Dear Mr. President,

Thank you in advance for addressing the important issue of adoption with Presidente Berger.

My husband and I are within arm's reach of completing a process that has spanned the course of over a year. We have followed all of the steps necessary toward the completion of that process, and in good faith have a clear understanding that our case is not one that would cause any authorities concern. If our case becomes disrupted in any way, our family would be completely devastated. Our daughter in Guatemala, who we have visited twice already, is a part of our family.

Please ask that Presidente Berger ensure a smooth completion for those of us in process.

Yours truly,
Diana in PA

Dear President Bush,
We are one of those families currently in process of adopting a beautiful 9 month old baby boy from Guatemala. This is our first child. We have entered into a good faith agreement under the current legal systems to adopt our baby. We have been to visit him twice and our future together as a family now seems uncertain.
As United States citizens we are asking for your assitance to make sure we will be able to complete our adoption regardless of what the future holds for Guatemalan adoptions.
We need our governments help to ensure he will come home to his forever family. Please help.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
Joao & Sharon Martins
New Jersey

I wish to add a hearty second to everything said. We have been in the process 15 months now and have a 7 month old baby boy in foster care waiting for us to bring him home. I pray that the right thing is done for these kids. Allow them to come home to the families that have already welcomed them into their hearts.

Mr. President,
If the process of international adoptions from Guatemala must change, (at the risk of sounding selfish) grandfathering current in-process adoptions would seem to be the most fair way of proceeding. The emotional attachment that we as adoptive parents already have with our child, if broken, would be unbearable. The unfortunate reality that our child and other children will endure if adoptions are stopped is, I feel, inhumane. And lastly, we are hard-working, honest, tax-paying Americans who have invested our life savings in this process. For many of us, this is our last chance to have children. It is truly unimaginable that an agreement entered into in good faith may not be honored.
If the system needs to be changed in order to fool-proof against unethical behaviors, that's fine. I think all of us agree on that. However, it seems as if the rules are changing. New prospective parents should be made aware of the process ahead of time so they can make an educated decision. Every day throughout the process we fear that our dream will not be fulfilled and our child will never come home. We respectfully ask that you contact Guatadopt.com to fully understand our position.
Thank you for your attention.

Our family eagerly awaits the homecoming of our son from Guatemala. We are in the final stages of this process as are many of other parents and we ask that our process continue under the current system so our children will not be held in limbo waiting for a new system to be implemented. Thank you for your help.

Dear President Bush,
I have two beautiful children from Guatemala. It is my firm belief that they were meant to be together. My faith tells me that something wonderful will happen because they are brother and sister, not by blood, but by love.

My thoughts lie with their birth mothers who both made the choice to relinquish their children to a better life in the United States. Will they have that choice again if they are in a similar situation?
Sincerely,
Cathy in WI

I besiege you Mr. President to insist upon mercy for the children currently awaiting their forever families. Jesus spoke of taking care of the orphans, he has made his provisions in families like myself ( Matthew Benjamin--8/2002 )
and other families willing to make the sacrifice
both emotionally and financially and he made provision in you Mr. President and our Congress when in your first Presidency you signed into law the permanent tax credit for all adoptions.
Please use your enormous influence to help the children of Guatemala and may God bless.

Our family is waiting to bring our daughter home. She is growing older and experiencing life without us and we without her. Please work with Guatemala to make this happen sonner than later.

Mr. President:
I recently brought home my 10 month old son from Guatemala. My family chose to adopt from Guatemala because we wanted to provide a loving home to a child who otherwise would go without this opportunity. He has brought immeasurable joy to our family.
There are many other families engaged in this same process, but more importantly, many more children awaiting a similar opportunity. I believe that it would be preferable for placed Guatemalan children to be raised in their country of birth. However, there is no infrastructure to support domestic adoption, much less government-run foster care or orphanage care. Until this infrastructure is in place, please advocate that President Berger allow American families to continue to adopt these children. It would be shameful for these children to go without while so many families are anxious to adopt them.
Thank you.

Dear Mr. President

I wanted to send a sincere Thank You to you for traveling to the beautiful country of Guatemala and addressing the issues of International Adoption. We are the proud parents of a charming 18 month old son from Guatemala, and have just begun the process of adding to our family a little girl who is currently 3 weeks old. Our little boy has brought so much joy to our lives and we are eternally grateful to everyone involved in the adoption process for helping us realize our dream. I, along with many others in the adoption community, realize that some questionable circumstances have recently arisen surrounding the adoption process in Guatemala; however this is only a TINY minority compared to the families who have been blessed by the beautiful children from a beautiful country. As you and your family want what is best for your children this is all we as adoptive parents want also. God bless you and enjoy your travels.

Sincerely

Stacy Lopez

Dear Mr. President:

We ask that you carefully consider the words of the National Council on Adoptions President Thomas Atwood’s letter to you:
“America is in a position to encourage the Berger government to maintain the benefits of Guatemala’s private system while creating a central authority and providing security and protections for children, as required by the Hague Convention, through greater regulations, accreditation, and best practice standards. Whatever policy reforms are made, for the sake of the children, we hope that adoptions will be able to continue to proceed during the transition period, with special attention to the “pipeline” cases where children have been matched with parents and the adoptions are in process.”

Mr. President, we are a “pipeline” family. Please help us bring our baby girl home to her two big brothers who wait everyday for the call they the can go pick up their sister. Please help our daughter, a baby that will surely be lost to us and possibly to the world if her adoption is not allowed to continue under the current system.

Steven and Holly Lione

Dear Mr. President,
Thank you for taking an interest in adoptions in Guatemala. My wife and I are on our 3rd. Our 5 yr old Isaac has been with us since he was 6 months old. Josh our 8 yr old has been here for a year and he has adjusted beautifully to life as an American. We are currently stuck in the US Embassy waiting the preapproval of the VISA for our 10 yr old daughter Thelma. We have met her bonded with her and cried with her over the death of her Mother. Her father is relinquishing her and her younger sister. The sister should be coming home soon to her new family. We have been waiting since May for our preapproval. It took 14 months to get our Joshua home and to us it seems unfair that these childrens lives are on hold. We too ask that adoptions that have been in the process be allowed to continue under the current system and that the two governments will work together to get our children home soon. It seems like a long wait for our family but we have each other. But our daughter is forced to wait patiently to join us. She has already lost both her parents and she needs to be with us so her life can flourish. God Bless You and your family. Safe travels Mr. President.
Sincerely, Mick and Julie Noteboom

Dear Mr. President,

We are writing to you today to ask for your help. After having found out over a year ago that due to previous illness we could not have our own biological children, we began the process of adoption, and after much deliberation we chose to adopt a Guatemalan child.

After navigating six difficult months of paperwork, red tape, and expense to complete the United States requirements for our I-600 (A) application, we finally were matched in November with a beautiful little girl when she was just ten days old. We have loved her since then and watched her grow via monthly photos and videos. Our case has moved along slowly in Guatemala, I am sure in no small part due to the tensions in Guatemala regarding fears about international adoption of Guatemalan children.

Until very recently, it was expected that as an existing case, ours would not be jeopardized by this coming summer’s US implementation of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. It seems that this may no longer be the case. Also, the US Department of State has warned of unspecified significant delays in their own processing of active cases in Guatemala. Such events seriously threaten our hopes of one day bringing home our daughter. We urge you to allow all in process cases to continue.

We ask you for your help so that we can bring our first child into our home. We have already given our hearts to this little girl and are now waiting to give her a forever home.

Thank you,
Susan and Nathan
Pennsylvania

Mr. President,
I agree that Guatemala's system of adoption needs attention. It is no secret, in some instances, there is an abuse of powers and corruption at work. BUT..the fact remains there are thousands of families that have been formed by way of adoption from Guatemala. There are still thousands of us left and, if permitted, thousands more to come. Guatemalan orphaned children need adoptive families. There are many American families that desire children to make their home complete. It would be in the best interest of all humanity involved to keep these avenues open. My husband and I have been in process for 21 months to date. We are working towards bringing our son home to the United States from his birth country. He is the most wonderful child you will ever lay your eyes on. In our hearts we feel God has brought us to Guatemala to meet our son. During visits to spend time with him we have fallen in love with the country of "eternal spring". The landscape is breathtaking and the people friendly. It would break my heart to know a legislation in its purest form that was intended to protect the children from corrupt and greedy people, would actually condemn those same children to a life of deprivation. These children, if not allowed to be adopted to loving homes will suffer an existence void of the love and security you and I were fortunate enough to be born. I pray that you will have a hand in keeping adoptions open between Guatemala and the US. Please don't allow the children and their needs to go unheard. God Bless!

Dear Mr. President,
We are in the process of adopting a baby girl from Guatemala. We, like others, are praying that adoptions stay an option for the children of Guatemala. We ask that while deciding what should be done for future cases those cases already in process, that have done everything legal and in good faith, do not halt . These children deserve to have a loving home with security and stability. They also deserve to come home as young as possible to avoid stress and to adapt to their new families faster. Please help us with this. Please help bring our babies home! God Bless You! Carrie & Damian Clements-Owensboro, Ky.

Dear Mr. President, My wife and I are on our 3rd Guatemalan adoption. Our youngest Isaac is 5 and been with us since he was 6 months. Our 8 yr old Josh has been here 1 year and is blossoming as a new American. We have been waiting for the Preappoval of our daughter Thelma's VISA since last May. We have met her, bonded with her and cried with her over the death of her Mother. Her Father is placing her and her younger sister up for adoption. Her sister should be coming home soon. We ask that adoptions that have already been in the process be allowed to continue under the current system. It took us 14 months to get Joshua home and it seems so unfair that these kids lives are put on hold. The wait is long for us and we try to be patient but, we have each other. Our Daughter Thelma is forced to wait patiently to be united with her new family. We also have a 15 yr old daughter and all of our childern are very anxious to get their sister here. Thank you so much for your concern in Guatemalan childern.
Sincerely, Mick and Julie Noteboom

Mr. President,

Both of our children are home forever, but we ask that you persuade President Berger to allow international adoptions to continue.

