Haiti Trip 6

We returned yesterday from a "whirlwind" trip to Haiti. We were there three days (with two days of traveling), but it feels it flew by.

The purpose of our trip was to appear before a judge to "prove" we wanted our girls. Apparently this had been part of the process, but was rescended, and now reimplemented (we're running into a lot of this).

So Monday most of us on the trip went to the courthouse. Couple by couple was called into a smallish room with Kiki (our processor) and someone (we have no idea if he was a judge, court clerk, or ???). Our last name was written in the top of four blank pages in a notebook. We signed our names at the bottom of these four blank pages and were told by the processor that he would fill in the official wording later -- we're all a little bothered by that. The whole process took about 30 minutes for all of us.

We spent very little time at the orphanage, which was a switch. We didn't know how much time we'd have with our kids because of the signing, but since the process went so well for a previous team, our kids were brought to us at the hotel Sunday afternoon. We had to take them back to the orphanage Monday before signing, then picked them up afterward. That's all I was at the O.

We spent a lot of time in the pool (it was so hot in the morning/early afternoon). The girls LOVE the water. And I think it was a good bonding thing for them and Mark.

My biggest concern of the trip was how the girls would be with Mark. Islande met him and spent a little time with him on our first trip in June 2007. However, we had only spent an hour with Katiana, who had just been brought to the orphanage. Katiana has seen pictures of Mark, which I'm sure was a help. So on Sunday afternoon when the kids arrived at the hotel, Islande ran to me and then to Mark. Katiana ran to me and then turned away from Mark. But it really didn't take more than 10 minutes before she was comfortable with him. Praise God!!

The biggest news of the trip came Tuesday night (our last night there, the kids were already back at the O). Each family was able to meet with Kiki about our process. We found out we've been out of Parquet since June/July, and he was surprised we had not been told of that. However, with this signing thing, we have sat in nowhereland since then. Kiki said that if we didn't have to deal with this signing, we most likely would have had our girls home by now (barring any glitches). I assume this has to apply to all of us on the trip since we were in the same place.

So ... we ought to hear in a couple weeks that we've been admitted to Second Legal (civil court). Second Legal is where the Adoption Decress is written and verified: the girls will be ours legally and have our last name.

Afterward the dossiers are submitted to the Passport Center for review. Then they go to the Minister of Interior (MOI) before returning to the Passport Center for the passports to be printed.

One thing that hasn't happened for us yet, that has happened for other families at our stage (or earlier) is the birth parent interview at the Consulate. This was supposed to have been scheduled when I signed the I-600 back in July 2008.

"At this stage, many things can happen. The birth parents are brought in for an interview. Depending on the outcome of that interview, they can require more documents, ask for DNA testing to be done, or say that the interview is satisfactory. In any case, as soon as they are satisfied that the child being adopted is adoptable and the birth parent(s) are the real parents, they will prepare your packet and let us know when it’s ready."

Kiki is setting this up.

Once the packet is issued and is sent to the Embassy, a Visa appointment will be made. When the visa is issued, we can travel to get our kids.

Please pray that the rest of the process proceeds with no glitches! It's amazing we could have the girls home in a few months!!!!

So, enough of that, an on to the pictures!


Jodie and Mark with Katiana and Islande soon after the girls' arrival at the hotel Sunday afternoon.


Mark with Islande and Katiana.


Islande and Wadnise on Monday. Wadnise is coming to Colorado Springs, too. I'm so glad they're close.


Mark and Katiana.

Mark with Katiana, Islande and Wadnise.

Katiana asleep with Mark. She didn't want to nap with me, but she fell asleep in his arms. He later brought her up to the room and she finished her nap with me.

In the pool!

Katiana laughing at something.

Katiana had been pouting because she wanted to go up to our room, but it was being cleaned. So Mark pouted with her.

There was a makeshift swing that Katiana wanted to sit in.

Katiana and Islande before returning to the orphanage Tuesday.