*Another Adoption Update

We have had a very full few days. Before I share all the wonderful things we heard about at the conference, I’ll share an adoption update.

After checking email several times a day for a week, we finally got a good explanation/response from our agency. It wasn’t that they weren’t trying to be timely, it’s that they were waiting on a JCICS conference call, and trying to get their facts straight.

Our agency said that the statements about Vietnam are not necessarily fact. There are many ifs in the process. If a new agreement is not resigned in the near future, Vietnam will stop taking dossiers on July 1st, and then if they are not near signing a new agreement when September 1st approaches, they will only process the adoptions of those who have referrals. It is good to hear those ifs. There is still some hope.

Here is another hopeful statement from our agency's update:"We all need to keep in mind that this is a very complex situation with various agendas existing among different parties.... While they may differ in their tactics and words used, all parties wish for adoptions to be done in an ethical, transparent and legal manner. So while it may appear through the AP reports that adoptions in Vietnam are at risk of stopping please know that all parties are willing to start the negotiations on the new agreement."

Our agency also believes that the Summary of Irregularities, is not the norm of Vietnamese adoptions. "This document has been criticized by most people familiar with adoptions in Vietnam, including representatives from other countries that adopt in Vietnam, as it presents a board picture of unethical conduct in Vietnam when, in fact, the alleged conduct is extremely limited to a few provinces and agencies." There are a few agencies, in a few provinces that are behaving questionably. The US Embassy discussed many bold generalities in the Summary and never stated any specific places, people or institutions. We have been told that the US Embassy has been asked to produce factual evidence, so that those at fault can be prosecuted and issues can be cleaned up.

Also, and perhaps most hopeful to us, is that Vietnam has stated they plan to become Hague approved in 2009. If and when they do, an agreement between the US and Vietnam is no longer needed! So, even if we can’t complete our adoption this year, we could potentially still adopt from Vietnam next year.

Some bad news is that Vietnam is giving less referrals to American agencies right now because of the issues. If they come so slowly, we are even less likely to receive a referral in time.

Keith and I have discussed this a little while we’ve been away. We don’t want to complete our adoption if we suspect our agency, their in country staff, the orphanage, officials, or anyone in the province of unethical behavior. It is our hope that the Embassy will release more specific information so that the adoptive parents and children can have peace about their own adoption histories. I don’t want my child learning some day, or even questioning some day weather her birth mother gave her up or not. I want her to know that her mom gave her up out of love, knowing that she wanted a better life for her daughter. (We heard a neat song by Nate Huss, an adoptee, about his birth mom)

At this conference we were wondering if the Lord would guide us in our adoption. Nothing became more clear, but we did become more aware of other options, and I think I am all the more open for special needs.

*A Disappointing Announcement

Today I have sad news to share. Vietnam will close to US adoptions September 1st. This is incredibly sad news for adoptions in Vietnam. But, even sadder for us is that Vietnam will only complete the adoptions of those families who have referrals by September 1st. There is still a chance this could be us, but it is not likely.

I have noticed that my heart hasn't been so into this adoption as I feel it should be. I'm not sure if it is because I am guarding myself, or if the Lord is using this to guide us to other options, or if He is protecting me from the grief that I could feel, had I been more attached. I am sad, don't get me wrong. But surprisingly, I am not devastated.

The Lord has been reminding me of His promises that "All things work for the good of those who love God." And that His plans for our lives (including Liv's) are hopeful and good (Jeremiah 29:11). This is part of His plan. He called us to adopt, and He will bring it to completion. I can say that and I do believe it, but I pray for more faith, and that God would confirm this calling on our lives.

Here is the statement from the US Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam:
On April 25, the Government of Vietnam announced that it will allow adoption to be completed in cases where prospective adoptive parents have been matched with a child and received an official referral prior to September 1, 2008. It further stated that in accordance with Vietnamese law, the DIA will suspend the acceptance of new dossiers on July 1, 2008. On September 1, 2008 any dossier that has not received a referral will be closed and returned to the Adoption Service Provider. In view of the processing time required in Vietnam from placement to the Giving and Receiving Ceremony, an adoption process begun now cannot be completed before the current Agreement expires.

So, if we don't have a referral before the close, our dossier will be sent back. That makes me even more sad. Our hope and prayer is that Vietnam will reopen to US adoption in 2009 sometime. That would hopefully mean that if we didn't have a referral this time, that we would be toward the top of the list when it reopens, but I am not sure if I should have this hope or not. I need more information from our agency.

The Embassy also released a "Summary of Irregularities" about Vietnam orphanges/adoptions that is rather alarming. As I read it, I think maybe it is best if we don't receive a referral because so many children are being given up unethically. I do want to adopt a child that needs a family - not one who was given up just to make money. I don't want to always wonder if she really was an orphan. Maybe our child is somewhere else.