Our adoptions have brought so many tears of sadness but so many more tears of joy. We thank God every day for our beautiful Guatemalan blessings. We thank the Guatemalan Governement for allowing us to adopt one of their own and most importantly we thank our children's birth parents for their love and courage to reliquish their child.

Please, Mr. President, allow more US families like ours to be blessed and fullfilled through Guatemalan adoptions.

We all know unethical practices have slowed down many adoption process. We all agree certain steps need to be placed to ensure proper ethical adoptions continue, but please don't let in-process adoptions sit in limbo. Encourage President Berger to work with the US Embassy, adoption agencies and families to set up a ethical adoption system. Please don't take away a child's right to a loving family. Encourage, persuade President Berger to put the children of Guatemala in the best interest.

God Bless,
Jenny & Paul

Dr. President Bush,
Since I received the call on January 2nd that I had been matched with a beautiful baby girl, born to a 15 year old birthmother, my life has taken on meaning unlike anything I have every experienced. Nothing could have prepared me for the instant love and connection I felt when I met her for the first time and cared for her over a week long period just days later.Leaving her behind in Guatemala was without a doubt the most difficult thing I have ever done in my whole life. It felt like my heart was being ripped out of me. She consumes my thoughts and prayers and I get comfort from knowing she is receiving such care from the foster family I had the privilege of meeting during my visit. I should tell you that every aspect of my decision to adopt from this amazing country was considered with great care, every decision made with her best needs in mind. I live in Phoenix and teach at a school that is over 90% Hispanic. The population here, although mostly Mexican, will allow my daughter to be raised in a city where she can see herself in others around her. She will not look different or speak differently than those in her school and neighborhood. I purposely made this decision because I wanted to make the best choices for her. Before moving forward with the decision to proceed with adopting, I began to study Spanish and spent the summer in Guatemala so I would know my child's country, language and culture. I returned to teaching in the fall and located a daycare that will provide my daughter with a Spanish speaking Guatemalan family where she can continue to develop her native tongue. I spent months researching agencies with impeccable reputations of ethics and morality. I researched the agency as well as all those they work with. I interviewed previous clients, checked the BBB, and prayed. Despite living on a minimal teacher salary, I have devoted everyday off to refinishing furniture, painting, and sewing drapes, blankets, etc. to give her the type of bedroom I know her birthmother would be glad to know she sleeps in. She already has bookshelves filled with bilingual books waiting for her. Her pictures cover my walls, my desk in my classroom, and are pulled from my wallet at every opportunity. Fearing I wouldn't be able to start a college fund for her right away, I have dedicated myself to applying for National Board Certification because my district gives a $3000 incentive to those who pass (only about 30%). I have spent over 400 hours working on this...a distraction that has helped pass the time while I wait for my daughter to come home and hasn't felt like a burden because I have been doing it for her. I tell you these things not because I want sympathy or a reward, but because when you are in Guatemala, making decisions with President Berger, you will likely discuss those cases "in process" like mine. An adoptive parent doesn't become a parent on the day they bring their child home to the US. They become a parent the moment their decisions move from being their own, to being all about what is best for their child. I became a parent the moment I held my beautiful baby girl and began making choices to give her the very best life that I can. Please don't let that be taken away. Losing my daughter now would be no less pain than losing a child to death. Help Guatemala find solutions so adoptions can proceed in a way that guarantees the best for children and allows those of us who are already parents in our hearts and souls to fulfill our dreams and parents and begin spending our lives fulfilling the dreams of our children. I wish you safe travels and a wonderful trip to a beautiful country.

Sincerely,
Kimberly Smith

My wife and I have an 18 month old son we brought home from Guatamala nearly a year ago. As many families who choose to adopt, we have been unable to concieve on our own. We have just begun the process to adopt his biological sister who was born six weeks ago. We hope and pray that adoptions from Guatemala will remain open so we can unite our son with his sister as soon as possible. We urge you to encourage President Berger to allow intercountry adoptions to continue under ethical circumstances, so our and other families hopes may be fulfilled.

Hello, my name is Brenda. My husband, Mark, and I are in the process of adopting our second child from Guatemala. We are currently in PGN awaiting approval on our adoption. And we are looking to you, President Bush, to help us see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Our daughter, Isabella, was born June 20, 2006. The birth-mother, single, died of complications from the birth and left Isabella and four siblings orphans. Isabella's birth-father placed her for adoption with our attorney. No family member came forward wanting this precious little child.
I am asking for your help when speaking with the President in Guatemala. Please remember the families waiting to bring home a child that would be loved and cared for. Keep the families that are in-process to be to able to continue without any unnecessary interruptions or delays. Our daughter is now 8 months old and I just think of what a traumatic effect it would be on her to come home at such an older age, if such a delay were to happen.
As parents wanting to make a family, we have entered into this adoption on a good faith agreement and as citizens of the United States, we should be protected by our Government and President. Please help your people, by adding additional staff at the US Embassy in Guatemala to help to process our cases accurately and in a timely manner.
Thank you for your time and please remember the ones that look up to you to rule with a fair and strong hand.

Dear Mr. President,
I am another one of those families currently in process of adopting a beautiful little boy from Guatemala. He turned 1 in August of 2006 and he has been waiitng for me since December of 2005. I have entered into a good faith agreement under the current legal systems in Guatemala and the US to adopt my son. I have visited him twice and our future together as a family now seems uncertain.
As a United States citizen I am asking for your assistance to make sure I will be able to complete my adoption regardless of what the future holds for Guatemalan adoptions.
I need your help and the support of the US and Guatemalan governments to ensure he will come home to his forever family. Please help.
Thank you.

Deb Cole
Cincinnati, OH

Dear Mr. President,
We too are in the process of adopting a wonderful child from Guatemala. We have just recently received a referral and the legal process in Guatemala is just beginning. We are very concerned about the potential changes that could occur and how they could effect all adoptions, not just ours. We look forward to doing our part as proud United States citizens by opening our hearts and our home to a wonderful child who needs someone to help. We hope you understand what so many of us are going through right now and how the uncertain conditions have the potential to negatively impact so many lives, especially the children. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during your upcoming meeting with Presidente Berger. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Sharon and Don
Columbus, Ohio

Mr. President
My wife and I are in the process of adopting a beautiful baby girl from Guatemala. We have tried other avenues for us to have a child with no luck. When we decided to adopt, we wanted our decision to have a positive impact on everyone involved. We have abided by all the rules and regulations set forth by both the US and Guatemalan governments. Now, the rules may be changed and our future is uncertain. Today, she turned three months old. We are hoping to bring her home, forever, before she turns 1 year old.
We elected you President to represent the interests of all US citizens, both current and future citizens. These children that we are adopting are coming home as US citizens. These children need your representation and help as much as we do. Please, represent and protect the rights of the parents and our soon to be adopted children.

Dear Mr. President and Mrs. Bush:
My husband and I adopted two boys from Guatemala. Our boys have thrived in the US and they have brought so much joy and love to our lives. It would be a tragedy to end adoptions between our country and Guatemala - not only for the countless number of orphans in need of a family but also for the many Americans hoping to experience the same happiness our boys have given us.
Sincerely, Lisa in New Jersey

Dear Mr. President,

We, too, are a family in the process of bringing our first child home. My husband is serving in Iraq with the US Army and looks every day at a picture of the son he hopes to meet when he comes home. I recently returned from a trip to Guatemala to meet our baby and immediately felt that motherly connection. We are hoping and praying that we will be able to bring our son home in a normal time period. We also entered into this process and legal system with good faith to bring a child into our home forever. Please, we ask that you will fight on our behalf as US citizens to continue with our adoption as we have followed every rule and law.

Thank you Mr. President,
Ben and Amy Grimsley,
Fort Hood, TX

Dear President Bush:

Our family as well is in the final stages of adopting our 11-month old daughter. We have been in this process for almost a year now and have already gone to visit our daughter. We would like to echo the above sentiments. We urge you to do everything possible to allow in-process cases to continue uninterrupted. Our whole family and all of our friends would be devestated if our daughter couldn't make it home. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Jason Smerz in WI

Dear President Bush:

We have made two trips to Guatemala. Our first son was born in 2003 and we got in the middle of the Hague slow down. We brought him home shortly after he turned one. That time of waiting was truly one of the most difficult times of our lives. You miss so much of your child's life when there are delays. Yes, there are problems in the process and it should be faster and smoother for these children. They are the victims.

In 2006 we brought home our second son. Both of our boys are so precious and have had no problems adjusting to their forever family.

Please keep these children at the top of your priority list when you meet with President Berger. These waiting families are struggling everyday.

Please don't let adoptions stop in Guatemala. The precious children there deserve a chance.

We know by personal experience that there are honest attorneys, translators and excellent foster families as well as well-run hogars in Guatemala.

David and Robin Prewitt
Parents to two wonderful sons.

Dear President Bush,

My husband and I are also in process to bring home a little sister to our previously adopted child. We have been waiting for her to be able to come live with us for 10 months. We understand the imperative to have intercountry adoptions monitored and conducted properly. As American citizens we are blessed with opportunites to research, learn and be careful with whom we place our trust.

While not saying that we are infallible, we have done our due diligence. We are absolutely certain of the legality and ethics of the people we have contracted to grow our family. That is the greater point of those of us here ... our overwhelming fear that perception of systemic problems will push policy changes that do not take into account the thousands that have conducted their adoptions legally and in good faith. That our children will not be able to come home. As a father and adoption advocate we ask that you please urge calmer heads to prevail and implement changes in a fair, humane and reasonable manner -- with grandfathering of all in process cases.

