Excellent said Kelly!

Oh good, yet MORE delays for our case. Whatever. I give up. This process has finally done it. I am officially feeling defeated. All of you entering PGN will after all this mess will probably fly through and all of us stuck in PGN now are AGAIN taking the brunt of all of this change. Nice. Sorry to sound so bitter but guess what? I am.

you have got to be kidding me. I am sorry but another politically driven delay. This is so far beyond ridiculous now. We have been in PGn for almost 8 months could WE JUST CATCH A BREAK ALREADY???????? I AM SO OVER ALL OF THIS NONESENSE.

give me a break. we have been in PGN for almost 8 months and I am so tired of hitting every roadblock and now some political push pull crap stalls us again. I AM SO OVER THIS. I do hope this new nightmare is over quickly and this new Sub Attorney General starts signing fast and furiously.

I am in the midst of reading "Three Cups of Tea" which has absolutely nothing to do with adoption or even Guatemala. But, it is a beautiful story about one man who did make a difference (and is still making a difference) in Pakistan by building schools in the most impoverished areas of the country. It is a fascinating story which I highly recommend especially if you wonder "What can just one person do?"

Romee

This just makes me sick! I was so hoping things would start looking up. Now I'm at the point that I wish I had never even heard the word Guatemala. This nightmare just never seems to end. If I ever get out of PGN, I have Mixco to look forward to.

I totally agree TLG. I'm just as ticked! I can't believe that anyone in our shoes has anything nice to say about this. My goodness, the baby that I was supposed to get by the time he turned 11 months, is now almost 2. Imagine what these delays are going to do to him. I'm soooo over it. Are they just simply trying to get us all to give up? How hard can it possibly be to put your name down on paper? I don't know about the rest of you, but if I were signing, I could probably get more than 1 or 2 a day done. I know I don't know much about the job, but geez, why is it every time I near the end of something- these people think of something else to slow things down? It's like they sit around thinking- "Well, what can we do today to stall adoptions?" "Oh, I've got an idea!" "Lets....."

I can't comment on any indiviudal case and why it might be taking "extra" long in PGN. And I know what I am about to write will upset some people. But I ask you all to once again remember that the Guatadopt team are adoptive parents who each went through our own challenges with our adoptions. We know how grueling the wait for homecoming is!

Strangely enough, it was Kelly who helped me contend with the challenges of the Hague in 2003. That's what got me into this site. When Troy was going through his hell of an adoption, I was talking to him regularly. And boy oh boy do we all remember poor Marie trying to complete an adoption that is nothing short of exactly why adoption does sometimes save a child's life.

In no way trying to do a "we told you so", we issued warning over a year ago because we knew that adoptions were going to take much longer than what had been the case historically. Honestly at the time I thought folks were looking at 18-24 months on average because of messages I was getting from folks in the government.

As this new law was passed, we continued to warn that change means delays, even with a grandfather clause. We preached to expect bumps in the road and that while we couldn’t predict what those bumps would be, there would be some. Guess what – here is one now.

While there have been bumps we should also realize that as it relates to in-process cases, the Colom administration, once its people are in place, has gotten its work done without abundant delay or corruption. Did anyone hear of a single case of extortion or bribery being used by the CNA to get a case registered? No! Once the controversy over who was in the CNA was solved and Colom’s people got in, within days they got the cases registered.

I do know of cases of extortion and bribery in the Gordillo/Barrios PGN. And while I do not of any cases where that was to push through an illegal or unethical adoption, who am I to say that wasn’t happening? So I ask you all to step back and while you can’t be happy about delays, you can come to terms with it and understand why something like an audit of cases may be necessary.

You can contact the CCAI and ask them to work with President Colom on getting the in-process cases completed without unnecessary delays. That is a fair request. It is fair to ask the CCAI to try to get the “in process” abandonment cases recognized by the CNA. But please also remember that we can not rightfully request that anyone do anything that overlooks ethical processes and possibly results in harm to real Guatemalan citizens.

Please stay strong during this process. It sucks but it is what it is and some it can be for good reason. My thoughts are with you. There are support avenues available. Your kids will come home.

Paz,

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

Thanks Kevin!! I have been in PGN for 8 1/2 months now....and for some reason I believe this new change will be a good thing!!!

I decide to look at the glass Half full. One can hope that once over the current bump in the road that senseless KO's and unexplained extended time in PGN may be a thing of the past. I have full sympathy for those who are waiting for the final signature, the timing is awful. Those of you just entering hang in there this might just streamline things. I myself am weeks to even entering PGN so who knows maybe I can hope for a speed up at the end of my process as the beginning has been very slow! Praying for all in the process and willing to stand for postive changes!
Blessings,

Well said Kevin.

Although I am not happy with the news, I am taking a wait and see attitude on the Barrios replacement.

Government appointments in Guatemala are beyond my control and I refuse to get myself in an uproar about it.

I hope to have my daughter home soon but I want her case to have passed the the various stages in an ethical manner.

I know it is frustrating, and believe me, we have experienced delays with our own case. We haven't even been able to get into PGN yet, never mind getting out. I believe however, that President Colom is trying to put things right for the citizens of Guatemala. While PGN processes adoptions, it does much more than that. We have to try to look at the bigger picture. I believe Colom is a good man, and when he put his people in charge of the Central Authority, things got done. I believe he is making these changes because he feels he must. Let's give them all a chance to do their jobs and wait to see what happens. The Guatemalan people voted Colom into power because they wanted change. They deserve to have their call for change answered. It is hard for us, but we have to believe that he has the best interests of the children at heart. Myself, I ask only that they do the best that they can to get through this process as quickly as possible, without compromising what they are trying to do, so that we can bring these babies home.

Kelly (and the rest of the Guatadopt team), Thank you so much for your dedication to the children of Guatemala and to adoptive parents. Your knowledge, advice, and encouragement are priceless. I value this community and I, too, believe that together we can make our voices heard and make a difference for the children and families of Guatemala. Let's keep working together! To those waiting parents that now face another delay, I'm so very sorry. Please know that we are here to support you and do whatever we can to see your children home as quickly as possible. Stay strong!

Sorry Kevin your post only made me feel worse. I have been asked to take all of the bags of crap we have been handed during this process and accept them, I am sorry but I am tired of holding the bag of crap. I am all for an ethical process but at this point they are a day late and a dollar short because if there was so much unethical and illegal things going on the majority of those cases have already gone through the process and now at the 11th hour they want to audit cases, sorry I am not feeling so obliged. They have a new law that will put an end to this supposedly, great I say move forward with the new ones under the new law and scrutinize to your hearts content, let my child who is a victom here come home. Personally this is a BIG FAT JOKE if you ask me. I am tired of the joke being on me and my family and my son.

info@ccainstitute.org

Does anyone know if this is the correct email to send a message to CCAI? Does anyone have a more personal contact.

I think it would be a good idea to follow Kevin's advice and express our wish for in-process cases to be completed without unnecessary delay, and the request recognition of in-process abandonment cases.

