Preapproval...Praise God!

Today we received an email from the US Embassy indicating our case received preapproval (PA) on 09/29/07. This is record time folks...as they have been taking 60 days to issue PA. Praise God! We went to our church yesterday evening to have the elders pray over us & Mason. Today's news is no doubt a result of God blessing this adoption journey. I continue to be amazed by the power of prayer and His grace. Our next step is exiting Family Court and entering PGN (final court). Family Court and PGN are on the Guatemalan side of this process.

We also received word the Hague Law (or Ortega Law) was passed by Congress today...it does NOT include a "grandfather clause" for in-process cases. I continue to cling to my faith and pray for a miracle that our case will zoom through PGN and receive final approval by Dec 31st of this year. There are many people working on presenting an amendment to this new law to include a "grandfather clause" for "in-process" cases. Whether this will be accepted or rejected and just what is meant by "in-process cases" is unknown. This amendment will apparently be presented on Oct 9th.

This new law is just a recipe for disaster for the children of Guatemala. There is currently NO formal support in place to care for these children. Care for abandoned and relinquished children is funded by adoptions. The home Mason is in has over 75 children. This home depends on portions of the adoption expense to help provide for the children...they also depend on the generosity of outside donations. It costs the home approximately $250 to provide care to one child for a month...the home as other operating costs in addition to this (such as staff, maintenance, etc). If you are feeling generous or that God has placed it on your heart to help this home...please do so. If you have questions about how you can do this, leave me a comment w/ your email...or email me directly.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. To those who signed the online petition, WAY TO GO, it currently has over 22,000 signatures!!

Please continue to pray over the waiting families and waiting children. These children deserve a chance. Also pray specifically for our case to exit Family court soon, so we have a chance to enter and finalize through PGN by the end of the year.

"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you" Psalm 9: 9-10

Mason will be 13 weeks old tomorrow. We received updated pictures, which were taken last week. He is a precious little pumpkin...he looks healthy, alert and content. I think he's cute even when he's crying! Praise God for the healing he has poured over Mason.