Thank you,
Sandy Gelpieryn
Dean Tomasula

Dear President Bush,
My wife and I cannot have children biologically. We took our first referral in March of 2006 and lost that referral in December of 2006 due to the fact that the birthmother disappeared. This was so devastating. We took our second referral in December of 2006 and our son is now 3 months old. We have put everything monetary in to make this work. Now we are so afraid that we may never be able to have a child. I know that with your help our dream could come true. The reason we chose international adoption was to give a child a chance that they may never have had in a country with opportunities and freedoms. Please make it happen for all of us that are waiting. I know that with your help and God's help it can happen. Thank you for your help.

Dear Mr. President,
We come before you in need sir. We have a 4 month old son in Guatemala that needs to come home to his forever family. Our daughter died last year and losing another child would be unbearable. We are finally in PGN and have followed all rules and have done everything asked of us. Now we ask that you, sir, take a stand not just for us parents - but for these littles ones who's future is beyond bleak if not given a chance for adoption. Thank you sir - we appreciate your attention to this very personal and urgent matter.

Sincerely,
Ed & Sheri Ziegler
Dad & Mom to Austin - 4 months old

Dear Mr. President,

We are in the last step, PGN, of the Guatemalan approval process for the adoption of 2 siblings, ages 5 years and 15 months. We did as much background checking as we could to choose an agency that was ethical, and have met every requirement asked of us. We have visited the children twice, and have formed a mutual bond. The psychologist that we have hired to help our 5 year old with the loss and the transition to her new life told us that she was amazed at how much Lilian opened up after her most recent 5 days with us. She recommended that what Lilian needs now is to be with our family, where she would receive the love and attention she needs.

We respectfully ask that the United States government support the continuation of legal and ethical adoptions from Guatemala and ask President Berger to ensure prompt completion of in-process adoptions.

Sincerely,
Beth and David

Dear President Bush,

My husband and I have what some call the "adoption gene". We have two biological sons, but adoption has been a first choice for us to grow our families from the beginning. We are waiting to bring home our precious 3 month-old daughter from Guatemala referred to us in January of this year. We are working with a Christian adoption agency with whom we are completely pleased--who have shown themselves to be trustworthy and above reproach in all matters working with phenomenal attorneys and facilitators in Guatemala. We have received approval from the United States of America in the form of our I-171H to bring our daughter home. In all respects, we have entered into the same good faith agreement all of the families posting here have entered as US citizens. The cry our our hearts is that Guatemalan adoptions be made as safe for the children as is possible through legislation that would allow the program between Guatemala and the US to continue, that the children already referred to families be able to come home quickly, and that there be more personnel at the US Embassy in Guatemala to aid in this expedition of cases in the most thorough and safe manner possible.

We began our adoption journey in the China program, but when we saw our daughter's face, we knew in our hearts that we had to do what it took to bring her home. The Lord has called us to adopt this child. We need the help of our country and you, Sir, to ensure that she can come home and grow in the faith, love, freedom, and opportunity of our family that the US has already declared we can give her by issuing our immigration approval. Please encourage President Berger to allow these children already in process to come home.

Thank you for being an honorable man and for being for us, as citizens of the United States of America, a trustworthy umbrella of authority. You honor the God you serve by protection of the innocent in advocating for orphans. We pray for you daily in our home. Please be our champion. Please protect us and our daughter, these other families, and all of the orphans of Guatemala.

With sincerest respect and gratitude,
Brian and Crista Merrell
Cypress, TX

Dear Mr President,
My husband and I are in the early stages of adopting our baby girl from Guatemala. We have visitied her for a week this past Februaury and bonded with her and fell completely in love with her. I can not imagine for a moment not being able to bring her home. PLEASE help us in bringing our babies home and allowing us to complete these adoptions. Thank you for taking the time in reading this.

Sincerely,
Terri Ebbs
Waiting for Abigail Mishel

Dear Mr. President,
In December, our family received a blessing from God with a referral of a beautiful baby girl from Guatemala. She was born in July and we are anxiously waiting for the news for us to travel to Guatemala and bring her back to the United States. We entered into the adoption process in good faith and we completed the necessary legal paperwork. Along with thousands of American families, we are asking our President to represent us in Guatemala and save these children from poverty and abandonment. We need to unite them with their deserving loving families waiting for their arrival. Any sudden implementation of new policies in the Guatemala adoption process will disrupt adoptions already in process and devastate an unknown number of Guatemalan children and American families waiting for their children to come to their new home.
Sincerely,
Jeff and Natalie--Idaho
waiting for Journey

Dear Mr. President,
When you meet with Presidente Berger later this month, I (as well as the others who have written to you) respectfully ask that you use your best efforts to ensure that the Guatemalan adoptions currently in process continue. I recognize that reforms are needed in the Guatemalan process & I can personnally envision many ways to change the process. I recognize the value of the reforms Presidente Berger has advocated for and I hope that implementation of those changes can be done in an orderly process.

But I have already been matched with a beatiful 4-month old girl given the name of Jenifer by her birth mother. I agree with one of the other commenter that a child doesn't become adopted on the day he/she comes home but that is a process spread out over the months of an adoption. It is my sincere desire that Jenifer be able to become a American citizen and my daughter. Although it is a difficult, lengthy, and emotional process, I have followed all the steps necessary to allow her to be legally adopted in Guatemala and to legally emigrate to America. Can you please help me (and all the other prospective adoptive parents) who are in the process? I am certain that your mention of the need to continue the in-process cases to Presidente Berger would be helpful.

Thank you for your assistance,
Susan Nieser

Dear Mr. President,

First I appreciate that you will be discussing international adoptions with President Berger. I have received a referral for a beautiful little girl Karla Patricia that is currently 4 months old. The biological mother has been interviewed by a social worker to confirm that she willing placed her child for adoption. The DNA tests show that she is the biological mother. If the government of Guatemala takes control of the adoption process, I fear that Karla will be forced to live a life of poverty and abuse. These children should not suffer because a few people have abused the current system. Please urge President Berger, at least for the sake of the children, to complete the currently in process adoptions. Thank you, Cheryl

Dear Mr. President,
Adoption is a blessing. International adoption isn't for the faint of heart. We understood this going in to our second adoption from Guatemala. This is why we chose reputable people to represent us in Guatemala and crossed every "t" and dotted every "i" to make sure we followed all the rules to persue a legal adoption. To have the rules changed while whe are waiting for PGN approval would be unfair. I understand what a huge under taking this process is. We are changing a minor's parentage and their citizenship and removing them from a culture that is both rich and wonderful, we don't take this lightly. No process will ever be perfect and corruption is an unfortunate fact. I ask you to honor the wishes of our son's birth mother and allow us to continue the process to adopt him. Please protect the rights of people like my husband, myself and the woman who brought him into the world. We have played by the rules and just want to parent this wonderful little boy. He was born in Guatemala, but always meant to be our son. If changes to the adoption process must happen now please find a way to Grandfather in cases already underway.
Nancy

Dear President Bush,

We know that the present state of affairs regarding adoption issues in Guatemala is but one of many matters that have your attention in this present day. While many are concerned with world safety and homeland security in our great country, we recognize that you must also continue to serve the people of America in times of crisis such as the aftermath of hurricane Katrina and the recent tornado catastrophe in Alabama and in situations such as that which are now surrounding international Guatemalan adoptions.

The adoptive moms and dads in the USA and their extended families need your focused attention in the Guatemalan adoption matters-at-hand. I am confident that you will conduct appropriate conversations with Guatemalan officals and will strive to encourage and convince President Berger and his supporting agencies to consistently and expediently work through those cases currently in process.

We were introduced to our grandbaby Bella on her birthday on September 20, 2006 which happens to also be our seven year old grandson's birthday and we have been blessed to be able to see her grow over the past five months via photos while patiently and anxiously waiting for her to come "home". Our grandson Jake, traveled to Guatemala with his Mom and Dad last week and met his little sister Bella for the first time with expectaions that Bella would be home for Mother's Day and now we are faced with what could be unpredictable delays due to the recent announcing of the Protocolo.

Please proceed with all due speed and urge President Berger to allow those families who are well into the adoption process to move through the remaining processing without undue delay. Many thanks for your committment to conducting international business for the good of the American people and may the Lord stand with you and guide you in the coming days of your journey to Guatemala.

Thanks for all you do for the American people.

Best Regards,
Glenn and Deborah Landry
Baton Rouge, LA

Dear Mr. President,

We too are one of the many families whose adoption is in-process in Guatemala. Our young son Rafael, who just turned six months old, waits for us and our family anxiously waits for him. We hope and pray that you will help ensure that all in-process adoptions will be allowed to continue. We entered into a good faith agreement to bring a child home from Guatemala through the legal adoption process. We ask for your support and help Mr. President.

We agree that the Guatemalan government needs to enact laws to be Hague complient. We hope that your message of fairness and common sense will prevail. Also, as a businessman, we hope that your knowledge will help Mr. Berger understand what the loss of future adoptions will do to the economy of Guatemala. As a man of strong Christian faith, we know you can help explain the need for all children to have the opportunity for a loving family, whether by birth, through domestic adoption, or international adoption.

Thank you Mr. President for your time and attention to this serious and urgent situation.

Sincerely,
Jill and Peter Larson
Parents to Sam, Mia and waiting for Rafael

Dear President Bush,
We to are in the process of adopting our second child which we have already held in our hands and she is in her final steps of PGN. We have gone through inferitity and miscarriages and could not bear to not bring our daughter to be home. Please allow our precious angels to come home.

As Always thank you for all of your hard work.