That being said, I feel that Kevin's last post was insensitive.

Time heals wounds. I am sure that when the guatadopt team was in the middle of their own personal adoption nightmares, they would have also felt the painful and frustrated emotions that we are as an in-process community expressing right now.

However, unlike us, I am sure that they never vented to anyone, and never felt like giving up. I am sure that their emotional self-discipline never allowed them to express feelings that were not politically correct. I am sure that they always kept the system of adoptions first and foremost in their thinking regardless of the hurdles they personally faced. I'm sure they were self-less to a fault at all times, and never lost sight of the larger mission...Does that sound about right?

It is difficult to see the forest for the trees - when there are trees falling all around you. In-process parents appreciate your insights, however try to remember how it FEELS to LIVE IN A NIGHTMARE!!!

"I told you so" - is not helpful, thoughtful or constructive.

Now I am sure that I have upset someone - we're even.

Thank you Kevin and Kelly. We very much appreciate the info, the encouragement and the honesty!

I am looking for a piece of advice and while I know that no one can predict anything I just wonder what people would do if they were in my situation.

Our fingerprints will expire on June 29th. We have filed for an extension, but our I600A will expire in late September. At this point I'm wondering if I should be contacting my homestudy agency to update the homestudy (he's a little slow) and get the ball rolling to update the I600A ---since it seems like I'd need to file an updated homestudy and request for I600A in June.

We were kicked out of PGN weeks ago and the new documents (werent authenticated properly) arrived in Guatemala just yesterday. They will take 10 days or so to be translated so we expect to be back in PGN by the 2nd week of May. Until the news about Barrios I was hopeful that we would be done before the September I600A expiration.

Am I being overly optimistic?
Money is tight, otherwise I'd just do it for peace of mind.

any thoughts?

Thanks for posting the pledge, Kelly. We are happy to sign it, and even happier to support Guatemala in its efforts to break the cycle of poverty.

Gregg

Kevin and Kelly,
While I understand that our goal is not to encourage the US to forcibly involve themselves in Guatemalan affairs, can the Guatadopt readers be encouraged to write their Memebers of Congress to express interest and concern? I fear that adoption, as a subject of discussion, will be upstaged by other issues in these meetings. Perhaps we should be requesting that our Members of Congress take on a "Guatadopt-like approach" and express interest in all the chilren of the world (including Guatemala). I think our government needs to hear our voices; needs to hear our concerns. Thoughts?

We've been in Family Court for over a year now. We've been told that it is due to a crooked social worker, but who really knows? I hope PGN doesn't take even longer than Family Court. All our US paperwork will have expired a second time if that happens. And everybody involved with the process (if you could call it that) is so polite and unhelpful. It makes me feel bad that I get upset because everybody so seems like they want the process to work, even though they are completely powerless to help.

Not all of us started this process after the US warnings were issued. There are many, many of us that have been in the process long before any warnings were issued and we are not abandonment cases. We have been abused by our agencies, facilitators, attorneys, PGN. All because we simply want to form a family and give a child a better life. I never imagined so much pain would come from this experience. I'm glad Barrios finally recieved his kick out, yet being in the middle of another hold up is tearing my heart into peices. We can only hope the director will speed things up.

Thanks for the uplifting speech Kevin. You explained things well, and yes, I do agree with you. However, I started my adoption BEFORE the warnings. To the best of my knowledge. The first time I received any type of warning was after I had turned in my dossier and paid for the first half of the adoption.

Now my case is being sent for signature- and I find out that it is still sitting. Seriously- I just found out 2 days ago that it was going to signature. Now, I may have to sit through audits and possibly my case will be looked through again? You've got to be kidding me! Why can't they at least gather up the documents that are ready and at least push us through. I've been scrutinized enough. I know it's selfish of me- but I'm going to be very angry if I get out the same time as all the others who are just starting the PGN process. I know that some cases get through quicker than others- but come on. My son is only aging through this whole entire mess. I'm sure everyone else's are too. But I've been in process for a long time, and no, it's not even an abandonment case. Isn't there something we can do to get those of us who need signed, signed?

In all honesty- as close as I am- it's like they are convicting me of a crime I didn't commit. I've never committed a crime- but I can imagine what it feels like to actually NOT be guilty- and there is nothing I can do.

This is the first time I post. I have been too devastated to even breathe, but today, after reading everyone else's challenges, I felt I must say something. We never even made it to PGN. We started our process in July 2007. In December our baby's biological mother was arrested because she had presented forged documents because she is a minor and also is illegal in Guatemala. She is from a different county. How she got there, alone at the age of at least 14, I don't know. The government has concluded that the poeple who gave her the false documents are responsible for creating false docs for stolen babies as well. So they want her to tell them who they are. She is petrified so she has remained silent. So on Dec 7, our baby was taken away from the foster mom, placed in an orphanage and must remain there until the case in investigaed by the courts. I guess they consider the baby evidence because the adoption cannot proceed until the case goes to trial. Which I hear can be years. We are now adopting from another country but we have every intention of waiting it out and bringing our child home even if she turns 25 by the time this is over.

Kelly or Kevin,

Will this effect our case? We have been out of PGN as of last Monday.

worried mama of 4!

Kevin, although I appreciate your post and fully understand that you all went through rough adoptions, I do have to say that when I was in Guatemala THIS month I saw many, many babies going home at 7 and 8 months. Yes, 7 and 8 months! So while we all expected delays, the fact remains that clearly many people seemed to have done just fine time-wise and are bringing home infants. Did I expect to bring home an infant? No, our little girl was over 2 months old at referral in July but neither did I expect to bring home a child nearly ready for pre-school! Please realize that there are many of us that have gotten stuck at nearly EVERY SINGLE step of this process and it was no fault of our own. We got a KO on 12/26 just 5 days before the law changed and then could not get back into PGN until February because of the whole CNA mess. And now this! Come on, I am really glad that this will supposedly be good for future adoptions but I for one am tired of being the one always paving the way for everyone else.

So many of us lived through the 2003 Hague mess. During that time, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE! Boy, do we know the worry and anguish you waiting parents feel!!!

My husband and I even got to the point of discussing whether or not we could continue. We were running out of tolerance . . . and money. We were paying for each month of delay and it was costly.

I turned to the serenity prayer so many times and worked hard to let go of what I couldn't control. Work for change, do the things you can, but try, try, try to not stress over the things you can't control. That will only put you in a pit of despair!

Thankfully there are places like this to get information and know what is going on. Thankfully we know that there are people working on your behalf to get things done. One day all your children will be home and the world will be a different place . . .

