There were many reasons for choosing Jamaica, not the least of which is that God opened the door, and used a trip to start this whole process. But, another appeal for Jamaica is that the cost is SIGNIFICANTLY less. Like $8000 compared to $25,000. This is because there really isn't a country fee, and they do use agencies, so there is no agency fee. This positive has turned into a negative. There is no advocate over there working on my behalf so things just continue to move extremely slow (or not at all).
I have been contemplating all of my options and after doing A LOT of research, emailing, and reference checking....I made a decision to contract with an agency and I am seeking to adopt from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. I am THRILLED!! There are waiting children there so this process should move much more quickly. Within a year, prayerfully. And I get to travel to Africa and bring him home. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!! A ONCE IN A LIFE EXPERIENCE!
One of the most difficult parts of this decision was the fear of going against what God has for me and being convinced that I have a son in Jamaica. So, I am NOT pulling my paperwork from Jamaica. If God has a son for me there, and I eventually get a call from them telling me he is ready...then I will just have two little boys. What a blessing!! Still praying for the "little man" in the pictures.
Another hard decision was worrying about the financial responsibility that comes with the program. I had a peace in church on Sunday morning that said...I can do this. The money we have is not ours anyway, it is a blessing from God and HE will provide. It is not like I am taking all of that money and buying a sports car or a bigger house, I am giving a child a home and really saving a life! Plus...I get to be a mama! YAY!!
I will have some fundraising opportunities in the next few months, so stay tuned in!!!
Thank you for walking this journey with me!
Love,
Cindy
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
God Has A Plan
It has been a while!! I want to send an update even though I don't have any exciting news. The last few calls to Jamaica over the last month have not been very positive. I sit and wonder if this will ever happen?? Most international adoptions are conducted through agencies, so there is someone in the middle being an advocate for you. Jamaica does not work with agencies. This is good, in that the cost is so much lower, but bad in that I have to deal directly with the government myself and they are not willing to give any information. They just tell me "I am on the waiting list and they will let me know when there is an available child for me". It is very frustrating, mostly because I have a fear of waiting 2 or 3 years and never getting a referral.
So...the wheels start turning. I have been considering other avenues. There are almost no other countries who allow singles to adopt. I have considered going the birth mother route through the states, but I am not quite there yet. I have always felt that my little one would be a 3 - 5yrs old. On Sunday, I googled "Caribbean Adoption" and found a site with waiting children. There was a picture of a beautiful sibling group of a girl and boy from Haitie. They are 1.5 and 2.5 yrs old. They are precious!! However, when I called the Holt agency, I found out that even though they are waiting and available...the process through Haiti is still going to take 2 - 3 years. On top of that, they do not speak english and the cost would be around $25,000.
For those of you who wonder, I have called Children Services in Nashville and have searched for available children in the states, and they are all older children which is not what God has put in my heart.
So, where am I today??? I am back to my resolve of waiting on Jamaica!! This is where God lead to begin and I truly have to put my trust in the fact that HE has a plan! There has to be a reason that I am going to have to wait. I will continue to pray and save money and prepare my heart for the day that Jamaica calls to tell me my son is ready to come to his forever home!
Thank you for sharing in my journey!
Love,
Cindy
So...the wheels start turning. I have been considering other avenues. There are almost no other countries who allow singles to adopt. I have considered going the birth mother route through the states, but I am not quite there yet. I have always felt that my little one would be a 3 - 5yrs old. On Sunday, I googled "Caribbean Adoption" and found a site with waiting children. There was a picture of a beautiful sibling group of a girl and boy from Haitie. They are 1.5 and 2.5 yrs old. They are precious!! However, when I called the Holt agency, I found out that even though they are waiting and available...the process through Haiti is still going to take 2 - 3 years. On top of that, they do not speak english and the cost would be around $25,000.
For those of you who wonder, I have called Children Services in Nashville and have searched for available children in the states, and they are all older children which is not what God has put in my heart.
So, where am I today??? I am back to my resolve of waiting on Jamaica!! This is where God lead to begin and I truly have to put my trust in the fact that HE has a plan! There has to be a reason that I am going to have to wait. I will continue to pray and save money and prepare my heart for the day that Jamaica calls to tell me my son is ready to come to his forever home!
Thank you for sharing in my journey!
Love,
Cindy
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