We now lay this before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, because he is the maker of all things and he know the outcome

Karen
Mom to be

Dear Mr. President Bush,

As your constituent, it is with great concern that we write to you regarding the current state of affairs that are now occuring in Guatemalan adoptions. We are in the process of adopting a 4 year old little girl from Guatemala. We adopted her full-biological brother 5 months ago, he is now 10 months old. This little girl arrived at the orphange malnourished and in need of medical attention, but also desperately in need of love and attention. We hope to have her in the U.S. very soon, where she can enjoy the rights and benefits that we are so blessed to have here in the United States of America, but also to be with her brother. Like the many families who have written to you, we would like to also see that in-process cases be completed. It would be an injustice not only to us as Americans, but also to the countless number of children left behind. Though we fully agree that changes in Guatemala's adoption system need to be made to be in compliance with the Hague later this year, we plea for your assistance in relaying these concerns to President Berger.

Cordially,
Dr. William and Marie Slattery
Oakwood, Ohio

I adopted my daughter from Guatemala in 2006. She has been the most precious gift and I can not imagine my life without her. My heart breaks for the children and families in process who may never be able to bring their children home. My heart aches for the children who are not yet in process and may never have an opportunity to experience a loving and permenent family. Currently there is no public system in Guatemala to support these children. Until this system can be developed I beg of you to use your influence and insist that President Berger continue to allow American adoptions to proceed.
Thank you,
Debbie in NC

Dear Mr. President,

My husband and I have adopted four children from Guatemala. Two are biological siblings, but all four are now siblings through adoption!

We also adopted Guatemala as our country. It is truly a wonderful country where people care about families and children in a way that is foreign to some Americans. Yet it is the great love in their hearts for their own that has won us over! I'm sure you will experience some of this in your short visit.

While I am sure you must deal with illegal immigration and other issues, I respectfully ask that you keep an open mind regarding the legal immigrations that occur with adoptions. There are many more positive stories to tell than not. I have heard some of the negative stories, and am not oblivious to what problems exist within intercoutnry adoptions. However, we have always been a nation welcoming immigrants, and have always found ways to work through the problems to achieve the greater good of welcoming the stranger!

Blessings to you in your travels this week!
Respectfully,
Judy in WI

My husband and I are unable to have a child of our own and are anxiously awaiting our clearance so we can adopt a child. Please help us and the many others who are waiting to give loving care to a child.

Dear President Bush,

As your supporters and consituents, we respectfully request that you advocate for the completion of all adoptions that are already in process from Guatemala. As many others have stated, we are also adopting a beautiful baby girl from Guatemala. She is already our daughter in our hearts and the hearts of our two young boys. We cannot bear to think of her fate if the door to her chance at a life with a loving family is closed due to a hastily made political decision.

We also ask that you discuss with Presidente Berger the importance of designing a system for all the orphaned children of Guatemala that will not essentially deprive them of a loving family.

We trust that the Lord will use you to minister to the orphans of Guatemala!

Thomas and Natalie Curro
New York

Dear Mr. President,
We are in the process of adopting our first child, Laura Sophia-Ann. While we haven't been in the process long we are already in love with her and consider her our daughter. It's a very horrible, anxious feeling wondering if were are actually going to get to bring her home or if her referral photo is going to be placed in a album to be looked at as the daughter we lost. Please help us to bring Sofie home.
Sincerely,
Travis and Jessica Burnett

Dear Mr. President,

The words expressed by my fellow Americans in their plight to bring their children home literally brings tears to my eyes. I too have been blessed with an 11 month old angel from Guatemala, whom my wife and I brought home in January of this year after a number of trials and tribulations throughout the process. This was our second adoption, but the first from Guatemala. While the Guatemalan adoption process and system certainly has challenges that need to be addressed, I can assure you having adopted internationally from another country in the past, the process in Guatemala is far more ethical and provides greater assurances than do many other countries in the world. All children in the world need to be protected, but so too do the parents that are investing their time, effort, money, and mostly love to bring these children home as part of their family. As you address the topic of Guatemalan adoptions with President Berger, I respectfully urge you to keep in mind the plight of the waiting families and children whose lives will be forever changed by the blessing of adoption and ask that you do all that you can to ensure that "in-process" adoptions are completed.

Sincerely,
Lee Chapman
Eldersburg, Maryland

Dear Mr. President,

Our family has been blessed immeasurably by the adoption of a precious little girl from Guatemala. It is our hope that in your conversations with President Berger, you will encourage the implementations of the necessary reforms that will allow Guatemalan adoptions to continue. As a faithful Christian, I know that God calls us to to reach out to the needy.....He has called countless Americans to provide loving,caring homes to the orphans of Guatemala...
you are in a unique position to ensure that these
precious children continue to be embraced by loving families. Thank you for your service to the American people, and for those in need around the world.

Sincerely,
Mary VanderVeen
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Dear President Bush

Thank you in advance for helping us. We have two sons here at home with us and we have two more sons in Guatemala. They all share equal space in our hearts.

We have been to Guatemala twice to visit our little ones. When we are with them, we hold them in our arms, we kiss them, we tell them we will be back soon to bring them home forever.

When we are not with them, we hold them in our hearts. We pray for them every day, all day. We pray for their wonderful foster family. We pray for their wonderful country, full of incredibly, loving people.

We need your help to bring our children home. We will all stand behind you to “fix” the current system in Guatemala. We all care, we all want to help. Those here at guatadopt.com are a valuable resource. Use them!

When policies are being discussed, we pray that the welfare of our children is first and foremost in the thoughts of those discussing change.

God Bless and enjoy your travels. We hope that you, too will fall in love with Guatemala!

Donna and Gary
Virginia

Dear Mr. President,

We have a Guatemalan American child home with us and another child waiting near the end of the adoption process in Guatemala.

We are working with an ethical, wonderful agency here in the US who in turn has an ethical, wonderful team in Guatemala. Everyone working on behalf of the birthmother, child, and our family has met every letter of the Guatemalan and US law.

Within what we thought would be a couple months of bringing our new son home, it appears that everything could come grinding to a halt leaving no options for the child in Guatemala whom we have spent time with and so deeply love, severing the hopes his birthmother has for a life for him, and crushing our family's hopes for our new son's adoption--particularly the hopes and prayers of our 4 year old longing to have his baby brother home at last.

My prayer is that your visit with President Berger will be fruitful and a blessing to all the children who wait to begin their lives with their forever families. Please be a voice for the voiceless. President Berger may not hear us--families a thousand miles away--but he will listen to the President of the United States.

With hope and respect,
Amy (Michigan)

Dear President Bush and Mrs.Bush,

I want to thank you for taking time to visit with President Berger and adressing the problems in the Guatemalian adoptions. I'm sure like alot of other countries there are things that need to be worked on and new changes made with in the program. But what my family is asking you is to please encourage and plead with the President of Guatemala to let the adoptions continue if you have started. Starting means to our family at time of referral, when you see your little face or accept a child that you've longed for and opened your heart up. There are several stages in the process of adopting, a referral is just the beginning, but the beginning of a dream to many famlies. Please if there are changes made encourage the cases that have accepted a child from there beautiful country to finish there adoption process without interuptions. My daughter has a handsom little 16 month old adopted last year and now just starting the process of getting his little brother born last week. We have not even seen a picture yet but already have named him and fallen in love with his precious heart. Our daughters heart would be crushed if she could not bring her new arrival home to a forever family and friends in the big state of Texas. PLEASE, help our babies finish there journey home.

Thank You,
Grandmother Cindy

Mr. President, I am writing to you to plead for your help with completing our Guatemalan adoption. Many years ago when I lived in Texas you sat next to me at a Texas A&M football game. You were Governor then, and I was in awe at your demeanor , so friendly and such a powerful figure. Then when you became President I was so proud to have had the chance to have had that brief contact with you. I know you are a very caring person but more importantly a very powerful political figure. We adopted domesically in Virginia, where we now live, six years ago. After suffering through years of infertility we were finally blessed with a beautiful daughter. When we tried to adopt again we were dismayed that so many domestic agencies would not consider us because we had crossed that 40 year old threshold. We felt our only other option was an international adoption. We chose Guatemala for their rich culture and heritage. We are currently awaiting our embassy appointment to bring home our beautiful 7 month old baby girl. We have been to Guatemala to visit her, along with our six year old daughter. WE instantly bonded, and have been counting the days till we can bring her home. Unfortuneatly due to circumstances beyond our control we were not able to make our embassy appointment since we had less than 24 hours notice to get to Guatemala for it. It has been rescheduled for the end of March. We are devastated to think that we could lose our daughter, who we have loved and thought of everyday this past year, due to a communication glitch. Please, when you are in Guatemala, ask President Berger to "grandfather" in in-process adoptions. We would be devastated to lose our daughter when we were so close to having her in our forever family. I cannot imagine how I would tell my six year old that her sister is not coming home. While everyone acknowledges, there does need to be changes in the process, please ask that they be gradual, and to let adoptions continue. You can speak for our families like no one else can. We are counting on you to represent us and the interests of all the children who are waiting to find their forever homes. Thankyou.

Dear Mr. President,
My husband and I are so close to completing the adoption of our beautiful baby girl from Guatemala. We have been in PGN for 3 months and are so very close. We ask that you support us and the thousands of others like us, by insisting that President Berger allow in-process adoptions to proceed. We only want what is best for our child and all the other children that could be affected by this decision. Our baby girl is 6 months old and each day that goes by is one less day we have to spend with her. We started the adoption process after losing a baby and this would be another tragic loss for us, all over again.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. Not only are you making thousands of parents happy but you may be saving the lives of thousands of children, and that is what really counts.
Kind Regards,
Katie (WI)

Dear Mr. President,

We were heartened to hear that the topic of international adoptions would be on your agenda when you meet later this week with Guatemala’s President Berger. Like many of the parents who have added their comments and personal stories here, we are also in the process of adopting from Guatemala. We champion reforms to the current system of adoption in Guatemala that will put the welfare of the children first and we believe that this entails assurances that the cases of children who are “in-process” be allowed to continue to completion in a timely manner. We firmly believe that halting adoptions altogether would not serve the best interests of any parties concerned, least of all the children in need of “forever families.” As the United States partners with Guatemala to bring their international adoption laws into compliance with those of the Hague Convention, it is our sincere hope that the “spirit” of this body of regulations is held foremost during the reform process and that any ensuing changes literally do not “through out the baby with the bathwater.”