This is the first time I post. I have been too devastated to even breathe, but today, after reading everyone else's challenges, I felt I must say something. We never even made it to PGN. We started our process in July 2007. In December our baby's biological mother was arrested because she had presented forged documents because she is a minor and also is illegal in Guatemala. She is from a different county. How she got there, alone at the age of at least 14, I don't know. The government has concluded that the poeple who gave her the false documents are responsible for creating false docs for stolen babies as well. So they want her to tell them who they are. She is petrified so she has remained silent. So on Dec 7, our baby was taken away from the foster mom, placed in an orphanage and must remain there until the case in investigaed by the courts. I guess they consider the baby evidence because the adoption cannot proceed until the case goes to trial. Which I hear can be years. We are now adopting from another country but we have every intention of waiting it out and bringing our child home even if she turns 25 by the time this is over.

While I agree - in theory - with the changes that are being made, I think what makes a lot of us so angry, is all the "stupid" stuff that happened before that leaves us still stuck in pgn. While thankfully we are out, there are many that should be out if it wasn't for some ko that had no basis, people losing files, papers stapled wrong, etc etc. When you are delayed because of that type of stuff, and then it causes you to get stuck in this, it's just the last straw.

Brenda

I told you so!

It doesn't matter if there are or there aren' t warnings about adopting from a certain Country. Ukrain, Russia and other Countries around the world give the adopting parents the same problems. You do not believe me? Then ask the folks that have adopted from Russia. There are parents that traveled to that Country four times before finally come back home with their children. Every time they were told every thing was ok and the kids ready to be picked up and every time some burocratic problem made them to come back alone.

So what couple willing to adopt have to do? They have to given up any good intention because problems can make the adoption a horrible exeperience?

I was told by PGN that my case was approved on Tuesday but now they will not release it until this whole mess is over.
Come on people lets be real...we all want what is best for the children of Guatemala. But this is turning into a political game of who has the power!
Uhhhhh

Few minutes ago a big brass working for the Unicef was on CNN. She said that the organization is committed to save children lives therefore they need donation. I tell you what: My donations will go directly to a guatemalan orphanage; this way I' ll be sure that my money will not be used to pay for that lady salary, good dresses, nice office and make up.Don' t even dare to knock my house door asking for donation.

By the way, is it tru that right now this organization is trying to do in Vietnam what they have done in Guatemala with the purpose of ending the market of the children? If this is tru the shameless people at the Unicef have to explain me how is possible that Angelina Jolie is the good willing ambassodor for the Unicef, having the acctress adopted a child from that Country. Every parent adopting from Vietnam is involved in the market of the children but Mrs. Jolie?

I believe that in January, Barrios or his people, someone in PGN was taking bribes of $1,000 to get your case out; perhaps, this is why this could not wait. Give the new President a chance to implement the much needed changes. I feel for anyone who started their adoption in 2006; after that, we all knew the risks and took them, myself included, we started in 2006 but did not get our 171H until April 2007, so buck up and hope for a speedy change and a cleaner system.

Is it possible, new people means the PGN will still be a functioning entity after the grandfathered cases are finish? If so, this is cause for celebration.

Well, I did call my atty and she said that PGN is not allowed to release any cases and that all cases in PGN will be evaluated and they possibly may require additional paperwork, although, she expects it to be similar to what we have now.

She also said that it is talk that the new PGN director is trying to somehow bring in the NCA into the process of approving files.

I am beyond upset and as you all know that I will first say, if this will help to protect the children then the delay is worth it.

HOWEVER, WHAT I AM SO UPSET OF AND I REALLY HOPE THAT THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE PGN READS THIS!!!

THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN STUCK IN PGN FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME WITH INSANE AND ABUSIVE 2ND FEMALE REVIEWERS!!!

HAVE REFUSED TO PAY ANY BRIBES OR DO ANYTHING THAT COULD AID IN THE CORRUPTION...

So, please know that those of us still waiting are probably just victims along with our children who have been held hostage to the corrupt and unethical practices of the past PGN leaders and even some reviewers, that I hope are fired too.

Now, I know that this can make some viewers upset at me but here it goes:

I am so frustrated with those cases that flew through PGN. We were told that there were probably bribes given, to get through that fast. Obviously, I want the children home, but I hate paying harshly for taking a stand against corruption.

I hate the fact that those cases that involved bribes probably have their children home already, while those of us whose attorney who refuse to pay bribes or give into the corruption have been made to go through hell in the PGN and now, our cases our the one's that are being held hostage again!!!

This is just wrong. I'm glad for the change and for the new person in place and wish them Huge Congratulations, because I do feel that Colom knows what he's doing and really does have the best interest for Guatemalan in his decisions, I just hope the new director has mercy on us and realizes that those of us floundering in PGN are victims along with our children who should have a forever family by now.

Thank you,Daisy, for bringing some perspective. As much as this wait stinks for so many of us (particularly those of us who've been stuck in the process unusually long -- we're going on 19 months and we're not an abandonment case), as you illustrated it could be worse. I'm sorry for what you've gone through. I can't imagine how painful this has been for you.

I'm not saying the rest of us shouldn't be frustrated and angry right now, particularly those of us who are watching people who started the process OVER A YEAR after we did take their babies home. There is absolutely nothing fair or just about this process.

I have learned over the last 19 months that adoption is not for the faint of heart. It is rarely without sacrifice and pain. But I know it is worth it. We are fighting for our children. Let's keep fighting and not give in to discouragement or defeat.

We've been in PGN for a few weeks now. We call them once a week to see what our statice is. They pull the file and told us we were pass the first review. The next week we called and we were in the second review. I called today. She said we were out of the second review and should be out in 5 days. So I know they are still working. I still have hope. Iv'e been really involved in my case and have learned from others mistakes. We've been able to spend weeks at a time with our 2 sons and have made some new friends while down there. One couple who had their 2 sons in the same foster home as ours, arrived in Dallas today with their boys!! We all keep in touch with what was going on with each oters case and learned what to do and when to do it. It's worked out very well for us. The people we talk to at PGN are always very nice and helpful. Hope this will bring some comfort and relief to your worries.

Shame on every single person responsible for holding up the process to get these children home. Some scars never heal!

I apologize if my comment seemed insensative. That was not the intent. And believe me, back in 2003, I sure as hell did rant and rave. But we also did channel some of it into action in things like the Families Without Borders report, Congressional info packets, etc. And let me say this, it was not Kelly, who at the time was the sole force of Guatadopt (not to minimize Susana's support any!) that organized everything. We PAPs took it upon ourslves and Guatadopt was the one to post it.

Sometimes we can come off cold because (1) we try to remain objective and report the facts (2) we have had to turn off our emotions. Folks, on a daily basis we deal with so much heartache. We try to help people going through hell and while we have certainly shed our fair share of tears, if we were to become too emotionally involved in it then this site would be shut down right now because we'd all be institutionalized. We're dealing with numerous ethical breaches, cases of kidnapping, as well as having to play Monday morning quaterback on things we "should" have done. We can not handle the stress many times as it is and if we don't separate ourselves from it we would not be able to care for our families.

