Guatemala 900

On Wednesday, June 17, there is a March and Vigil in Washington DC for those families like ours caught in an adoption mess in Guatemala right now. The goal is to get the US government to work alongside with the Guatemalan government to clear up these outstanding cases. Just in case you didn't know, Guatemalan adoption as we have known it in the past (the system under which HV and HM came into our family) ceased to exist on December 31, 2007. HG's case is "grandfathered" in to this system, referred to as the notarial system or "old law." There are some cases that started as "old law" cases but then, for various reasons (too many to go into here), they were unable to continue along that path. Those cases, referred to currently as transition cases, are supposed to be following the "new law" or the path of the Central Authority. The problem is that the path is not clearly outlined and so many people are just stuck in a holding pattern while the Guatemalan government decides how to proceed. Yes, a law that doesn't actually exist in a clear concise format is the current law for adoptions. Backwards? Yep. There are about 900 adoption cases stuck with some of them being notarial adoptions and some being transition cases. The activities on June 17 are to simply to call attention to these families. Our family. I won't be attending the march, but a friend of mine will. She offered to take something for us and below is the letter that I wrote along with a sad looking picture of HG. This letter along with a musical instrument (HG LOVES musica!) will be left on the steps of the Guatemalan Embassy at the end of the Vigil.



With an absent and blank stare, my daughter-to-be looks at the camera for a photo. It’s the only glimpse that I have of her daily life. She is now almost 4 ½ years old. She has lived in a hogar for her whole life. My adoption of her has been in process since December 2007. Today, I am not any closer to bringing her home than I was almost 2 years ago. My sweet “baby” has many special needs—poor vision, does not speak, and has only been walking for 12 months. She NEEDS permanency with a loving family—my family. She deserves that. Her biological mother is unable to provide for her the special care and attention that she needs and deserves. My family can and is ready to begin our life with her physically present in our home, not just in our constant and daily thoughts. The plea of my family is for you as officials with the government of the United States of America and with the Guatemalan Embassy/Consulate to ensure that my daughter receives a timely adoption process. I urge the two governments to work together, allowing her to join our family, her forever family, as quickly as possible. She deserves that.
Sincerely,
A Hurting TX Family







Please say some special prayers, if you would, over the next few days. Pray that the hearts of the decision makers would be softened, prompting them to do the right thing. Pray that the children in limbo will be surrounded with love and care until they are able to join their families. Pray for all of the families caught in this tragic mess. Thanks, friends.
I don't know how to insert links, but you can read more about this at www.guatemala900.org.