We thank you sincerely for being a representative voice for so many of us who have entered into this process in good faith, who are working with reputable agencies in accordance with all US and Guatemalan laws and regulations, and who have been so willing to do whatever is necessary to provide a better future for these children.

Alex Phakos & Lisa Minter

Dear President Bush,

My husband and I are also extremely close to bringing our only daughter home from Guatemala. I ask that as you think about the families that have responded that you try to imagine what it would have been like to have one of your daughters ripped from your arms at 9 months old and to have someone tell you that you will never see her again. This is the prospect facing thousands of American families if these adoptions are stopped. Most of us have met our children and love them more than anything in the world. The loss of any of these children would be devastating. For many of us, myself included, this is our last chance to have any child. We have paid every penny we have to bring this child home. I am begging that you consider families like us and do anything you can to continue the adoptions in progress. Sincerely, Kristina and Aaron Smith of Fort Wayne, Indiana

Dear Mr. President,
My husband and I are in the process of adopting our first child, Diana Isabel.We are not American citizens.We are Spanish and English however we are affected by the same issues with our little girl's adoption process.We haven't been in the process long but we are already in love with her and consider her our daughter. It's a very painful moment for us thinking about the future of this little soul without us.Please help us to bring her home.
Sincerely,
Mercedes and John

Dear Mr. President,
My husband and I are in the process of adopting our first child, Diana Isabel.We are not American citizens.We are Spanish and English however we are affected by the same issues with our little girl's adoption process.We haven't been in the process long but we are already in love with her and consider her our daughter. It's a very painful moment for us thinking about the future of this little soul without us.Please help us to bring her home.
Sincerely,
Mercedes and John

Dear President Bush,
My husband John and I have also been in process for two years and a direct victim of the latest events involving the arrested US Facilitator. We have two biological children but have always dreamed of adoption. We plan to pursue another child and hope that is will be a smooth process. We are honest, hardworking middle class Americans that have alot of love to offer a child. We desperately hope that you can soften the heart of President Berger. These innocent precious childre's future is as stake.
Sincerely,
Kim and John McGee

Please, Mr. President ...

Help these children join their families!

Sincerely,
Karen and Dan Nelson

President Bush,

My wife and I are currently in the early stages of adopting a beautiful little girl from Guatemala. As you know, there are many changes looking to be instituted in the Guatemalan adoption process. We plead with you very selfishly to allow the in process cases to be completed. To allow these children, who are already placed with a loving family, to get lost in the transition would be worse than cruel. I understand your wife has been instrumental in championing for adoption in the United States including the Adoption Initiative. We could certainly use her expertise and compassion in helping Guatemala bridge the gap for implementation of the Hague treaty.

If you don't mind, I'd like to remind you what you said five years ago regarding adoption. Because it fits in just about all of our stories.

Erik and Nancy Snyder, Hopeful Parents of Blanca
Common sense and social science lead to the same conclusion: Children thrive in secure, loving and stable homes. Providing that kind of home through adoption can be a long and a time-consuming process. I understand that. Adopting a child can add to the normal challenges of one's daily life. I fully understand that, as well. Yet adoption changes a single life forever, and it brings countless blessings to the lives of parents… And every child deserves to be a part of a permanent, loving family. That's our hope. We live in a great country full of really loving and decent people. And there's no doubt in my mind, when people hear the call, they will respond to the needs of a lot of our children."
--George W. Bush, July 23, 2002

My husband and I adopted our daughter from Guatemala in 2003. She is now a loving and vivacious 4 year old who often asks us "When will my baby sister be here?" President Bush please give your support to the plight of the orphaned children of Guatemala so they can have a bright future of of familial love, in our land of opportunity.

Dear Mr. President,
I am the proud, happy mother of two. Our son came to us through adoption from Russia, and my little girl was adopted from Guatemala a little over a year ago. Both of our children have enriched our lives immeasurably. It’s a beautiful thing to unite children in need of parents with parents in need of children, and my wish is that this be allowed to continue.
While I understand Guatemalan adoption requires reform to meet the requirements of the Hague convention, I respectfully ask that you use your best efforts to ensure that the adoptions currently in process be allowed to continue. And I request that you work with the Guatemalan government to ensure a smooth transition to a reformed, Hague-compliant adoption process for future families.
Please do not break the hearts of families who are currently in the process of adopting Guatemalan children. And please do not deny these children, who are utterly helpless, a lifetime of love and care with their forever families.
We all understand it takes time to complete the checks necessary to ensure that adoptions are ethical and legal, but time is precious and expedience is necessary.
Thank you so much for visiting Guatemala and considering the issue of adoption.
Respectfully,
Suzanne Edmonson (Kansas)

Dear Mr. President,
My husband and I are in the process of adopting our first child, Diana Isabel.We are not American citizens.We are Spanish and English however we are affected by the same issues with our little girl's adoption process.We haven't been in the process long but we are already in love with her and consider her our daughter. It's a very painful moment for us thinking about the future of this little soul without us.Please help us to bring her home.Many thanks!!!!
Sincerely,
Mercedes and John

Dear President Bush,

Together with literally thousands of other American families, including those who are posting messages here, my husband and I have entered into a good faith agreement to bring a child home from Guatemala through a legal adoption process. We and our licensed adoption agency have scrupulously followed every legal regulation of the U.S. and Guatemala governing adoptions, and we have received pre-approval of our adoption case from the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala following a positive DNA match between the little girl who we are adopting and her birth mother. We have invested a very large percentage of our life savings in our adoption process, to say nothing of our powerful emotional investment in the little girl to whom we were referred days after her birth, and who is now four months old.

If our case is significantly delayed by abrupt changes to adoption procedures in Guatemala, this little girl will be at increased risk of attachment problems, as well as other potentially serious psychological and developmental issues that are associated with being placed in a permanent home at an older age. If our adoption is completely terminated due to a shutdown of the current system of international adoptions in Guatemala, she will be at risk of living out her life in extreme poverty and deprivation.

The vast majority of American adoptive families have made good faith efforts to comply with U.S. and Guatemalan law at every stage of the adoption process. We do not deserve to be left without the children whom we already love, and potentially also without the financial resources to try to adopt again after suffering such a devastating loss.

As citizens of the United States, we should be protected until the adoption process is finalized. I would ask that all in-process Guatemalan adoption cases be allowed to continue without interruption or excessive delay, while of course ensuring that all aspects of the adoptions are within the law. I would also ask that you strongly encourage President Berger to commit to a smooth transition to a Hague-compliant and functional system that will allow Guatemalan children to continue to be united with loving families through international adoption in the future.

Please take whatever action you can to help protect the children of Guatemala and their prospective adoptive parents.

Sincerely,
Gina Peirce
Pittsburgh, PA

Hello! We understand the President is getting ready to make a trip to
Guatemala. Right now..there are a lot of changes going on regarding
international adoption from Guatemala as the U.S. is close to Hague
Convention implementation.

We have a 4 year old daughter adopted from Guatemala in 2003. We hope
the U.S. continues to encourage Guatemala to take the necessary steps to
pass implementing legislation that is consistent with the Hague Convention
but does not remove the chance for orphans to join a permanent family.

We also agree with the DOS statement that “any sudden halt to adoption
processing would be problematic and hurt both the children and adoptive
parents because children would be caught in the process with no system
through which they could be placed internationally with a permanent
family.”

We realize there have been problems with adoptions from Guatemala but that
is not the case with all adoptions. We have established contact with our
daughter's birthfamily, and we know there was no coercion or any such
thing involved. Our daughter's birthmother was simply a child herself,
who wanted to find a good loving home for her daughter where she would
have what she needed. We have provided that and her birthmother is
grateful for that. This is not very different than the needs of the
various parties involved in domestic U.S. adoptions. We have regular
contact with the birthfamily and plan to meet them next year in Guatemala.
Although we agree being raised within her Mayan heritage would be the
best, as that was not possible in her case, at least she is well loved,
has good access to medical care and an education, and will go on to be a
prosperous and loving adult who honors her Mayan heritage. When these
things can be provided to all the rural Mayan children in Guatemala...then
perhaps there will be no need for international adoptions.

Sincerely,

Robert and Susan Ryan
McCall, Idaho

Dear Mr President
My husband and I are in the process of adopting a child from Guatemala. Mario is 7 months old and lives in a hogar in Guatemala City, Guatemala. We have just entered Family Court and are awaiting DNA. Just this past week Guatemala began taking steps to become compliant with the Hague Treaty, with the announcement of the Manual of Good Practices. This manual threatens adoptions in process as well at future adoptions in Guatemala. I ask that you contact the Department of State and urge them to encourage Guatemala to pass legislation that will not only be Hague compliant but allow adoptions to continue. We entered into this adoption legally and as citizens of the United States we ask that you do whatever is necessary to guard our adoption and ensure that Mario is brought home in a timely manner.

Mario will be our second child adopted from Guatemala. We have been very blessed by our first child Jacob and know without ever having held Mario he will be blessing too. We were first told about Mario in September of 2006. Since then we have been actively pursuing his adoption. It is his birthmother’s wish that he be placed for adoption and go to the United States. Please remember that if adoptions are stopped or delayed that it will be the children that will suffer most. Mark and I know the joy of adoption and ask that you do what is necessary to continue to unite children with their parents.

We thank you for your time

Mark, Carol, & Jacob Unrine

Dear President Bush,

Your upcoming meeting with President Berger gives the adoption community hope that the two countries will work together to establish necessary reforms and protect the orphaned children who so desperately need loving homes.