The pain does go away after homecoming - trust me of that. I am not trying to minmize your pain and struggle, but also please don't minimize mine now or back when I was the PAP. Go back and read my book that is posted on this site and try to tell me it was not a living hell. Tell me how having a referal that died wasn't enough to make me give up. In fact, it almost did and had I given up, my beautiful, wonderful daughter and son would not be part of my family.

As for cases getting done quickly, there have always been some that flew through - nothing but luck just as things like I171Hs vary in time. Some may be the product of exactly why an audit is being conducted.

This all sucks - no doubt about it. But you have to endure for the sake of yourselves, your dreams, and the children.

Paz,

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

ok so now an audit of all the files is in order?? aint this a bed of roses and a box of chocolate? we are in for a real treat here. As if 8 months in PGN was not enough now this? THis is really really really unbelievable. the anger and bitterness is just overwhelming me right now. I am SICK over this and completely devastated.

I have called the PGN and the lady that answered the phone told me that they are working but they are not realising any " espediente " for the cases that made it thru and that may be next week the sealed envelopes will be available to the lawyers. She also said that there is voice that not signed off case will be checked again.

Airstar93, are you sure about the CNA being involved in the approval?

We are out of the PGN and waiting to get the papers to go to the civil statistic. We were grandfathered and were not chicked out of PGN. And I can guarantee that no " extra " money has been paid.

Vince

We were a PGN out on April 11th. I'm wondering if this affects us. If you exit PGN do you already have the final signature? My heart goes out to all families who have been tried and tried again. Hang in there! Hopefully this will be done soon and we will all be closer to bringer our babies home.

faith...who started my adoption in July '06 way before warnings came out

I know we've all already done lots of letters/e-mails/calls during each new 'drama' but if President Colom is in fact meeting with representatives from the CCAI, please consider another round. As the Guatadopt team pointed out, Guatemala is sovereign and can do whatever they choose, but I want them to know 1) the impact of yet another delay, and 2) that my husband and I support ethical reform (but not unnecessary delays!).

Good night, all!
LeAnn

(& Aaron, waiting for Luke)

CCAI contact info:
311 Massachusetts Avenue, NE

Washington, DC 20002

(202) 544-8500

(202) 544-8501 Fax

info@ccainstitute.org

We listened to the warnings and left Guatemala last May for Vietnam. This meant changing agencies and spending more money on agency fees. Because of delays with our I-600A forms (we are still waiting for approval) we still don't have a dossier on record in Vietnam. Our agency told us last month that because the agreement between Vietnam and the US is expiring on Septeember 1st we most likely will not be able to get a referral and be "in process" before adoptions stop. I would love to return to Guatemala and complete an adoption. I would love to go anywhere in the world and bring home a baby in an ethical and timely manner. I will continue to follow the progress of all the "in process" families in Guatemala and pray for the children and the families.

Now I know and understand why a lot of couples choose to do IVF, even with eggs donors or semen donors. I have one question for all the religious organizations that oppose such of practices. What' s more sinfull IVF or leaving children grow up in an orphanage by delaying and opposing adoptions? Why all the Churches which are so powerfull don' t speak up? Where is the guatemalan Catholic Church?

May God help us all.

Vince

Well, I am pretty tired of the back and forth myself. We've been slowed down by a crooked facilitator, a lazy lawyer and an even lazier agency. We've been hit with fees/funds that have been misappropriated, NO UPDATES, NO PHOTOS. We've been paying foster care for a year and have made FIVE visit trips. Add in that I've been in and out of PGN since SEPTEMBER for 4 errors - 3 of which were TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - that were the LAWYER'S FAULT. Each error took atleast SIX WEEKS to be corrected and resubmitted.

Last week we were told that we sat on the 1st reviewers desk for THREE weeks b/c that's the way it works and we were supposed to be moved to the 2nd reviewer this week. I have NOT been able to make myself call the new girl because she gave me INCORRECT information for 3 weeks and just can't do it!

Now my daughter is going on 18 months, I am STILL paying MONTHLY foster care and have NO idea when I'll see my child again. I refuse to pay bribes b/c this adoption has ALREADY cost us almost DOUBLE what was prepared for. I could go on and on but I won't. I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO DO THEIR JOBS THE RIGHT WAY AND SEND MY DAUGHTER HOME!! PLEASE!!!

I sit and read all the posts....the ones who are mad, upset and just plain sad. I have been in process in Nov. 07 and have lost a referral and now am finally in PGN with a 2nd referral. I wanted to be done all of this by now and have our baby home in West Chester, PA in his crib....getting to know his brother and sisters! I try to have faith and wait!!! It is very frustrating....but I try to remember that good things come to those who wait! God bless all the babies.....not just the ones in Guatemala...but all over the world!

Please don't let this be another one of those weekends where we feel left in the dark! How long is this delay going to be, and what type of "audit" is going to happen?

Susana, What does all this mean? Please post soon!

Lo

I too have been in this adoption process since January 2007. My family and I are so frustrated and at times ready to just walk away. Only the pictures of our prospective son keep us going. All of us should flood the comment@whitehouse.gov website in hopes that President Bush will address this problem with Guatemala when their President visits. It is not fair for them to be able to take advantage of the sincerity of the American families wanting to help a child in need. It is heart breaking for the PAPs not to mention expensive. There should be a time frame for which they can put our lives on hold and continue to ask for more American dollars. Many of the orphans there could already be enjoying their new family, which is in the best interest of all involved.

Jill

For all those currently suffering through PGN, I empathize.

But as Kevin encouraged you in an earlier post, your babies will come home. And indeed, adoption is not for the faint of heart. I remember all too well the emotional super roller coaster we went through before bringing our baby home in September 2006 at the age of 8 months. Those 8 months between the referral and our visit to the embassy were interminable. And every delay seemed like putting another knife in our bodies. But the 19 months since we returned home have just flown by. And even though I remember very well the pain and the anguish of waiting, it has eased.

I know it might seem easy to say, but I encourage you to take it on faith that the process will come to a successful conclusion. Your child WILL come home. We are all in your corner, and (taking the liberty of) speaking on behalf of we parents who've adopted from Guatemala, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Gregg (and Esperanza and Marilu)

Earlier comments were made about cases coming out of PGN so quickly and getting babies home at 6 or 7 months. I brought my daughter home 6 weeks ago at 5 1/2 months of age. While I was in Guatemala, it was clear that my daughter was the youngest of any of the children going home. I don't know if there were bribes involved in my case or not. I hope not, but now I'm beginning to wonder. I hear of so many families waiting years to bring their children home and it is heartbreaking. I saw familes at our hotel who were bringing home 2 1/2 year old children who were just sick with crying. It just seems like there is no rhyme or reason to the delays. If the PGN staff saw and heard the children cyring maybe they'd rethink these delays. These delays can only hurt the children more.

