Andrea Halliburton

Updates

• Update 8

  

  the documents and their travels

  February 3, 2025

  Good day everyone!

  I hope you are all doing well.

  I just wanted to update you on where Hermanita and I are currently at in the process. Since my last update the following has happened:

  In mid November, all of my dossier documents were received by my lawyer in Mexico.

  By mid January, they were all successfully translated!

  And then I was just recently notified that all of the Dossier documents have now been mailed to the SRE (Secretary of External Relations)and National DIF (the Mexican social services) in Mexico City. Once they are done registering and approving the Dossier, which can take an estimated 4-6 weeks, they will then send it to State DIF. I am hoping I will be notified when the documents are sent to Chihuahua, Chihuahua; however, I don’t actually know what the updates will look like from this point on.

  What I do know is that the state DIF reviews the credentials of the prospective adoptive parents, which takes about a month. Then they begin the process of matching the family with a legally free orphaned child. That’s another 3-6 month estimated time frame.

  The whole process still has a ways to go but I am getting closer to the point where little Hermanita and I can be matched and she can finally know about the adoption!

  Also, as a note, because I received the grant from Help us adopt, I currently do not need to fundraise for adoption fees. I once again just want to keep expressing my gratitude to everyone who has given throughout the process!!

  That being said, if you would like to give towards the future travel costs, please give through http://www.gobgi.org/andrea/. Any donations donated through this blog are only distributed for adoption agency expenses as a reimbursement. All donations through BGI can be distributed immediately and much more conveniently for any adoption expense that arises.

  My specific prayer requests currently:
  That the time frames estimated would go quickly and less time than expected.
  That there are no issues being matched with Ana.

  I am beyond blessed and grateful for all of God’s provision and guidance through this whole thing. Thank you for all your prayers!

• Update 7

  

  The Sparrows

  November 3, 2024

  I have had this image in my mind of being a little sparrow hiding under the Father's wing. Let me explain why I have been meditating on how the sparrows are taken care of by God and how much more precious we are to Him.

  This last week has been a week of incredible news.
  
  On Monday, Oct 28th, I received a phone call from Erin at Help Us Adopt. They are one of the many adoption grants I applied for.

  She very nonchalantly and with a very moderate tone of voice, told me that their board had met and decided who the grant recipients were for this fall. Her tone gave me the impression that I was not selected and I prepared for the bad news.... Instead, her tone turned cheerful and she said "And you were chosen!" After I stopped saying "wait what?!" she calmly explained that I was chosen for a grant of up to $30,000!!! Yes, you got that right, 30K. The “wait, what?!” started again when she told me the amount.

  They will work directly with my two adoption agencies, covering the invoices from my agencies and lawyer fees, up to $30,000. This will not cover travel, in country expenses in Mexico, and other fees BUT that doesn’t have me stressing at all! I know that Jehovah Jirah is providing each step, using many different means. I can’t say thank you enough to all of you who helped get this process started through your generous donations!

  Oh and don’t let me forget the other amazing news!!! The USCIS 800a approval letter was received on Oct 30th which means the Dossier paper chase is officially complete.

  Currently, Help us adopt is sending the fee for the post adoption follow up visits to my home study agency and the Dossier fees to my international adoption agency!

  If all goes according to plan, I will be mailing out all of my documents on Monday, Nov 4th, and within the next week they will be sent to the lawyers in Mexico for translation and submission to DIF (Mexican Social Services).
  
  The next step is where the lawyer is able to start advocating for me to be matched with Hermanita! Please be praying there will be no hold ups in being matched and that She can soon know about this process!

  I am completely blown away by the way Go is providing ro this whole process and caring for Hermanita and me like His little sparrows!!!

  Psalms 91:4 ...Under His wings you will find refuge...

  Psalm 84:3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young – a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.

  Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

  (Painting by Andrea on 2/Nov/24)

• Update 6

  

  A year ago...