Among the things the Summary listed were (found at Voices for VN Adoption Integrity):

• strong financial incentive to maximize the number of children available for foreign adoption in their centers - those orphanages that have this incentive have seen a huge increase in the number of "abandoned" children in their facilities, while those without the incentive have not. It appears that some orphanage directors are trying to get more babies into their orphanage so they will receive more money!!
• during the required search and wait for a birth parent to come forward and claim their child, the information is not being properly advertised
• families have applied for domestic adoptions in Vietnam, but are often not processed because orphanages receive less money for domestic adoptions than they do for international. But, domestic adoptions are best option!!!
• the number of "abandoned" children has skyrocketed in orphanages were there is incentive, but remained stable elsewhere. Facilitators are deliberately staging fraudulent desertions to conceal the identity of the birth parents.
• Birth parents are receiving way more than enough in financial "compensation" for giving up their child - more than about a year's wages. Sometimes these parents are told their child will visit them often, and/or return home at a certain age, and/or send money from the US - all of which does not happen
• Often the individual who purportedly found the child (child finder) is a police officer, a village official or a member of their immediate family. These individuals are often related to the orphanage director or the local official who approves adoptions. Embassy investigations have shown that many of these reports are fraudulent.
• In five provinces, the Embassy has discovered unlicensed, unregulated facilities that provide free room and board to pregnant women in return for their commitment to relinquish their children upon birth.
• Attempts by U.S. officials to verify the accuracy of these documents have routinely uncovered evidence of fraudulent or inaccurate information. Fraudulent police reports have also been submitted to the Embassy in connection with adoption cases.

I am sad for Vietnam - that all this is going on and devastating the lives of many. And, I am sad for our family. I want to move forward. I want another child, and I want it by adoption. I don't want to wait forever. When we started this process a year ago (almost to the day!) I knew we could face huge hurdles. And, here they are. When is a hurdle so big that we should change course?

Will you pray with us for Vietnam adoptions, and for God's guidance as we decide what to do now?

Thank you.

*I Finally Called

More pictures are on Ethica's website

I scared myself by reading adoption info on the internet. I do that every now and then because I don't fully understand the process or who is who... So, after receiving an email from a fellow PAP (prospective adoptive parent) with some concerning news, I called our agency this morning. I've been putting off calling for an update as long as I can, as I know it is something that I will quickly get addicted to doing.

It was really good to talk with our program director. She is honest and well-informed. But, that doesn't mean the news was all positive. The MOU will not be resigned. That is the agreement between the VN and US governments allowing adoption. It expires Sept 1st of this year. The US will not resign it because VN has not met some of the requirements, including a fee schedule to make all adoptions the same (and attempt to eliminate baby buying) and more government oversite of each province. Resigning it would require that Vietnam totally restructure how they work provincially, meaning provinces would have to give up control to the country government, which is quite unlikely, especially in such a short amount of time. Apparently other Europpean countries have no issues with the way it works now, so at least if the US isn't able to adopt from Vietnam anymore, some children will still find homes.

Vietnam isn't super thrilled with the US Embassy right now either. With the change of the I-600 process, the US stated that the wait period for approval would be up to 60 days. Vietnamese law said it had to happen within 30 days. So, VN changed their law to be 60 days, and now the Embassy is taking far more than 60 days in most cases (because they are backlogged and understaffed). That has offended VN officials. Also, when the Embassy investigates adoptions, they are showing up unannounced to the orphanages, and in unmarked vehicles. They probably have reason for doing so, but this has also offended VN officials, making it harder to negotiate and come to an agreement so that adoptions can continue. I am glad the US has high standards and making an effort to improve the ethics of VN adoptions, but it is making it harder on us PAPs. It shouldn't be about us though. It should be about the children.

Our agency only had one referral last month, and none so far this month. The director said it has been very slow, and it is probably partially because of the big Tet holiday last month, and because of the current US/VN relations. When the Director of our agency, John, was in VN last month, he was told several referrals were on their way. We'll see. We have been waiting 5.5 months, and have gone from number 39 to the early 20's.

The waiting list isn't that informative though, because some of those on the list are requesting boys, and some are requesting girls, while some are eithers. But, we still have a long wait ahead of us.

Some families in our agency are have also signed on with their Nepal program (which has been closed but should reopen any day now), meaning they are doing concurrent adoptions. These families hope to adopt 2 children, one from Nepal, and one from VN, but in case VN closes, they will still have one adoption to be waiting on. The thought has crossed our minds to do this, but likely with a different country. But, our hearts are set on Vietnam, and our current plan is to wait several years after we get Liv, and adopt an older and perhaps special needs child. Or maybe to do foster care and adopt out of it. We'll see.

I also learned today that it is the orphanage officials that give the referrals to the agencies of their choice. Once the agency gives that referral to a family and the family accepts it, a letter of acceptance is sent to the VN government, and that is when they know who is matched with who. So, it is important that agencies maintain good relations with orphanages, and often do this by aiding (charitably) them. I know our agency is helping a little boy get much needed surgery to remove a huge facial tumor, has helped install several water purifiers, and is helping remodel a building into a new orphanage. I know it is not their motive to get more referrals by doing so. They have always helped the Vietnamese orphans, even while the country was closed before.

I suppose the conclusion of what I learned today is that things are looking hopeful that adoptions would be completed for people like us who have their Dossiers in Vietnam by the date it closes, but it is also looking likely that VN will close to US adoptions for at least a short time. The JCICS (Joint Council on International Children's Services) has vowed to fight for VN/US adoptions, and that will be helpful. We just need to pray hard. Please join us in praying that God would unite orphans with their loving families soon.

For other PAPs out there, please don't read what I write as fact. I don't totally understand everything in this US/VN adoption world, but this is my take on what our agency told me.