Disappointment to Determination

I will start from the beginning.  This is the way the trip should have gone.  Jimmy's aunt was to travel to Port au Prince Monday afternoon; be picked up by the guesthouse where she was staying; spend the night; a driver we know, Rony, was to pick her up Tuesday morning take her to the embassy; her appointment/interview was at ten; then he was to take her back to the airport to catch her plane by four.  Well, this is the way the trip went. 

Monday morning I received a message that Jimmy's aunt, Macienne, was already at the airport in Port au Prince.  Her flight had be changed and she left early. So, I called the guesthouse in PaP and asked them to please go pick her up early.  I received a call from them half an hour later that she told the driver that she was at the big airport not the smaller airport, was this true?  Not that I know of.  So, she said she would call her back. They were able to find her at the smaller airport and she made it to the guesthouse.

Tuesday morning, Rony picked her up and took her to the embassy.  At nine I get a call on skype from Hunter and Jillian.  After finally connecting with them, they tell us Macienne is unable to get into the embassy; and they are telling her the appointment is Wednesday.  I make about ten phone calls to the embassy and finally get someone.  I explain the situation and the lady says yes I have her appointment here as 10 am on October 23.  Good, she says she will call the gate and tell them to let her in.  I breathe a sigh of relief and hope everything will be good now.  That sigh of relief was premature.  Oh also did I mention during all of this I am driving to take my mother in law to the airport?

After getting my mil dropped off, I proceed home.  We get an email from USCIS (United States Citizenship & Immigration) saying that they will not interview Macienne because she does not have a proper ID.  We later find out she has a work id, and paperwork that she has applied for another id but they will not take either.  She will have to return November 28 for her interview.  They also requested Jimmy return with her and be interviewed again.  ALSO, they will be needing new relinquishment papers.  Side note:  Jimmy lives at CHCH but we are doing our adoption through C4C (chance for children). Because Jimmy lives at CHCH the relinquishment to C4C will not be accepted.  They basically want new documentation for everything I submitted when I filed the I600 in July. 

We tried to get our lawyer, agency, etc. to see if we could somehow salvage her trip but that was not possible.  She traveled back to Cap Haitien yesterday afternoon.  We have since corresponded with everyone and we are all working together to get the documents they are requesting.  We will need to gather the documents, have them translated, and resubmit them by the November 28 interview; or they will not interview Macienne. 

Additionally, we heard from Rony late last night.  In his words, it was a nightmare.  Along with all that went on with Macienne and the embassy, he ran out of gas and his van broke down. 

I was discouraged, disappointed, and defeated yesterday.  I cried many tears.  After lots of words of encouragement and some chocolate from friends, I am better.   Like I told Rony, Satan was attacking all of us yesterday.  But you know what, he isn't going to win this.  We will continue to fight and GOD will win!  Our sweet Jimmy tried his very best to help his aunt and to work it out yesterday.  I know how I felt so I can only imagine how he was and is feeling.  I feel terribly that his aunt's trip was so stressful for her. 

*Please pray for  us to push past this obstacle. 
*Pray for Jimmy to be comforted and be at peace while we battle for his homecoming. 
*Pray for Macienne.  She has been so willing to help through the process.  We do not want her to become discouraged. 
*Pray for those at USCIS working our case.  That they will have open hearts and minds that can see the urgency and importance of their job. 
*Pray for our legal team to be diligent with every document and step in the process. 
*Pray for Hunter and Jillian as they work in Haiti on our behalf and with Jimmy and his family. 
*Pray for God to provide the funds to carry out everything we need to get done.
*PRAY FOR THE ADOPTION TO BE COMPLETED QUICKLY SO HE CAN COME HOME!

Day 608

Today is day 608 of our adoption journey.  Some days definitely drag by slower than others.  I think we have reached a point where the daily drain of waiting has become normal.  Reaching that point, we have also reached a state of restlessness.  It is always there.  I thought it was just me but a friend that is on the same journey has been having a similar experience.  Then, Rob commented yesterday about feeling weird (my word not his).  After discussing it a bit we knew what we have been feeling is the same.  This restlessness causes a lot of frustration and irritability that is hard to deal with.  The waiting, the uncertainty, the drawn out transitioning, etc. makes it seem like your life is in limbo. I never did like to play limbo.

Jimmy is doing well.  He started back to school last week.  He and Rishard are being tutored.  Their tutor, Jude, is a blessing.  We are so happy he is able to do this for us and the boys.  Jimmy was able to accompany the Haitian Medical Mission team last weekend as a translator.  Although I have not been able to talk with him about his trip, one of the team members said he did a great job and was a big help.  We are very proud of him.  Here is a pic of him translating with one of the providers.  Yes, he is getting very big and very grown up. 

 

 

We were told last week that our file should be ready to enter MOI last Friday.  We do not know if that happened but are hoping it did.  I still believe God is in Haiti working for us so I am not going to worry about any of that.  I will use my time to prepare him a place here.  My wish is that he be here for his birthday on December 23 but God can decide if that is best.

 

Speaking of preparations, we are trying to sell our house.  We would like more room for when he gets here.  Please say a prayer that we will have peace of mind as we wait for the right buyer. 

 

 

We are also preparing for a garage sale to help with the funding.  It is October 13, this Saturday.  I hope we do as well as we did at the last one.  If you have stuff to donate, give me a call or message me.  We will pick up (if you live relatively close).

 

Guess that's it.  Please pray for peace of mind and spirit as Jimmy and the rest of us wait for his homecoming.