[lou0728]

This is weighing so heavy on my heart. I have been led to pray for PGN so strongly today. Anne Pearce and I sat in our comfy chair and lifted PGN and all the workers there up to God. I prayed that He would open their hearts and open the flood gates to release these children being held hostage.

My attorney has files at the window. AT. THE. WINDOW. Obviously they are approved, or they wouldn't be at the window. If the case is signed aren't the adoptive parents legally the parents of the child??? WHy is PGN holding these cases? What does it prove? When is the DOS and our US government going to stand up for our rights? Is it going to take a hunger strike in the park on our part? You know I'm not making small the issue of stolen babies, but why do all cases have to be punished for a few corrupt attorneys? If the birthparents want the children back give them back, but let the others go. WHAT CAN WE DO????? Who should we email??? Our government HAS to step in and represent our interests at some time whether they like it or not. We have to DEMAND action. Guys, I am so tired and weary. I HATE fighting, but I will do it for Essie and ALL our children. Help me think of SOMETHING. ANYTHING. We can't just sit here and WAIT! I'm going down there Friday. WHO do I need to try to talk to? Where do I need to go? What door do I need to knock on???? Help me decide what action WE all need to take.

I love you guys like family.

[cbmstephanie]

I don't know Lou it's so disheartening. It just makes me want to cry thinking about it. I'm sure those in authority think they are doing what's in the best interest of children, but I just don't see it. I'm trying to stay optimistic, but it's oh so hard. I'm a little disillusioned right now so I don't have any suggestions, but if someone has any ideas I will help.

[hbrown22]

I too am tired and weary and just ready to be DONE. I have no suggestions, I've emailed everyone I can think of to no avail. I don't know what will have an impact unless we all go picket in front of PGN or something. And it would have to be ALL of us. And I doubt that will even help. I just don't know if there is anything we can do at this point except wait it out.

[babyme]

I dont either I have also emailed everyone I can think of. I dont know anyone in the media and that might just make it worse anyway. please post any info you get on friday when you go thanks

[lovefamily]

I've been actually trying to call the PGN right now for about the last 15 min. and no one is answering the phone. Is their number 502-2248-3200? I emailed everyone I could think of yesterday also. Our case too, has received the final signature and is at the exit window. I'm not sure what else to do either, besides to pray for those working there at the PGN, that God will help them open their hearts and think about our kids, so they can finally come home to their waiting families.

[purejoy]

I have been asking the same questions for the past few days. WHAT CAN WE DO? There's gotta be something, something powerful.

I wrote my senators over two weeks ag0 -- just emails to their generic Washington addresses. Then an in-state friend gave me email addy's to their staff assistants in-state. Within two hours of sending out the first one, I had a phone call. She asked for all relevant case info, so I sent pretty much everything I could think of last night. This morning she replied that she had sent it off (on behalf of the Senator) to the Embassy in Guate.

I know it may not change anything, but it was empowering and I appreciated the recognition at least. I also made it very clear that the U.S. cannot maintain this "hands-off" stance, thinking it doesn't affect anyone besides the P-AP's. After all, the Embassy is going to be directly impacted when the flood of cases is released simultaneously from PGN -- can you imagine all those requests for DNA authorization and then PINK? It IS in their best interest to pressure PGN to release the cases that are without anomalies.

As always, I think we have to do the best we can with what we have. That may mean something different to each one of us, but it's a challenge I hope we will all commit to.

