[jessbychurch]

Hey fellow members,
I am having the worst time with the Embassy, I am tring to get a status on our investigated case. When we visisted we went to the embassy and was told that they had done the birthmother interview and that they were just waiting for the release of the preapproval. They stated that they were going to send me an email on Tuesday and I got nothing. I have emailed the embassy everyday and have called daily with no contact or response to this date. I am really feeling that I am fighting a battle that has no end in sight and that I am all alone. I know that some of you have had or heard of some experiences with sucess stories concerning the embassy, would you please share those with me so possible I could try a new approach. I know that our little girl needs us and I want to get her home soon, but I am at a stand still until the embassy releases my preapproval. We have been waiting for 4 months now.

Jess

[adamas]

I don't have any advise for you. All I can do is pass on something that was told to me by our priest.

We were having a hard time and it seemed that no end was ever going to come. We spoke with our priest one day about it. He said to have patience. That right now it seems like nothing is happening and that you are never going to bring that child home. However, in the big picture and as years pass with your child you will look back and hardly remember this little bump in the road. Good things come to those who wait.

In our case we spent a year and a half going thru one problem after another. Within a month of speaking to the priest everything started happening. Now we are out of PGN and almost there.

I hope this helps a little.

Roger

[LucyLuMyLuv]

Our delays were with PGN and not the Embassy, but I too had those "should we just give up" feelings. We were kicked out of PGN because the reviewer did not like my BC. All of my attempts to get the BC "fixed" were unsuccessful and the only thing we could do was get a short form BC and HOPE it would work. It took 2 months once we received that for our attorney to refile our case -- he insisted it would not work, the agency insisted it would. After 2 months of nothing, they convinced him to refile. A few weeks later we were kicked out again. This time for an updated medical on the waiting child. We thought that one would be easy and then the attorney "flew the coop". He left Guatemala before refiling us. We filed a new POA. On 8/25 I received a call from our agency stating they still could not get our file and did not know how long the first attorney would be out of the country. It was news, but not good news. On 8/30 I was at my lowest point. I was awake all night and really starting to think that maybe we should just give up, that this was not meant to be. On 8/31 I got the call that we were out of PGN!
So, hang in there! Prayer does work, but we just never know WHEN they will be answered.

[mhpro]

have you tried your senator/congressman? We were stuck in the embassy for 4 months also. We had a lot of DNA/name change problems. We ended up having to drop the referral and now we're waiting on another one. Call your government officials -- they should help.
m.

[KayV]

Jess:

Hang in there, it does sound like the Embassy is working on your case and it's almost finished. Hopefully in a few weeks you'll be on to the next "fun" step in this adoption process. You know your little girl needs you and now that you've met her I'm sure you realize how important she is to fight for!

We've had PGN problems, we're in our 14th month of PGN - ridiculous, and our file has been sitting on the director's desk now for 3 weeks with approval (although at this point, that means nothing to us, since we've been approved by our reviewer 4 times now, but the director decides to reject us just one more time), but we have hope that SOMEDAY our baby (now a little girl) will come home to us, and we know that she is so worth it.

I know that dealing with the Embassy can make you feel hopeless sometime, but I bet you'll be getting some good news real soon now. Hang in there a little bit longer!

KayV

[my3guats]

We too were in a process that was never ending...attorney that did not get things done in a timely way...documents requested over and over from embassy from El Salvador(probably attorney didn't get right ones..who knows), embassy quit giving DNA authorizations, PGN wanted documents from border that did not exist, embassy said they would do our DNA but then took over a month to accept papers at the window, embassy investigation, possibility of switching attorneys, etc...I too felt many many days that it would never happen and maybe wasn't meant to be..maybe we should give up...but then I kept thinking about how things had happened before we accepted our referral and we really felt God's calling to this little guy. Well 18 mths later he finally came home.

When he looks up at me with those big brown eyes and squeezes me tight in a bear hug...at night yells for many many kisses and hugs, "I need hugs and kisses Mama.." I know that every second of every long day of waiting was worth it. And people always say that pain and frustration fades...when I was in the middle of it all I could not believe it...but it is so true. I can remember feeling all of that pain and anguish but it no longer is taking over my heart as the love and joy this little boy brings has taken over my heart instead!

So no one can tell you what to do but I can tell you that no matter how long you wait when that child is home you will KNOW that every minute was worth it!

There is a wonderful song that I listened to many times each day while I waited...it made me cry each day but it also gave me hope...it is called "God Will Make a Way." I don't have the name of the singer right here but it is so perfect....