  October 13, 2024

  A year ago we stood on top of this hill looking at two countries meeting and all I could think about was how far away it seemed before she could be a part of both of these two countries. I was thinking about hard it was for me to find an Apartment. Why were they so expensive?! How was I going to start this process if I couldn't even get a home for the process to start in?! I felt hopeful and kept plodding along doing what I felt God had called me to, but it didn't seem like it was moving. So I took this picture and prayed, and kept praying. It was not until February of this year that a townhouse in my price range finally opened up. You all helped make that townhouse a home!

  Throughout the process of looking for the apartment, I had started applying for remote bookkeeping jobs hoping I could supplement my income and make a place more affordable. It took over 8 months of applying but this August the Lord brought me the perfect job! It's a part -time, remote, bookkeeping job so I'm able to continue serving at RoM with no change! I can do the work before evening groups start and can do the rest during my over night, night watch shift. This new paycheck is able to do exactly what I prayed for, it covers the rent! This means that the money many donated for rent can now be used for Dossier fees!

  Though this is not moving as fast as my human mind wants it to go, I can see all the ways God is providing and guiding along the way!

  Because of all the ways He has worked in the hearts of all of you who have donated and by providing this job for me, $6,000 of of 16,550 for the Dossier fees are covered! One step closer to Hermanita being able to be apart of the two countries that I get to be a part of 💖

• Update 5

  

  Exploring the town and making progress on my paper chase!

  August 26, 2024

  Exploring Las Cruces!
  Since renting the townhouse, I have been having fun exploring the town. It's been fun finding cute little walking paths and desert hikes with beautiful views, checking out different parks and the library, enjoying all the beautiful murals around town.....and spending nearly every Monday at a different post office. You know, might as well explore the different post offices if you have to go there on a nearly weekly basis haha. I actually have my "favorite" post office now :)
  But all of those USPS trips have been completely worth it! This portion of the adoption process is "fondly" called the paper chase .

  (This next part is a ton of adoption jargon to mean, things are moving! Continue reading if you would like to understand a little bit about the process and where I am at.)

  I was successfully able to mail in my I800-a form to the USCIS (United States Customs and Immigration Services). I have received the notice that it was received and am awaiting my date to get biometrics done. (From my understanding, this is a fancy way of saying yet another set of fingerprinting done and photos taken of me).

  I have also been able to mail nearly all of my documents to the Secretary of State to get an apostille on each (apostille = verifying that the notary is valid and legal to send to Mexico). With the apostille nearly done, I have nearly all of my documents ready for the Dossier. The Dossier is the packet of documents I will mail back to USCIS to be approved and sent to Mexico.

  I have also been working on different grant applications. Grants are not a sure thing, and many of them don't pay out until later in the process.

  Still praying for and saving as much as I can for the $16, 550 I need to be able to send the Dossier!

• Update 4

  

  Home study!!!

  August 17, 2024

  Exciting update!!

  On Monday, June 10th, I was finally able to have my home inspection for the home study!

  I absolutely loved my social worker, and greatly enjoyed her stories from all her years of work!

  Even with this inspection accomplished (which feels amazing!), the paper chase continues as I wait for the home study to be finalized and accepted by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) and I prepare all the documents for the Dossier.

  The next invoices, for the Dossier fees and the post-adoption follow-up fees, have arrived with the amount coming in at $16,550.

  I was recently convicted to use affirming language, such as “when this adoption is finalized, Once the paperwork is approved, after I am matched with hermanita, etc”. Fully believing and trusting that God can accomplish this while also walking forward with palms open believing “even if not” that He is good!! So that being said….

  Once the home study is approved, I can start applying for Grants. Through my adoption agency, I am working with a financial advisor who feels confident I will be able to be approved for grants; however, that is not a guarantee and I have no idea how much the grants will cover.

  Thank you all for your support through this journey! Please continue to pray that God will provide the funds needed. If He is leading you to financially help in this next step, you can contribute through the link below or through gobgi.org/andrea. I am beyond grateful for how God is guiding this process and know that it is in His hands. I also wanted to update you all that I have been able to start doing a little bit of bookkeeping work on the side that is helping pay for the rent at the Townhouse. If you know of anyone who needs a remote bookkeeper, please send them my way!

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