Adoptions are moving!

We got good news today! And just when I was at the end of my rope (good thing I didn't post earlier today)! This is not news specifically on our adoptions, but this news does mean that good news on our adoptions is in the near future! Here is the part of the report we received today (the good news part).

"It looks like generally things continue to move along well as more families move into and out of IBESR’s. A little interesting information:

Of those turning in their dossiers between April and Dec 31, 2010, 17 are in or through IBESR's (11 are presently in IBESR’s and 6  are out of IBESR’s) and 8 are still working toward IBESR’s. "

And right before we received this message we heard from one of our friends that they are now in IBESR! Which means there are actually 19 kids in or through IBESR and 6 kids whose paperwork is working and waiting to be approved into IBESR. Wondering who these kids are? Go to our "Found" link to see their pics...and please, please pray for them too! 

So where does this leave us? We submitted our dossier May 15th, 2010. Ours is one of the "11 presently in IBESR". Wondering what IBESR is? IBESR stands for " Institut du Bien-Etre Social et Recherches " in French. In English, this means the Institute of Social Well-Being and Research.

What does IBESR do for our adoptions? 

IBESR is the Haitian Social Services. They have social workers that study our dossier to see whether we meet their requirements to adopt a child. They also judge whether your proposed child is a good match for your family. Once the social worker approves, then IBESR gives a Certificate of Authorization telling the courts that they have approved you to adopt your Haitian child. This is a long process and there are many steps (see previous post or our Haiti's Adoption Process link at the top of our blog...which shoud be titled "Haiti's Forever and Painfully Long Adoption Process"). Ok it's late and I promised myself (and the Lord) that I would relish in this encouragement and not revert to my down in the dumps state I was in to prior to receiving this report.  Just want to publicly share our excitement that some of our friends (and our girls friends) are through IBESR! Whohoo! Adoptions are moving! And we could be next!

Picture taken March 16th, 2011 the night before we were to leave early the next morning. Girls were in full swing drama mode blowing kisses and waving goodbye to their friends pretending they were going home with us. They carried on all the way through the top floor, down the stairs, through the 2nd story, and ended in their own sleeping quarters where they quietly stashed this suitcase we left with them to hold all their shared earthly belongings. We love how they often throw in some humor to ease the pain before we have to leave them again. This was one of those times, and they did a very good job at making us laugh. Everyone else seemed totally confused. Our girls are good actresses, but even more than that they are the bravest souls we know.
How we long for the day that this won't be an act, but the real deal. Home. One day.