Also there is a story someone sent me(I will try to summarize it here)

"One day a friend came to take me shopping. I really didn't want to go but she convinced me. The whole time there I kept just wanting to leave and go home...I had so much to do. I kept saying let's just go now. She kept finding another reason to not go yet. Well when we got home there was a suprise birthday party waiting for me. It was such a joyful event. So when God says you must wait a bit longer remember that even though we don't always know why we must wait but many times it is because God has an even greater surprise in mind for us...."

So take a deep breath...think about the joy you will feel when your child is home...but don't concentrate on the specific when...

[amorriso]

Hang in there! I know it is difficult. After losing our first referral, our next case was stuck at the Embassy for over 3 months. Our son's ** was divorced, which we didn't know, and our lawyer had already submitted a divorce decree to them. The Embassy said they never got a divorce decree. So, we waited from May to July just to get that much info. We only got it then because we called our senator and congressman, who contacted the embassy. We heard something the next day after contacting them. Then we had to wait an additional month and a half for the actual document to be done. We didn't know what would happen.
Our lawyer submitted the document and after two weeks of still no word from the Embassy, we contacted our congressman. That very day, we got pre-approved!!
We are now in PGN for the second time and who knows how this step will go, but we are praying for a speedy end to this process.

amorriso
waiting for Zach..."HE has made everything beautiful in its time..." Ecc. 3:11

DOB 3/8/04
DOR 4/1/04
DNA 5/12/04
Pre-approval 7/24/04
PGN second time 9/?/04

[becky]

Unfortunately an Embassy Investigation is one of the most difficult things you can face in a Guatemalan Adoption. Senators can check on cases that are just dragging along...but when a case is in the investigation unit, no one can do anything to move it along. Typically, they will not even give you a shred of information about what is being investigated or how long it will take. It is an awful, helpless feeling.

Jessica...it sounds like you are almost done...so hang in there and try not to give up...as you said, that little girl needs you...if you give up on her what will happen to her...just remember, when she does come home it will be forever.

I will keep you in my prayers!

[4kids4meTN]

Jess,
I'm so sorry you are having to go through this! I too had a long and drawn out adoption last year, and I remember how very difficult the wait was.

You are in my prayers.

Renee

[shmouse]

It is so hard, but I will echo everyone else. Your child needs you... and although it is terrible to wait, your child needs you to be there in 3 months or 6 months...You will still have them for alifetime (these are things I tell myself as our adoption takes longer then planned).

I hope you get preapproval soon!

Best,

KZ

[Gingerella_68]

I'm really sorry that you have to go trough this rough experience but it really sounds like it should be ending soon.

We all don't like the unknown... but one thing is sure, your girl needs you and what will happen to her if you give up? Our children are so helpless and they need us to have a future in their life... a couple of months of trouble are just so worthed compared to a life together!!

Courage to you, you will make it like many of us that struggled and have now our beauties home and it's just priceless.

Thinking about you!

[jessbychurch]

Hey guys,
This is such a huge rollercoaster for my family... There are more downs then ups. I know that she needs us and we can not be another set of parents to give up on her. We did go visit this past week and it was awesome. I do think that it makes it harder to be here in the USA with no control over what is happening back in Guatemala and her just laying in that orphanage. I will say that she was extremely healthy and cleaned and I know that they are taking care of her, but not like we would back at home. We were able to witness the change in her with the attention on a daily basis. Her motor skills and her attention spam had grown in the 5 days that we were there.

I know that I will not give up on her, it is just so _d___ frustrating that there is absulotely nothing that I could do to change it, not even a status. NOTHING !!!!

Becky, was that just nice words or in my first post, you caught something in what I said that makes you believe that we will be soon? I have read over it and over again since you posted, I keep thinking well maybe I didn't catch on to this the way that I should of.

AGAIN, THANKS FOR ALL THE CONCERNS AND KEEP THOSE IDEAS COMING, I THINK IF I DO A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THEM THE EMBASSY WILL GET TIRED OF HEARING FROM ME AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR CASE.

Jess

[becky]

I am hopeful that since the birthmother interview is done and they told you they were going to be sending an email...that's something. They usually do not tell a family anything when they are in investigation...so I am hoping that means you are close to being done...

[delaware1]

Jess-
I feel so bad for all you are going through. Unless I miss my guess, you probably didn't know embassy investigation was even a possibility until after you were already in process. Even though agencies have us sign risk statements, I think we all get involved in this process believing that somehow the problems won't happen in our case. You've been in investigation for a while, hopefully you will gte out very soon.
sending positive vibes your way-
Kathleen

[Pamsko]

Hope you don't give up. It's got to be hard...and we ALL feel for you.

Sending lots and lots of positive thoughts your way (and towards the embassy and that Guatemalan orphanage!)