Explaining What Comes Next...

It just occured to me that it might be good to explain what comes next in our adoption process since it is a bit different from our past two adoptions. I have a bit of a time contstraint here in the library in Falkirk, Scotland, so I'll try to make this concise - and yes, I'll add pictures later when I have more time. Here are the next steps.

• Our paperwork was sent to the Risaralda Region some time after September 2nd when the ICBF approval letter was signed and dated.
• A social worker in the regional office there assigns us a referral of children they think are best suited for our family after reviewing our dossier.
• The referral is sent to the ICBF office in Bogota where they confirm the referral and the information is picked up by our agency representative who faxes/emails a copy to our agency (Bethany Christian Services) home office in Grand Rapids, MI.
• BCS forwards the information on to our local office in Plymouth, MN and our social worker excitedly calls to tell us the news and forwards the referral information on to us.
• We look over the 20+ pages of referral information which usually includes family history, health history, current medical and psychological information. We are free to take that info to our incredible pediatrician and then make our decision to accept or decline the referral.
• Once we accept the referral we need to gather other documents that need notarization and the MN Secretary of State's signature and then it is all sent off to Colombia along with a small gift for the children and a photo album of our home/church/community/family that is used by the ICBF social workers and pyschologists to prepare the children for coming home.
• They will probably not tell the children we are coming until we have our tickets and a definite travel date in order to not get their hopes up and keep them waiting too long. Three weeks is a long time to wait on parents who you are anxious to meet.
• We apply for our Colombian visas and we coordinate with the office in Risaralda and make arrangements to travel as soon as possible.
• We will fly into Bogota and then to Pereira.

Now...this assumes that our referral will eventually come from the Risaralda Region and that there is a sibling group waiting there. In the event that there are no waiting groups there, our dossier returns to Bogota and will likely be sent out to another region. I am confident that God knows just where our children are waiting and He will bring us to them in His perfect timing.

Any questions? I know we've got plenty! : )