[duckmom]

I have been trying for a few weeks to get another campaign going similar to Guatemala 5000. I don't have the skills to get one going and no one seems interested to help. I emailed my senators, JSCIS, DOS, and received canned responses. I am not sure why no one wants to get involved this time. Maybe it's because there are not that many of us left, I just don't know.
I cannot believe that if we didn't start a campaign, that no one would listen. Look at what we did several months ago with Guatemala 5000. We made a difference then, why not now?
I don't believe for one second that there is simply nothing we can do about it and it's all in Guatemala's hands. The US put pressure on Guatemala to ratify the Hague earlier than they wanted to and they allowed a grandfather clause. They can put pressure on them to do the right thing now and let these cases go. What good is holding them for an indefinate amount of time going to do for anyone, esp the children? And if we don't make an impact now, I bet that we will probably be dealing with a new delay tactic once the interviews are over.
They are saying that the cases being interviewed will be released when they are ALL done. I hear (rumor) that this is just the cases currently ready to be signed off. So what happens to all of the cases with the 1st and 2nd reviewer? Will they let the first group go and then make the next bunch of cases wait another 30 days or more? And that's if they really do let them out in 30 days (I'll believe it when I see it)
Ok, I'll get off my soap box now. Maybe I'm delusional. I am just so frustrated, I want to go camp out on the Embassy lawn on a hunger strike (not to make light of the women who are protesting now).
Whew, I feel better now, sorry for the ranting and raving.

[t-square]

same thing here. i e-mailed, faxed last week about the interviews. then, i did the same this week about her orphanage being "raided" - no one seems to care anymore and no one wants responsibility for these children except for us. the problem - we are the last of the barrel for most agencies and organizations - so many children made it home since our last campaign....we have to think of something.

[t-square]

Can anyone think of how to put together a presentation or something powerful that we can send to a VIP in guatemala?

i have a personal contact with a very vip person in guatemala, but i would only use it if we could group together and put something together to send to him and gain his interest. he is a big supporter of human rights for guatemalans, as he has worked for years between the two countries and now he is an elected official.

Any ideas????

[duckmom]

But they are saying that there are still appox 2,500 cases in process. That is ALOT of voices that need to be heard. Sure, it's not the estimated 5,000 give or take during Guatemala 5000, but it is still alot. Where are all these people?
Maybe when they heard about the interviews, they all crawled in a hole? Or, maybe it's only those of us that have children getting ready to enter kindergarten (I'm being sarcastic-but it feels that way) that are getting upset and all the other cases are only a few months old and the parents are not really that upset about the delay? I have no idea.

[kzwief]

I wish I knew of something. It seems like nobody really cares and everyone is just giving us lip service and I am fed up! Even my agency has no suggestions. They keep saying we just have to wait and see how this plays out. What ever happened with that Amparo that the attorney's in Guat were going to file? It just disgusts me that they are keeping these children from families. Isn't that the goal with adoption, to find families for these children? Well they HAVE families and we are being kept from them! I will fight as well, we just need some sort of campaign. I will continue to think and pray about it.

[t-square]

Is there a way we can set up a website, or blog and have everyone write or post? - we have to make this sort of personal (not just signatures of a petition) without endangering any of our cases and show how we are loving and caring for these children, visit trips, sacrificing our all...you get the idea - a slide show with the amount of time we have been matched with these children (bc it is not the 2-3 months everyone thinks they give you a baby in).

...this person i mentioned is very humanitarian and i can get someone to call him and get him to check it out or we can get through to him and speak directly to him.

...still need ideas....

I DON'T THINK THERE ARE STILL 2,000 OF US...there are a lot of us, but it just seems odd that only 150 of us saying on this forum that we are in process....something is off...really off...

[lou0728]

I would be willing to help with a blog. Every person on the blog could be an author, and we could all post our stories and pictures! Great idea...... If the VIP could do anything to help us that would be fantastic!

[sferrick]

Joint Council was the big header for the Guat 5000, I would really pay attention to what they were saying and contact them. While in the process, i found them to be the only reliable source and help. I know how frustrating this is to feel like you are stuck, we were in the Mixco BC wait. so praying and believing in miracles. Susie

[kzwief]

I think the blog is a GREAT idea Telissa! Maybe we should do that to start with and see how it goes and how much interest there is? Many of us have blogs, so I'm sure between all of us we can come up with some things of interest. Maybe there is a web designer that would donate their time?