How all your comments are bringing back memories. We were one day short on the 2003 Hague cutoff - it seemed like everyone's baby came home but ours. We waited and waited and waited, we cried, we prayed, we got very angry, just like you. Our agency knew nothing, claimed they couldn't find out anything and then we even stopped getting monthly reports on our daughter. After going 3 months without a word, we got a call to go to Guatemala and get her; sitting in the attorney's office, having the foster mother put our daughter in my arms, all that rage we felt at waiting was instantly gone. You all may not believe me, but it will be with you too. Our daughter just turned 5 and she is the joy and light of our lives. Your babies will come home, even though it is SO hard for you to believe now and what joy you will have. I will remember all of you and your babies in my prayers.

Our agency just notified us that our daughter has been moved from foster care (the only caregiver she has ever known for 18 months) to an orphanage because there is a new rule from PGN that foster care can no longer be used by anyone.

We have been lied too so much I don't know what to believe anymore? Is this true?

Pls advise.

Thank you,

I'm feeling a bit better today. The thing is ... and this comes from a psychological point of view, honestly, two masters worth of psychology, lol!

We/PAP's have been hugely abused, taken advantage of because of our love for children, lied to for months to cause delays and/or try and get extra money.

This has not been a one time abusive experience, it's been ongoing and the reality of it's effects is that we will all need some type of therapy, lol, maybe the group therapy on the message boards is enough for some, lol, but these kind of abuse causes a lack of trust and concerning the situation that we are dealing with now ...

So far President Colom has not given us a reason to NOT trust his decisions. Those whom he chose for the NCA had the children's best interest at heart when they did all they could to get the children grandfathered.

I was there and watched the NCA in action and was very impressed by them.

If they were trying to get Barrios to work with them but he refused then that to me points to the possibility that he did not want accountability to the NCA and if no accountability, then what was he hiding.

The NCA has already requested my home study agency to provide them with names of families who still want to adopt from Guatemala in the future.

It looks like they are getting prepared for the children and they probably are just doing this evaluation to find the bad on the old administration.

So, our first reaction is a lack of trust because of the abuse we already suffered, but I do have hope today, because I do like Colom, and I feel pretty confident that this new lady in the PGN will be a real blessing to the people of Guatemala.

Also, concerning the group that is trying to haul adoptions, they have been trying for a long time, and I believe they even know the child trafficing ring associated with the cases, so it makes sense that the NCA and PGN should know which names to look for when auditing cases.

ALSO, MY ATTY TOO WAS LOOKING INTO MY FILE EVERY DAY AND BEING GIVEN THE RUN AROUND WITH A HORRIBLE 2ND FEMALE REVIEWER!!!

Kevin,
Sincerely, Thank you. Please don't get discouraged by people saying bad things about you on this page.

Everyone else,
I miss my baby too, but don't shoot the messenger. Please, show some respect and dignity.

Paz tu tambien-
a lonely padre

I have a friend who adopted through little miracles, her son's referral came in February 2007; he was home in July 2007; her daughter was born in August and home the first week in December 2007, no real reason, just luck. She hit both times that the USE was shooting out the PA's in less then 2 weeks time and then in and out of PGN in record time too.

Us, we lost two toddler girls thorugh Main Street Adoption Services and in January they told us we got a previo for the birth father's name being put on the child's birth certificate. That happened back in October 2007, the agency knew about it, but rather then give us another referral they chose to steal $30,000 from us and our hearts. In an email today from one of the owner's Nina Heller, she had the nerve to tell me "they have gone above and beyond for us, above and beyond what other agencies would do."

Can you imagine someone having the never to write that to us? Both girls adoptions fell apart near the end of the adoption, both children's father's rode in at the last minute on a white horse to "save the child from adoption". Um, highly unlikely, plus they let us travel for "our daughter's 2nd birthday on July 24, 2007"..only to find she had been back with her Bio Mom for two weeks! Yes, they went above and beyond any other agencies formidable practices.

Kudos Main Street Adoption Services, you have ruined the dreams of over 20 PAPs and we won't stand for it together we will bring you to justice.

M&G in Chicago

OH Laura....That is awful. I can't believe that this is a new rule.....I just checked with my agency and they haven't heard a thing about this rule. My son is 17 MOS and has been in wonderful foster care the entire time too....this would be devastating. Have you been able to verify where he is and what happened ? Has anyone heard of this or does anyone know how we can verify this ? PLEASE.....this is a terrible development and one more thing that will devastate the children already waiting so long. So much for being protected under the Grandfather clause....
Lynn

Laura,
I am so sorry to hear that and terrified at the same time. Our son is 17 months old now and also in private foster care and has been the whole time. Have you verified this with anyone that it is in fact a RULE ? Do you have any warning ? Do you know where they moved him to ? This is so unfair to the kids....so awful. What happened to being grandfathered ? Anyone with info on this please please respond asap.
Thank you...
Lynn

My agency just told me that Central Authority is considering having the PGN officials interview all birthmothers that have placed thier child up for adoption. Has anyone else heard anything about this?

Unfortunaly, bad news.

I have spoken with the PGN few minutes ago and they told me that all the adoptions are blocked, stopped. Also di ones ( like mine ) that were already approved.
My lawyer is going right now to the PGN to find out more about it.

Another sad new, and my son is five years old now and keeps growing in an orphanage.I wonder if the people that cause all this can be qualified as human beings.

Vince

Laura, I think we are with the same agency, we too got an email saying this last night. please contact me. screen name is Guatmom2b

Mercedes Mom.....Thank you! Funny how few words can just keep you going! God bless you!

Laura,

That is a lie!

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

All PAP's deserve:
1. To be able to vent your feelings of despair, frustration and anger. You have earned the right through the suffering that you have been through.
2. To expect better treatment from the Guatemalan government. Granted, you are not Guatemalan citizens, but you are fellow human beings. In this world of porous borders, basic human rights are universal. They need to recognize that the vast majority of PAP's are being unjustly victimized by the actions of a few. You have a right to express your feelings (without fear of retaliation) and expect change.
3. to eventually wake up from this collective nightmare with the children that they love and their prayers answered. I will continue to pray for all of you.

Laura,
I haven't heard anything about PGN doing away with foster care. I'm not sure that would be possible (do away with it overnight). Where would the hundreds (or is it thousands still) of babies who are in the process of being adopted go? From what I have heard, there is already a lack of space in orphanages due to the changing law.

Has anyone else been given this information?

ADA has a new post at www.adaguatemala.org

Another sleepless night after the bad news of the adoptions being blocked. And the nightmare lives on!!!

Vince

Hey folks.

We are currently getting slammed by comments. A number of these comments are multiple postings where someone feels the need to post the same message because it didn't show up within a few minutes.

Please do NOT keep posting the same thing as it is causing even more of a bottleneck for us to review. Both Kevin and I have to hand approve these comments and we BOTH have fulltime jobs. Unfortunately, we just can't be online 24/7.

Our staff is really overloaded right now so we are behind in emails and responses. We do try to validate all our information and that may cause a delay in posting. But posting/validating information is a top priority.

Please take a deep breath before reacting. Respectful tones are a two way street.

