mails to any government official who will listen and pleading that they intervene on our behalf. I have written to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and (since I'm from South Dakota) Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle D-SD. I received a call back from Senator Daschle's office asking for more information about our adoption situation - they seemed genuinely concerned and responsive. I will continue to work through them, but I encourage everyone involved to do the same. Contact your elected officials often, even if it seems like no one listens. They may not respond to any one of us, but they can't ignore ALL of us. We need to make our voices heard by the federal officials who can use their influence to bring our children home.

I too, would like Laura Bush's email address.
Also wanted to know if someone had gotten a response from Bill O'Reilly.

Bill Delahunt, US Representative from the Tenth District in Massachusetts is an adoptive parent and was one of the principal proponents of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. Perhaps he has some pull in Washington, DC. and can help matters with the difficulties in Guatemala. He has a website with contacts for his offices in Washington and Quincy/Hyannis, MA. I will try to contact his office tomorrow to make him aware of the situations in Guatemala. Maybe you should, too.

Dios los bendiga.

Bill
Taunton, MA

Can someone explain about the courts? Third court isn't processing adoptions. First court will be on vacation from mid Nov. to mid Dec. and the 2nd & 6th court will be gone Dec. to Jan. What happens if someone gets lucky enough to make it out of the PGN during these times? Does this mean more delays waiting for the courts' vacation schedule?

I have a question about the "courts" as well. Are these the PGN courts or Family courts that you are refering to? Does this mean that BOTH FC and PGN shut down for the holiday? I'm too early in the process (just entered FC) and confused. Susan

Has anyone thought to write letters to Steven Curtis Chapman (Famous Christian Artist)? He and his wife have a beautiful baby girl from China and Steven knows a lot of people thru his ministry. We have written to him and also to Dr. James Dobson, also someone who has a love for adoption and knows many people.
The addresses are www.family.org (to contact Dr. Dobson) and www.scchapman.com ( to contact the Chapmans) they actually have a place on their sight to contact about adoptions which is what we did! I just thought it couldn't hurt. They know a lot more people that we do!

I also was curious abourt the "courts". You mentioned courts 1,2 3 & 6. Is there a 4 & 5? How many courts in all? How is it decided which court your case goes to- luck of the draw? - or are particular lawyers assigned to specific courts?
I just recieved DNA authorization and hope to be getting onto PGN soon.
Thank you.

Gail

We too are contacting any elected official that will listen. We also are gathering signatures on the letters to send to the corporate sponsors of UNICEF. Those signed letters are going in the mail tomorrow.
We also have a possible interview with our local ABC affiliate to discuss what is going on with UNICEF and how it is holding up adoptions in Guatemala. I should hear this week if they are going to do the story for us. am hoping that other ABC affiliates will pick up on the story since our affiliate works closely with affiliates in 3 near by metropolitan areas.
Also when our station does stories the local newpaper typically runs the same stories. So I am hoping to cause a chain reaction with this.

Hi-
Does anyone know of a way to contact Paul Mitchell at the US Embassy in Guatemala City?
Kathleen

Is anyone hearing in thing this week. I know they were closed Monday, but has anyone gotten out of PGN this week?

Yes.. my agency sent a note saying they had someone exit pgn w/approval yesterday. I think they've had about 20 "hits" - half and half kickouts and releases in the past two weeks. I hope this gives you some hope.... it did me.
Jo Ann

Joann
Tried to email you privately, but wasn't able just wanted to know what agency. Mine is in South Carolina and they have had only 1 out of PGN with a previa. I am going crazy waiting. Email me privatley with any news. Thanks for the glimer of good news. Lets just hope all our babies get to come home soon. What a glorious day that will be. Thanks for listening all. Terri

We got a response from Vice President Cheney's office today regarding an e-mail I sent to his office. Not just a form letter - a letter actually signed by a person! They are asking the Department of State to review the facts and start a case. We will be getting a direct response from DOS when this happens.

Keep writing and praying! People are listening to us.

Rebecca

Listmates-

Could you please e-mail me your letters.
that I can use as a sample.

I am hoping that we can compile fact sheets
to distrubute to the media- newspapers, magazines, tv stations, and government officials, .so when they present information
they can present the facts on poverty in
Guatemala, Unicef and adoption. We should
have a fact sheet on each topic with fthe facts
listed with bullet points.

Unicef has clout and the press on their side.
It's time we educate the media on the negative
effects of eliminating adoption in poverty ridden countries!

Grace