Dear Friends and Family, as many of you know, we are blessed with four beautiful children who are all grown up now. In January 2021, after much thought, we both thought about adopting a child. We started to work with Holt International hoping we could adopt a child from China. We were so busy taking adoptive classes, collecting documents for the Dossier and Home Study, taking required medical appointments, and criminal background checks. By the following Autumn we receive the news from Holt that our Dossier and Home Study were sent to China. As weeks turned into months of waiting when the Covid pandemic would subside, and China would open up their borders. We were hoping and praying that the matching process would begin soon. An entire year and a half went by with no news, and we were once more collecting all the necessary paperwork, criminal background checks, required medical appointments, for the revision of the Home Study, that we need to resubmit to Homeland Security. As we were watching other families with the China program pursue different options in other countries, we maintained our hope that the matching process would resume. Our hopes were up when a few families who were matched with children before China closed due to COVID, were allowed to come to China and unite with their children to whom they were waiting all through the pandemic. By the Fall of 2023, it was pretty clear from our adoption specialist from Holt International that nothing in the foreseeable future indicated that the Chinese authorities were going to resume their adoption program. There was no information at all that could indicate that there would be any children available for matching.
We were heartbroken, but when one door closes, another one opens. Glory to God for everything! We had a meeting with our China program specialist from Holt International, and it was her suggestion that we look into adopting from Bulgaria. Soon after we had an amazing meeting with the Holt International Bulgaria Program specialist. By the end of this meeting we felt this was the answer to our prayers! The good news is that by now collecting the necessary documents for the Dossier and Homestudy for Bulgaria is easier because we have been doing this for a few years. Our Home Study is being reviewed by Holt International, and hopefully be ready in the beginning of May. The Dossier papers are being prepared by Holt, and we must submit the I800 form by May 13th. We found out from our adoption agency about this fundraising agency, AdoptTogether, so that we can reach out to our friends and family looking for your support and prayers. It takes a village to raise a child, in our case it takes a village to bring our baby home. We are grateful for all your help to raise the necessary funds. We need our village.