Thanks!!!

Kelly

Kelly, just wanted to let you know that, multiple comments are probably because your system gives us a notice that the page could not be opened because the servers were overloaded. I'm assuming that even though the page is not opened, maybe our comment was sent and received.

I had problems with this all day and finally got the confirmation of the post being received several hours after my initial attempt.

So, just letting you know that many of us are probably reposting because the system does not give us the confirmation, instead it tells us that the message could not be sent at that time and to try back at a later time.

PLEASE THINK POSITIVE!
I know it's hard, but have hope and know that it's all happening for a reason. I never thought I would finally get to say "we are bringing our daughter home," but we finally are. Yes, it's been a long, painful road, not knowing if it would really even happen. But we have always tried to stay positive. It has finally happened after a year and a half process. We are finally going home next week and I am praying for all of you and know it will happen for you too. Stay strong and think positive!

Airstar98 -
We are aware that one of the Internet Explorer updates introduced some conflict with the scripts that is causing some timeouts before the confirmation. Kevin and I are also experiencing problems getting into the system using IE, as well (I am using Firefox now.) We've tried to resolve it with our hosting, with the software vendor and now I am about to hire a consultant to observe the system. But the multiple posting issue I am seeing is not hitting the submit button twice (which we've just dealt with for several months now).

Airstar, I don't know where you are getting some message about trying back at another time....I would like for you to send me a screenshot because there is nothing in our system that I have ever seen which would generate that message. A timeout would give you a "can't find page" type of message.

Back to the request, Yesterday we were slammed to the extent that the system attempted to ban a few users (including you airstar98) because it thought it was being "attacked" by spammers. It took me three hours last night just to clear comments and to reverse some of the issues. With certainty, I can say that the problem was aggravated by the nature of the news and even a few folks getting upset that their posts were not showing up (like trying to post more than 10 times in 30 minutes and my record was 48 times within two hours from a single poster). We've never had this happen before from legitimate posters so the system typically identifies it as spam. In addition, it generated (for me as the webmaster) over 500 email messages. Not fun!

If it times out or you are not sure, you can attempt a second post....but please do not hit the submit button 10+ times.

Thank you,

Kelly

Kevin and Kelly,

When you say "We pledge our support to assisting Guatemala…" are you saying we'll send the Guatemalan government money to help run their programs for children or that we'll clap if they do something right or what exactly are you pledging?

Let's suppose that many of us get together. We create Children's Homes throughout Guatemala in order to feed the children, educate them, and raise them in a safe environment. Do you think the Guatemalan government or UNICEF will appreciate that? No way. The government would want a government run system and would only appreciate the money flowing through them. UNICEF would want the money to flow through them. This would not fit in UNICEF's priorities of abortion first, warehouse the children first, do anything else first before allowing adoptions. Neither the Guatemalan government or UNICEF are interested in private endeavors that help children. I don't think giving our personal money to the Guatemalan government or UNICEF will help children.

I do propose that once many of us recover from some of the adoption costs, that we create and support private endeavors to make life better for the children of Guatemala that include adoption, if it is allowed in the future. However, anything with an adoption component will be opposed rather than greeted as helpful.

Let's not fool ourselves. Adoption workers in the U.S. and Guatemala have been painted as "profiteers" by "taking their product to market." Many adoption agency social workers in the U.S. make less than $25,000 a year. The translators and lawyers in Guatemala are called "adoption profiteers," but I'm sure that they live below my standard of living. They are ridiculed for helping abandoned babies to be legally adopted.

So, Kevin and Kelly, I'm with you on helping the children, but let's be realistic about how much our kind of help is wanted. As far as your pledge, I think it needs clarification. UNICEF says they are for the best interest of the child and we all know by now that statement is useless. But remember, when UNICEF makes a pledge, there's money in it for the government. What exactly are you promising? …time and effort for Guatemala's children services? What does that mean?

Jay

Thanks Kelly, actually i do NOT use Internet Explorere, I have a Mac and what happens is that you lose all that you wrote and have to rewrite the post. This has happened in the past, so I learned to save the copy the post and save it. I will get you a copy of what the screen says.

I did try to get help on the forum to and asked if anyone else was having problems, but no one else at least on the forum responded with having problems posting.

Thanks for all your help.

We were warned, severely warned, strongly warned that adoptions would soon cease in Guatemala. That was back in 1999! That was what prompted us to adopt two babies at one time. They came home in 5 months, which was considered a long time, since we lost a month over the Christmas holiday.

When we received a referral in March 2003, after the Hague shutdown had happened, we did not attach to our daughter. We maintained a distance, knowing that she may never come home.

At that time, we were monitoring the Big List, at that time the St. John's List, hourly. The attitude was that THESE ARE NOT OUR CHILDREN until the adoption is complete.

I am amazed, and appalled, that at some point in time the agencies stopped warning parents that Guatemala is an unstable country and that the adoption process was in flux. I am amazed at the level of parentship so many feel about the babies who are not yet home.

I am amazed at how much the attitude and atmosphere of adoption has changed over the years. The strong feelings of loss and anger that are now being felt are as much a fault of the change in attitude as the change of the process in Guatemala.

I completely understand the depth of feeling waiting parents are experiencing at this point. The only reason we did not feel that in 2003 is because the Big List people drummed into our heads that these were NOT our children, that the process was extremely UNSTABLE, and that these children may NEVER COME HOME.

No one is speaking this reality anymore. I wonder why not? I know we don't want to hear it. We didn't want to hear it then, either, but it kept us sane!

We had no news of any movement in the process of our adoption. There was no news that any process had been agreed upon. We were talking about disrupting our adoption!!! The phone rang and we were told to come and pick up our baby girl.

It is not heartless for Kevin to be a realist. He was there. He knows inside and out just how precarious things are in Guatemala. He feels for each and every one of you.

I care, too.

I am so thankful for the realists in 2003 who kept me from claiming ownership over something that was not mine. I think I would have had a nervous breakdown if I had gotten to where most of you are in your process. I can see now why our agency was so adamant about not visiting -- you just never know what is going to happen.

I have known babies who have died, babies who have almost died, babies who have been reclaimed by birth families and babies who never came home for so many other reasons.

One friend started her process before mine and her baby was still there a long time after I brought my baby home. I walked that heartache with her, so don't think I am being heartless in my post. I know too well what this is like.

A little realism is good for the soul. It kept me sane. Maybe it can keep you sane too?

About the posting problem: I found that if I hit the PREVIEW button first and THEN hit POST I did not get the error message.

Sheryl, I too am amazed that PAP claim these children as their own prior to the completion of the process. While it may be hard, that child referred to you is not "your Child" until the final sign off. I also find it troubling that PAP post photos of their referral prior to the finalization of the adoption. As hard as it may be, the PAP needs to remember that legally that child is not yours yet. I understand that in your heart, you may feel this child is part of your family but he/she is not.