We are currently in the PGN phase of our adoption, waiting for our precious son who is now 6 months old and already so much a part of our family. During a visit trip in January, we immediately bonded with him and love him beyond words. Our 7-year-old daughter is so excited to meet her brother and to visit his birthcountry once our adoption progresses and we can bring him home. Yet, we now have growing concern that our dream of bringing this baby boy home may be shattered if the two governments do not find a way to build in new safeguards to the system while still honoring the cases already in-process. We certainly support any kind of actions made in the best interest of the children of Guatemala, but fear that the delays that could result will only harm them and their chance to be placed in loving homes. We know God would not have led us to adopt from Guatemala only to abandon us when we are so close to bringing our son home. And, Mr. President, we also have faith in your goodness and ability to guide this process and ensure protections for the children and the families (the birth, foster and adoptive families) who will be affected by the potential delays that may come.

Godspeed!
Sara and Daryl, Wis.

Es verdaderamente preocupante el saber que el gobierno quiere la Secretaría de Bienestar de la Presidencia se haga cargo de las adopciones en Guatemala, cuando es bien sabido la forma que que se manejan esos temas aquí en Guatemala. Para muestra, los hogares temporales donde se cuida a menores de edad mientras sus padres trabajan. En esos lugares se les da mala atención, no se les da la alimentación adecuada, y las personas que los cuidan son muy pocas comparadas con la cantidad de niños que se deja a su cuidado.

El las guarderías estatales, a los niños se les asigna a un grupo insuficiente de cuidadoras, hay veces que son cuatro o cinco personas para cuidar a unos 20 ó 30 niños, no tienen los fondos suficientes para darles una alimentación y vestido adecuado, y no hay un pediatra capacitado que lleve su control de vacunas y los asista en sus enfermedades. Cada año mueren muchos niños en esos “centros de cuidado”, por la falta de asistencia médica y una persona que los cuide de manera amorosa.

No es así con los niños que esperan ser adoptados y que son dados en custodia a madres foster por parte de abogados particulares. Estos niños (no más de dos por madre foster), reciben el amor y cuidado que recibiría cualquier niño en su propia familia, es más, ese niño pasa a ser parte de la familia foster mientras se terminan todos los trámites de adopción. Estos niños tienen control mensual de vacunas, desarrollo físico e intelectual, asistencia médica en caso de tener cualquier trastorno médico y el tratamiento especializado para algunos niños que padecen de algún tipo de enfermedad que requiera de cuidades médico profesionales.

No creo que la Secretaría de Bienestar de la Presidencia tenga la capacidad de brindar a cada infante ese tipo de cuidado. Es necesario ver no solamente el tema económico del que tanto hablan los representantes del gobierno, quienes dicen que los abogados se enriquecen a costa de las adopciones, pero no ven que los niños están mucho mejor si las adopciones son manejadas por abogados particulares, siendo supervisados por la Procuraduría General de la Nación, quien vela que todos los trámites sean realizados con la mayor legalidad. Eso ampara que los niños verdaderamente sean dados en adopción por sus verdaderos padres, por medio de la prueba de ADN, que no sean robados, como han dicho en algunos casos, y que las personas que los adoptan sean personas honorables y dignas de tener en el seno de su hogar a un niño o niña que necesita del cuidado y amor que les ha sido negado de parte de su familia biológica.

No permitan que el estado se haga cargo del tema de las adopciones, ya que los que sufrirán las consecuencias serán los niños, quienes han sido rechazados por diversas razones de sus hogares biológicos, y que vayan a pasar a sufrir a esas instituciones donde no recibirán el cuidado y amor que tanto necesitan y que por el momento están recibiendo en los hogares foster.

Mr President

Like so many others I am in the process of bringing my daughter home froma Guatemala. I am in the final stages of PGN and hope to bring her hope soon. Please help us bring our children home.

Thank you
Brenda
Colorado

Dear Mr. President,
I am a 44 year old single female who has longed to be a Mom. On January 30 of this year my dream came true when I finally received my referral for a beautiful baby girl from Guatemala. As a single person Guatemala is my only logical option for adoption as both China and Korea do not allow singles to adopt. I cannot imagine the heartbreak of finding out I canoot bring my beautiful baby girl home. Please help myself and all the families anxiously awaiting the completion of our adoptions. Thanking you in advance for your help.
MaryBeth, Queensbury NY
Waiting for Nora Elizabeth

Dear Mr. President:
My husband and I recently brought home our daughter from Guatemala. She is the best thing that has ever happened to our family. I cannot fathom life without her. She came into the United States of America as a permanent resident and we recently received her Certificate of Citizenship. We were very proud the day that the Certificate arrived along with a letter from you. The letter is now in her life book and I'm sure she will treasure it when she is older. She is an American citizen and one that I am sure will love both her birth country and the United States equally.

I pray that adoptions in Guatemala can continue and respectfully ask for your help in doing so. Not only do I wish for adoptions from Guatemala to continue, but to not put both the children and their parents through any unnecessary delays in their adoption process. I fully understand and endorse all agencies performing due diligence to ensure that our children are placed into our families ethically and honestly.

Our adoption was a wonderful experience. One that brought our daughter to us and we hope and pray that other families will be able to continue to experience the joy that being an adoptive parent to a child born in Guatemala can bring.
Thank You!
Sincerly,
The Richters

Dear Mr. President,

We have great concerns for the welfare of the children of Guatemala. We have already adopted two beautiful children from Guatemala and have the utmost respect and admiration for the birth mothers of our children, as we met them both and know the struggles they face and how much they want their children to have a brighter future that they cannot provide.

Our third adoption is in process with our case being in PGN for some time and hopefully coming out soon for finalization of the adoption process.
We have met and visited with our daughter in Guatemala and she is a part of our family and our hearts and we ache without her and wish for her to come home soon.

We respectfully implore you to please speak to President Berger regarding the in process adoption cases that they may continue without interuption while his administration moves toward Hague compliance regarding international adoption.
Please also read and carefully consider your letter from Thomas Atwood, President and CEO of the National Council For Adoption. In his letter, he proposes finding middle ground to maintain the benefits of Guatemala's private system while creating central authority and providing security and protections for children,as required by the Hague Convention.
It is my opionion that the foster care system and the private orphanages in Guatemala are without a doubt, the best care for any orphaned child-I hope it may be maintained as part of the Hague reforms.

Thank you for your time, attention, and consideration regarding these serious matters.
As I type this to you I am watching my children playing and laughing and joyfully enjoying life!
We pray that our daughter in Guatemala may come home to join us and have a happy, heathy future. We also pray for the future of Guatemalan children that they may also enjoy the opportunities for a better life.

Respectfully,
Laura and Gregory
Pennsylvania

Dear President Bush,
Thank you for being an advocate for children and families around the world. We would ask you to address the important issue of adoption with Guatemalan government officials during your upcoming visit to that country so dear to our hearts.

I hope you would agree that it should be a parent's right to decide the future for their child. If birth families cannot provide for their child because of the extreme poverty they find themselves in, they need the freedom to make an adoption plan for their child. They should be protected not only from those who would take advantage of them for financial gain, but from government regulations which would forbid them from giving their child hope and a future.

My husband and I are currently in the process of adopting our fourth child from Guatemala. All of our children lived in the same private orphanage in Guatemala City where, for decades, children have received loving care and eventually, through ethical adoption practices, found their forever families in the United States and beyond. We started the process to adopt an eight year old daughter from Guatemala in 2002, but because of the confusing and hurried efforts to implement the Hague in Guatemala in 2003, her adoption was held up for a very long time. She eventually joined our family in 2005 at the age of ten.

We are currently waiting for another ten year old daughter to join our family. Our case is now in PGN, the final court in Guatemala. Once again, efforts to implement the Hague may potentially effect our case. We fear yet another very long wait, if Guatemala rushes to or feels forced to make quick decisions concerning their adoption laws. While we believe there are issues to address and things to fix in the Guatemalan adoption process, ethical adoptions have long taken place in that country and should be allowed to continue.

We ask that you please encourage all parties to help the children already in process to join their adoptive families in a timely manner. It would only hurt birth families, orphaned or relinquished children, adoptive families, and the future of Guatemala, to allow these cases to either halt or languish in the courts.

Please also be aware that there those in power in Guatemala may be feeling great pressure by a well known international relief organization to quickly adopt laws and regulations in order to receive a large amount of funding for the country. In the past, where this organization has entered into adoption issues in other countries, adoptions have virtually halted. Can this truly be in the best interest of children, or do certain organizations have much to gain by halting adoptions?

Dear Mr. President,

I echo the sentiments of my friends in the Guatemalan adoption community. We are a tight knit group that rely heavily on each other to get through this stressful process. I have read each of their posts and have been touched deeply by their pleas for help. I am also writing to ask for your assistance.

My husband and I have been involved with a Guatemalan adoption for almost one year now and have a six month old angel waiting for us. We have been to Guatemala twice and bonded with our son. We believe that it is our responsibility as his parents to advocate on his behalf.

I pray that your visit with President Berger is productive and that you will discuss a strategy that will safeguard Guatemalan adoptions for the future. Please be mindful that most adoptive parents have invested every dime we have and every corner of our hearts into this adoption process and that the pain of leaving our children behind to a life of poverty would be not only heart breaking, but unacceptable.

I appreciate your time and hope that your visit to the beautiful country of Guatemala is productive.

Respectfully,
Lee Anne and John
Berlin, New Jersey

Dear Mr. President:

I write to you on behalf of my sister and her husband who are pursuing the adoption of a baby boy in Guatemala. She met her son for the first time in August, 2005 when he was five weeks old. He is now twenty months old. She has visited him thirteen times and will be in Guatemala visiting him again when you arrive for your meeting with President Berger. If the proposed Protocol of Good Practices is implemented soon, he could be taken from our loving family forever to be raised in an orphanage without the love of a family or the proper nutrition or medical care that every child deserves. Please act on behalf of my nephew and the thousands of other children like him.