As far as the troubles in adoptions, there is always a risk in adoptions, and maybe more so in IA. I though my agency did an excellent job making sure I was totally aware of the risks and the fact that time lines varied and things happen. Some do not and the lies of agencies, attorneys and others have lead to heart ache for many families.

As many others, I hope and pray that adoptions remain open in Guatemala. My gut says no, but I worry about those children who may never find a home.

My heart felt support for those waiting for children and I sincerely hope that we see a resolution to this situation soon.

Sheryl,

do you think we waiting PAP's are complete idiots? With ANY international adoption (or domestic) the uncertainty is ALWAYS the case.

I refuse to distance myself from MY SON. I have my reasons for believing that he is MY SON. And if my adoption doesn't go through...guess what? He will ALWAYS be MY SON.

You can be apalled all you want, but the reality of the situation is that YOU are NOT in OUR SHOES...RIGHT NOW! your adoptions in 1999 and 2003 went through, even though there was talk about the program ceasing.

Well guess where we paps are now? It's place you probably feared you would be with your adoptions.

Yes, that's our reality!

Sheryl,
There is no comparison between waiting for 5 months, and waiting for a year, or a year and a half, or two years, or two and a half years (yes, I know more than a few who have been waiting that long!) no matter how hard you try to "be realistic" about it!

Getting a resolution to the process (either coming home with your dear little one, or being told it will never happen) in half a year VS getting that resolution in two, three, four or five times as long of a period of time (as you waited) are two completely different things.

The hardest part, is the not knowing either way what will happen. We can't be joyful or we can't grieve--we are just stuck in the middle, wanting to be joyful that it will happen one day, but not allowed to be joyful for such a long, long, long time.

I don't believe you were being heartless in your post, I actually think you were trying to be supportive, but . . . even if you went through this with your friend, if it wasn't you going through it, for a very unreasonable amount of time, then you don't understand as you think you do.

I am not attacking you Sheryl, as I indicated I believe you were attempting to be supportive, but we have a right to be angry and we have a right to be sad and frustrated.

With that being said though---
I do not feel that we have a right to be disrespectful, especially on line, and we need to rant/vent the super negative angry feelings in a less public way, and have our on-line comments be more dipolmatic? Some of the above posts were embarrassing for me to read, as an American.

Hope that all made sense
Anonymous PAP, waiting for 17 months, and who has a friend who will have been waiting for THREE YEARS next month.

Thank you Kevin. I knew this had to be a lie about foster care but I can't figure out why they would say or do this. I let our agency, Faithful Adoptions know that this was not true and now they are checking on it...

Guatmom2b does it seem like everytime you turn around you are being lied to? We are on our 3rd attorney and our case still never moves. The only thing that keeps coming is excuses and pleas for donations. We accepted referral in Dec 06 of a 3 week infant, 17 months later we still wait...

I just read the ADA link. At one point the article states: "Today, the PGN posted a sign stating that all adoptions are suspended until further notice."

Does anyone know what is really going on and how this is going to affect those of us in PGN?

Jay,

any help to the guatemalan children can't and must not go through the local Government or the unicef ( I' ll never use again the capital letter for this " organization " ). Both have prove us that they don' t care about the children in need. As per the unicef, two months ago I posted a comment by which I said that the last of the worry for them is to have a world free of orphans. In that case, infact, they would be out of business. They are the ones that make a big business with the children in need by asking constantly for money. Again, I don't want to make a political statement, but don't forget that they are part of the United Nation, which awarded a nobel peace price to Yasser Arafat, a terrorist that killed also children. I guess in that occasion they were not concern about protecting the children. They had nothing to say about all the little ones killed or wounded by terrorists loyal to Arafat.Oh! but they are committed to defend the children from the lawyers, agencies and parents involved in the adoptions. If it is true, as it is, that the UN is the most corrupted organization on Earth ( don't even let me start enumerating the scandals )why the unicef which is a branch of it should be considered clean?
These people are not good to have a normal job , to make a honest living, to sweat like all of us every day trying to give a normal life to our families. they are shameless people that, with the excuse of helping children, panhandle every day of their lives so that they can have an office with air conditioning, heating, free meals, free transportation; they can fly on first class and sleep at five stars hotels. All paid by the people that offer money to them. And to prove us that they spend the money the right way, periodically they show on the TV some kind of documentary on what they do to help the children.

My opinion is that we give the money directly to the private orphanages.

Vince

Vince,

The Nobel Peace price is NOT given out by the UN but by a Swedisch Organisation founded by Albert Nobel. The same year (1994) that they gave the price to Yasser Arafat, they also gave it to Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin, forgein and teh Prime Minester at the time of Israel. They received the prize: "for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East" according to the Nobelprize.org. The UN also received the Nobel peace prize in 2001 together with Kofi Annan.

Masja

Vince, I agree with you. I'm just not sure what you and I are saying, is what the Guatadopt Pledge says. —Jay

Masja-

You are right a swedish organization gives out the Nobel Price. I should better say that the swedish organization delivers the price. But I invite you to go back and read the list of the people that sponsored Arafat( which in the '80 didn't take part in civil war in Lebanon as a peace activist ), then please post another comment with the names of the UN big brass that are on that list. Please also check if they sign the petition for the other recipients of the Prize too. No peace Nobel Price is awarded if the UN don' t agree with the choice of the swedish organization. Anyway, my point is that in that occasion no one at the unicef headquater said anything about that choice; no one said that Mr. arafat was paying big money ( U$ ) to the families of children used as suicide bombers. AND THIS IS A FACT!!

By the way, I am not from Israel, I am not jew and a lot of times I don't like what Israelis do.

Vince

I am sorry, anonymous, to make my post confusing. I was comparing your process to our process of 2003 when we had NO news of what was going on.

At this point, what I experienced in 2003 is nothing compared to what you all are currently going through.

The beautiful thing is that you KNOW all the movements of the government. You know that there is this new delay, while we sat wringing our hands wondering what each bit of news meant . . .

I worry about you all, too. More than you know.

For I have been a memeber of, and a moderator of, a group for parents with post-adoption depression. I see, every day, the pain of parents living with children with attachment issues, living with undisclosed medical or emotional issues or living with the on-going pain of bringing home a toddler when then expected a baby.

Not all of these adoptions are Guatemalan. These parents have adopted from all over the world.

I see, and support, these parents in pain every single day. This is the pain of parents whose lives will never be the same because the adoptions did not turn out as they thought they would. This is very, very real. Adoptions are not always perfect.

I have seen families make the difficult decision to relinquish, to break up sibling groups, to make a variety of painful decisions because the adoptions did not work out. So, please understand that I am well aware of how painful life in the adoption world can be.

That does not change the fact that YOU are in pain right now. This news is another punch in the gut.

One good thing is that Colom is working to ensure all these adoptions are above-board. Maybe you think you want your child home no matter what, but in the long-term it is nice to have that peace.

Jay - The Pledge was conceptual. For myself, it means giving to charities that I believe in and none of them involve UNICEF....We will be tackling our own projects which are privately managed. I am NOT making a pledge on behalf of readers on HOW to support the children.

Furthermore, the government has no social programs in place but there has long been a relationship with private orphanages accepting children placed there by the courts. I believe there are PLENTY of individuals in the Guatemalan government who want what's best for each child.

Too often, adoptive parents are considered part of the problem....we need to be part of the solution.

Kelly
guatadopt.com

Vince, I agree with you that the Nobel Peace Prize isn't a very objective standard by which to measure the quality of a person. Mother Theresa ('79) and Henry Kissinger ('73) on the same list? One saving millions of lives, the other one responsible for the death of millions (including many Guatemalans...)

I don't know how this discussion about Nobel award came by and how that is connected to the interpretation of the pledge, but I couldn't help bringing it up...But about the pledge, some of the comments have confirmed my fear that the interpretation of "collaboration" can derive into interference and thinking outsiders know what Guate needs better than Guatemalans themselves. Someone said that the world is porous and I agree, many Guate kids need families, but American families also need those children to create families. Collaboration, to me, means more eye to eye and more respect than telling a sovereign country how to manage its affairs and "we'll help if...". Hmm, I guess there is a connection to Kissinger after all...

Sorry if I sound too harsh, but Kelly, Kevin, Marie and the rest are going way beyond what many people would do to really help PAPs AND the Guate adoption system with respect for everyone involved. Can't understand why they get attacked for thelling the truth.

Where does his hate for UNICEF come from? Because maybe Unicef has said that children should be with the biological family first and that adoption is not a way to cure poverty or a reason for a child to be adopted out of their country, because when a child leaves their birth country they lose so much of their culture. They have alerted the world to child trafficking and the flaws of many internationl adoption systems. I guess they are guilty of that.

Sadly some speak of the evils of UNICEF, though they have never seen a UNICEF camp for children in Sierra Leone, where food and medicine if given for free, where children are housed, clothed and cared for. It is very easy to speak of the ills of an organization, when one hasn't been on the front lines and dealt with a living hell on their hands. I assure you that no one there volunteering where living in the lap of luxury nor treated as such. There are people doing what most people will not do, UNICEF goes in when no one else does.

Same goes for Casa Alianza. Casa Alianza is the Spanish version of Covenant House, which is located in NYC on 42nd St. and takes in street children, child prostitutes and victims of sexual abuse. Preteens and teens with NO WHERE to go. I know people who work there and I have worked with children and teens that no one wanted. Tainted by only the evils of adults. Casa Alianza has the same mission in Guate, to take in children and teens of sexual abuse, child prostitution rings and in the child pornography industry or victims of sex tourism.

Please remember that arm-chair knowledge of these two organizations only disrespects the countless volunteers and dedicated workers and in the end it does not help the children.

Marie, Guatadopt.com

We entered PGN just 2 weeks ago. Although we have only had our referral since October, our process was extremely long -- took us 2 years and 9 months to get paper ready -- and we are an older couple. So losing our child (who has a COA) might mean we may never be eligible for a toddler in another country. We have a lot to lose. At the same time, I am relieved to know that our case might be scrutinized. I would hate to find out in later years that our child's BM had not given her baby up willingly. So if this delay will actually ensure a more honest process, I am all for it. I pray it will be quick though, our child has been growing up in an orphanage for nearly 2 years. I know that's not good for her. But I want the peace of mind that when she is older and starts asking questions, we can answer without any doubt that everything was done to ensure her BM knew what she was doing. I don't want to start the most important relationship of our lives based on a (possible) lie.

I don't know a parent that wouldn't him/herself take on pain/agony/suffering so that their child wouldn't have to. So suck it up. Do you want to look in your child's eyes 10-15-20 years from now and have to see those emotions occuring after finding out their adoption should never have been?
That their first mother has been mourning for years, wondering about her child- that she didn't understand or didn't intend to relinquish? How devastated would you be in that mother's position?
From what I am reading, most children are being well cared for. Our son had a wonderful foster family, and I would now gladly have waited another month or 2 to have assurances my child IS where his first mother wanted him to be.
For now, I study his paperwork and wonder how long before we look to find his birthmother, if our attorney truly will pass on the letters and photos we have sent, as they say they will.
Your hearts are aching to have your child home. Been there, definitely UNDERSTAND.
Once they are home, your heart will be filled with love, but yet again aching- for assurance that he/she IS where his FIRST mother wanted him to be. Because as a PARENT you can't NOT wonder about something that WILL have such a profound impact on your child.
A few more weeks/months will seem like forever, but it is a small price in the long run, to pay to be able to know you gave your child every assurance you could, that he is where he is supposed to be.

On the UN and Nobel Prize, I am Jewish and was not offended one bit when Arafat won it along with the Israelis. I vividly remember the historic handshakes that occurred that day and couldn’t help hope that somehow it would result in peace as occurred with Sadat in Egypt, another person who had engaged in terrorism.

On Casa Alianza and Unicef. I think we need to learn t separate views on ICA form the good work they do. I think both organizations are misguided and pathetic in how they view ICA. They to me seem more about closures than ethical, functioning systems. This is why I choose not to support them and will do all I can to expose them and The Hague for their failures to children in regard to ICA. But I also can look beyond that to appreciate the good things that they do.

I think that as soon as all parties involved in the ICA debate can move away from their good vs evil stances children will be better served. And by that I mean Unicef in how they characterize all attorneys, agencies, and adoptions as corrupt as well as the adoption community in how they villify these folks. It’s not all black and white just the Egyptians and Israelis had to learn.

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

MARIE-
The " HATE " for unicef dasn' t come from something abstract; it's no conseguence of a fantasy. It' s a reality. Thank to this organization, international adoptions have been shoot down in many countries: Romania, Honduras, Colombia, Equador, Brazil, Bolivia and Costa Rica ( where the PAP from another Country have to live in Costa Rica for one full year in order to qualify for adoption ). No one is saying that people that work on the field every day for this organization aren' t good people. My point is that the policy of the unicef is as clean as a septic tank. First they say that they want to protect the children, then they do whatever they can ( they even bribe Congresses around the world to pass awfull laws )to practicaly close the adoptions. Don't you have the suspect that they have not real interest in having a world without children in need? They really want to help the kids? I have an idea: Lobby and Bribe the Congresses to pass laws that make the adoptions easier and faster and lobby the Congresses to approve laws that give huge tax breaks to the adopting parents. Two simple suggestions from a normal person to the smart prople in charge of unicef.How many times have you heard unicef talking about increasing the number of adoptions? I guess, the answer is never. How many times have you heard unicef asking for money to help the children ? I guess every day. Wouldn't be easier to provide a real family for the orphans instead of providing only food, medicine and a shelter? I guess the answer is yes. But in this case the people in charge of unicef would have no job and no money:They would have to look for another way to make a honest living. Do you agree with me Marie?

Vince