I strongly agree with the United States Department of State’s statement that “any sudden halt to adoption processing would be problematic and hurt both the children and adoptive parents because children would be caught in the process with no system through which they could be placed internationally with a permanent family.”

Adoptive parents have entered into a good faith agreement to bring a child home from Guatemala through a legal adoption process and should be allowed to continue. As citizens of the United States they should be protected until the adoption process is finalized. I would ask that all in-process Guatemalan adoption cases be allowed to continue without unnecessary interruption or delay while of course ensuring that all aspects of the adoption are within the law. Whatever policy reforms are made, for the sake of the children, we hope that adoptions will be able to continue to proceed during the transition period, with special attention to the "pipeline" cases where children have been matched with parents and the adoptions are in process. There is much concern regarding the recent announcement of the Protocol of Good Practices, which is said to be implemented in the next few weeks. The Protocol indicates that all adoptions, even those adoptions in-process, would be suspended.

Please address the issues with President Berger and other Guatemalan officials and encourage all parties to work together to implement the Hague Convention. Your adoption advocacy in other parts of the world, such as in Russia, has had a very positive effect. Thank you very much for considering extending your advocacy to Guatemala.

Dear Mr. President,

Our family has been in the adoption process now for two years. We are still waiting for our 17 month old son to join his forever family here in the United States. We would greatly appreciate if you would address this issue with President Berger and please help to bring our children home from this beautiful country. Our family would be devastated if adoptions would be halted and our son never got the chance to be with his forever family.

Sincerely, The O'Connell's
Pennsylvania

Dear Mr. President,

We have a 3 year old biological daughter and are in the process of adopting our 9 month old baby girl from Guatemala. We began our adoption process in November of 2005 after we both felt the Lord was calling us to expand our family through international adoption. After careful research & much prayer, we decided on the country of Guatemala and we chose a highly ethical Christian agency to facilitate our adoption. Our agency works with a Christian attorney in Guatemala and we have the utmost respect and faith in our attorney's reputation as an advocate for Guatemalan children & their birth families.

We have joined together to follow God's call to care for the orphans of this world. We know that God has a special plan for our daughter's life and that He knew before the beginning of time that she would be a part of our family. We have already visited her in Guatemala and are anxiously awaiting approval from PGN so we can bring her home. We have been waiting patiently in faith and prayer and ask that you consider all of the families and children who God has destined to join together through the miracle of adoption.

We look forward to the day when we can bring our daughter home forever and we will give all the praise & the glory to God for allowing us to experience a miracle!

May God bless you and your family the way He has blessed ours. We pray that you have a safe journey to Guatemala and that God will continue to guide you and direct your steps.

Sincerely,

Trevor & Keely from Arizona

Dear President Bush,
My husband and I waiting for our baby girl to come home from Guatemala. We have been waiting for 3 1/2 years to have our first child and we are now hopefully only months away from seeing that dream become a reality. We are completely in love with her already and would be totally devastated if something happened that would keep her from coming home. It breaks my heart to think about what would happen to her, as well as all the other children, if adoptions were to close in Guatemala.

We ask that you will speak to President Berger about adoption in Guatemala. And we pray that the situation will work out that we may bring our little girl home soon, and that all the parents and children out there waiting to be brought together will be united soon as well. Thank you!

Dear Mr President Bush,
I hope with all my heart that you will personally read these letters to you or at least some of them. Only then will you really feel what we are trying to say to you.
My husband and I are in the process of adopting a little girl, now 21 months, whom was given up by her mother at 17 months with anemia and malnutrition. She is already our daughter in our hearts.
I know you are a very busy man with numerous political items on your agenda, but please do not forget these innocent children.
I pray that Gods will is with you. That it gives you the words you need to express concern to President Berger about the adoptions in progress and future of the Guatemalan children. God Bless.

Sincerely,
Doug and Correen Jones
Washinton

Dear Mr. President,

In January 2006, I brought home my 5 month old son. He is now a healthy 19 month old toddler who is active and happy. You can't help but smile when you see him.

I never planned on a sibling, but when I received the call that my son had a 5 day old sister, of course I said yes. She is now 5 months old. Her case is out of Family Court and heading to PGN. I travel to visit her on 3/13.

I pray that the your administration will influence President Berger to continue international adoption. The children need homes.

Respectfully,
Jim Benney, Foster City, CA

Dear President Bush,

I will be visiting my six-month-old son for the first time when you are in Guatemala. What should be a trip of complete joy is tainted by the fear that if adoptions stop in Guatemala, I may never see my son again and he will never meet his brother, who I adopted from Guatemala in 2005. For thousands of Americans, Guatemala provides an avenue by which they can fulfill their dreams of having a family. Every child deserves to be loved and have the stability of a family. Unfortunately, for many children in Guatemala, this is not their reality. Please help us in making our dreams come true. Thank you.

Dear President Bush,

My family has been dedicated to financially supporting needy children in Central America (as well as charities in the USA). Three years ago, we made the decision to adopt from Guatemala. And, two full years ago, we accepted a referral for a 22 month old girl (Zayda).

Unexpected issues (with the birth-mother) made it so that we had to RESTART the entire process a year later. This June, Zayda will be four years old, and still might not be home with us.

Please do not let them close the doors to our bringing this little girl into our home as our daughter.

Respectfully,
John and Lisa Fox
Ohio

President Bush,
I know that there are 101 million more important issues that you have to deal with, however this one is important to so many future mom and dads.

I am not really expecting for you personally to read this, but maybe this writing exercise will at least help our spirit and give us some hope.

Our Story:

My husband, Pete Leyden and myself, Kristina Leyden decided to adopt a child so we could have a family. There is no other option for us, but adoption and we long to raise our family together. We have been trying almost for 5 years now to start our family, first my husband was called to duty, he spent our first 15 months of marriage in Iraq. Then we spent a little over a year with infertility clinics and then 2 years ago we started the adoption process. WE HAVE BEEN PATIENT and have jumped through every possible regulation, hoop etc to try and complete the adoption process in the most lawful way set forth by both Guatemala and the United States. We have been stuck in PGN (Guatemala's Attorney Generals Office) for over 21 weeks now with our daughter. We have visited our daughter 4 times, we go to Guatemala every other month for 5 days. We fell in love with this child and now her brother. Yes, in December (on our third visit) we were approached by the birth mom herself requesting that we consider our daughter's brother for adoption so they could be together. We started this process with just wanting ONE child, but were lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to adopt TWO children. The birth mother is 18 years old, she was homeless and didn't have the opportunity to complete her education. The adoption agency in Guatemala has helped with managing money, job skills, housing and helping her with finishing her education and making better choices for the future. That is a good thing.

My husband and I are average Americans. We live in an average house, make an average living but we are very good kind people. We both serve our community/country. My husband is a Civil Affairs Solider, and has been in the military for 13 years, he is also on a Special Weapons Team for BWI airport as a full time Police Officer. And I am a licensed Social Worker and give to the elderly/homeless/ill/addicted everyday. We have fell in love with "our" children, and we see other good Americans doing the same during our visits to Guatemala.

Please, help us in fighting for our protection in allowing current adoptions that have already gone through DNA testing and I-600 approval to be continued and finalized during this process of restructuring adoptions in Guatemala.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

All the best to you and your family,

Peter and Kristina Leyden

future parents to Katherine Marie and Andrew Peter

Mr. President, I am encouraged that you are speaking with President Berger. I pray that you are able to work together to provide the children of Guatemala the opportunities that every child deserves. Unless and until Guatemala can effectively provide care for all of its children, international adoption is the only hope for many "chapines". Please consider deeply the implications of any steps going forward. Remember that, while many of our hearts ache as we wait to complete our adoptions, it is truly the children that are aching for a loving, pemanent home.

Dear Mr. President,

First of all I would like to thank you for visiting Guatemala, our daughter's birth country.
We are curently waiting for our U.S. embassy appointment in Guatemala so that we can bring our daugher home with us forever.
Adoption is a beautiful way for a family to grow.
Please help others families share this blessing by helping to keep adoptions open.
Please help to ensure that not only is it done legally, but that the process is consistent and benefits the child(ren).

Dear President Bush,

We too second everything said. We are dossier ready and waiting on immigration to issue our 171H. We have two beautiful bio boys and cannot wait to have our beautiful guatemalan daughter. Please do what you can to keep guatemala from closing during their Hague compliancy. This children need us and you their leader to keep them coming home to us safely. This children are America's future. Mr. & Mrs. Guy Turi

Dear Mr. President,

My husband and I, like so many others, cannot have biological children. When we decided to adopt a baby from Guatemala, we felt totally at peace with the decision. We are both in our early thirties and were matched on November 2, 2006 with a beautiful baby girl. She just turned 4 months old and with each day we only love her more. She has our heart and her pictures practically wallpaper our home and office. The only thing that keeps us going through this very difficult process is the thought of bringing our beautiful daughter home. We have followed all the rules and have a completely “clean” case. We expect to enter PGN in about a week. We entered the adoption process under the good faith agreement. We come to you humbly and ask for your help with this situation. I pray for all the children of Guatemala and realize that the adoption process needs work. But, please sir, please, do not allow the cases already in process to be derailed. I can’t imagine life without my daughter. Thank you for your attention in this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Robert & Amy Romans, KY

Dear President Bush,
Having just recently returned to the USA with my beautiful 9 month old daughter from Guatemala, I wish to only tell you that international adoptions absolutely need to continue with this country. So many beautiful children have been adopted and continue to need homes that will love them and nurture them into adulthood. I adopted from Guatemala because of the good loving care the children receive particularly in the Foster Home program. Having done alot of research on adopted children these children are the most charming, laid back, well adjusted children you would ever want to have in your life. Please President Bush, as you travel to Guatemala keep your heart open when it comes to the well being and life of all these children in need of a good home in the USA.

Sincerely,
Claire Couillard
Lowell Massachusetts

Dear President Bush,

As adoptive parents with a case currently in-process in Guatemala, my husband and I have great concern for the welfare of our son and the thousands of other children waiting for permanent, loving families. We strongly support the efforts of those in the U.S. and in Guatemala who are fighting for the welfare of these children and recognize that reforms are needed.

In order for the children of Guatemala to be protected, it is essential that international adoptions be allowed to continue. We ask that you encourage the Guatemalan government to work toward a smooth trasition to the Hague Convention that puts the necessary reforms in place with minimal disruption to in-process adoptions.

Thank you for your consideration of this manner and for all the work you do for children around the world.

Sincerely,

Chris & Kristen Gorski

Dear Mr. President,

I thank you in advance for your attention to the adoption situation in Guatemala. I am in the process of adopting a newborn infant. I am invested in Guatemala both emotionally and financially. I see the need for change in the Guatemalan process however this change must be gradual and not cause adoptions to halt altogether. There is no safety net for the children of Guatemala. Adoptive parents such as myself may lose money and a child we have come to love but ultimately the children will lose the most.

Thank You and Kind Regards,
Katie Geis

Mr. President,

We have been matched with our son since August and have been following a legal adoption process in Guatemala. My wife visited him over Thanksgiving, and we both feel very attached to him and that he is meant to be our son. A suspension of adoptions in process would probably mean that we would lose our son. Please don't let that happen!

Dear President Bush,

In 2003 we brought home our beautiful little girl from Guatemala. Her name is Jaclyn. We were delayed in our referral due to Hague issues at the time but it all worked out and we brought our little girl home at 5 month's. Our agency in PA was very good and we knew we were in good hands. My husband and I are now hoping to bring home a sibling for Jaclyn. We are using the same agency as before and have no doubt in our minds that they are ethical and honest. We received our 171-H and are currently awaiting a referral. I keep telling myself if this is meant to be it will happen. I hope your visit to Guatemala will help all the families waiting to bring home there children and to hopefully keep this wonderful program in place.

Dear Mr. President -
My wife and I are in the process of adopting a baby girl from Guatemala, and we are so close to obtaining the approval from PGN. We would like your help to ensure President Berger does not try to delay or suspend any adoption in process. Like so many other families, we are watching our babies grow up in pictures and medical reports, and we want our babies to come home so we can watch them grow up in person. Please help anyway you can.
Thank You!
Dan
WI

Dear Mr. President,
Thank you so much for discussing the issue of international adoption during your meeting with President Berger. We would like to add our voices to second the statement prepared by Guatadopt.

We are in the end stages of the process to adopt a little boy, who turns 8 at the end of this month. Throughout the process our highest concern has been having an ethical process. We researched our agency very carefully, and have carefully and gladly complied with all the requirements designed to ensure that adoptions are conducted ethically. We are motivated, as are the overwhelming majority of prospective adoptive parents, by the desire to provide a home for a child who would not otherwise have one, as well as by the desire to parent. Any fraud in this process is unconscionable, and we are very glad that the US and Guatemalan governments are working to eliminate unethical practices and adoption service providers.

We recently had a wonderful visit with the almost-8-year-old boy we are adopting. He bonded immediately with us and our 4 children (2 biological, 2 adopted), and really cannot wait to come home with us and have a family to take care of him and protect him. He is such a sweet little boy, so ready to love despite the tough life he's had. We cannot bear to think of what will happen to him should adoption be shut down.

We would ask you and President Berger to please take steps that will help to eliminate unethical adoption practices, but to please do it in such a way that children and their birth families are genuinely helped. There are many deeply caring, very ethical people working for adoption agencies in the US, and there are also people (for example, those who run Guatadopt) who are quite knowledgeable about international adoption, but do not have any financial stake in it. Please consider their input about ways to reform the adoption process.

And please, please, PLEASE, do not stop the thousands of perfectly legitimate, ethical adoptions that are in process. To do so would be absolutely devastating to the adopting families, and probably quite literally destroy the lives of the children being adopted.

Thank you very much.
Ken Cohen and Leslie Root

Dear Mr. President and First Lady Bush:

Last year after celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary, we were blessed with two beautiful boys adopted from Guatemala. We can't imagine our lives without these wonderful children who have given us so much love and joy.

We will be forever grateful to the people we met during our sons' adoption process including our dedicated, honest and inspiring US and Guatemalan attorneys, the excellent and loving foster family who nurtured our boys to health, the caring social services workers, the kind and supportive Guatemalan hotel staff, and the hard-working officials at the Guatemalan Embassy in NY as well as those at the US Embassy in Guatemala. Work colleagues, neighbors, friends, family, and countless others supported us in our dream of having a family.

Children unite the world in a way that nothing else ever can.

All of these people from so many different walks of life shared the same goal - to give these orphans a FAMILY.

Please work with Guatemala to keep intercountry adoptions open. Every child deserves a loving family. Children give meaning to all of our lives and they are the world's future.

Respectfully,
Lisa and Michael Drew
(New York)

Dear President Bush,
My husband and I adopted our daughter from Guatemala last February 2006. We most definitely would like to add to our family again from Guatemala but are not sure if we can with the impending changes. It is hard enough to come up with the funds necessary for an adoption let alone deal with the recent changes that the Hague Treaty may bring to the process. While we believe the Hague has very good intentions, please do not allow the Hague Treaty to halt adoptions between Guatemala and the U.S. The waiting children and their forever families are the ones hurt in this process. Surely. there must be a way to continue the adoption process and work toward achieving the Hague requirements in a spirit of mutual co-operation between both countries. Thank you for listening to our concerns.

Dear Mr. President,

I have been fortunate in being able to adopt a wonderful baby girl from Guatemala in 2005. She is my pride and joy and brings me happiness every day. I was very honored that the good people of Guatemala would grant me such a privilege and I hope that I can instill in my daughter a true sense of pride in her heritage and help her understand what a wonderful culture, nation and people she comes from and at the same time, what a wonderful country she has become a citizen of. Just recently, and knowing that changes were coming, I did accept a referral of a baby boy from Guatemala. Some would say, I should have waited until the process was "final" before I began, but I am putting my faith in both governments that it will be worked out in the best way possible, because I believe the needs of the children are the ultimate driving forces behind these upcoming changes.

Like many of the families writing to you through this forum, we all have put much faith in the U.S. and Guatemalan adoption processes. Our desire to bring these children home to our country, to our families and to our hearts has basically put us at both governments' mercy. We have to trust and believe that both countries' desires to protect these children, are what will make the process fair and "safe". Many of us recognize that while, unfortunately, some people from both countries have abused the process for their own gain, the vast majority of us (adopting families, agencies, government employees and facilitators on both sides) follow the rules and laws our governments have put in place because we do truly want what is best for these children. We understand that our government is well on its way to being fully Hague compliant and that Guatemala is beginning to address the issue as well.

We understand that both sovereigns will do it their own way as all sovereign nations do and should. While our government has implemented laws which protect adopting families from abrupt changes in this implementation process (basically "grandfathering in those with an I-171 already), we adopting families, that are putting our trust in both governments, are very worried about the upcoming changes on the Guatemalan side.

We ask you to speak to President Berger on our behalfs and to voice our concerns and our fears, that the process on the Guatemalan side please take into consideration the families already "in process", who have already accepted a referral child on paper and in our hearts, whether through abandonment or relinquishment, and help ensure that our adoptions do not get disrupted. I, at least, and many others I am sure, would welcome extra scrutiny and a slightly longer wait if that is what it takes to ensure that the adoption is totally legal and "above the board". My biggest fear, and I daresay, the fear of all adopting parents who have put so much trust in both governments' current adoption systems is that our adoptions will be disrupted or stalled for such a long time, that serious emotional harm could come to the children we are waiting for... especially if these children are forced to wait out the changes in a foster home or orphanage longer than what has become the norm, as the adoption process changes while we are mid-adoption. Could you please address this issue with President Berger and ask that our concerns be heard and addressed. We are not attempting to dictate what Guatemala does, we are humbly asking only that our concerns, and those of all prospective parents, that are attempting to adopt by the"rules" be considered and heard as the rules change. We are not Guatemalan citizens, and true, our adopted children will become American citizens, but their ties to Guatemala will be a part of them all their lives and thus, through our children, a part of ours as well. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Tina M. Farrenkopf
Colorado

Dear President Bush,
Our family is currently adopting two beautiful children from Guatemala. Their future lies in the decisions being made at this time. Uncertainty in ever giving them the home they deserve is at the point of this letter. Please consider the children who are in process at this time. They are the ones who will suffer with an immediate shut down or a long delay. Please give them every chance to come home in a timely manner. Please don't allow a few who abuse the system to dictate to the rest of us a new system that could cause us to completely lose our children in the name of protecting them. With no structure in place to fund or care for the children in process they will most definitely suffer the most. Please don't allow this to happen to my children or the other approx. 4000 children who will be coming to the US this year.
Respectfully,
Lisa
Oklahoma

Dear President Bush,

My wife and I brought our beautiful girl home in October of 2005 from Guatemala. Her birth mother, faced with extreme poverty and a set of twin boys (who are now 5 years old), has now created a birth plan for our daughter's younger sister and we are in the process of adopting her. It is simply amazing that we have this oportunity to raise and nurture these siblings together. My heart melts each and every time I look at the picture of our angel in Guatemala.

Please, Mr. President, while visiting Guatemala ask their President to allow the adoptions that are in process to continue under the good faith ageement in which they were entered upon. I do not believe it would be in anyone's best interest to have the current adoptions that are in process be delayed while a new Hague compliant system is implemented in Guatemala. Furthermore, it would be devastating if these adoptions were terminated altogther. Especially to the children.

We love our girls and want them to be united as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
April and Jason