Who said Carolina blue was ok?

If organized chaos is a real thing, then we are living there. Beth
recently spoke with our coordinator in Virginia who informed us that
there might possibly be a chance that we could maybe be back in
Russia before the end of October, potentially... ok.

Really we have received a good word from Virginia that they are
pushing for us to return to Russia before the end of October. This
is mostly because ALL of our original paperwork, (We know that you
are confused as to which paperwork we are speaking but this is from
the first round, out of three, we have done) is set to expire in
November. Some of the paperwork depends on other government
agencies, so it would be ideal if this didn't happen.

For this to happen we need to be assigned a court date in late
October. I know to many of you outside the super-secret-in-the-know-
adoption-circle our journey has seemed complicated rought with
uncertainty and slow. However, it is actually been quite smooth.
Really this is a testament to God's faithfulness to answer the
prayers of His people. We both firmly believe that if we didn't have
a prayer covering than much of what has occurred wouldn't have.
Thank you! Please continue on-ward in this journey as we near the
next big hurdle, receiving a court date.

Other major answers to prayer include the provision of the financial
resources to make this a possibility. The up-front cost of
international adoption is prohibitive, however God has provided the
means for us to meet the bulk of the expense. PTL!




We have finished painting the boy's room.
Benny Moore's Grandma's Sweater
(Carolina blue), with horizontal strips: two, thinner Fiesta Yellow
(bright yellow) and one, thicker Feel the Energy (lime green) in the
middle of the room. Major answer to prayer that this was completed
before we received a court date. Of course my brother-in-law will
not think that is a major prayer answered, as he would have preferred
a NC State red as the majority color.

We have purchased furniture for the room at a discount (used in a
model home, received nearly 70% off). We have discovered Ross, TJ
Max, Nordstrom Rack, JC Penney, Osh-Kosh Outlet, Carter's Outlet,
Gymboree (ok not really), Target, and Kohls (!!!) are great places to
purchase clothing at a discount, given the right sale.

We continue to see God refine the two of us in this process. We
started out thinking, really assuming that we would have a couple of
birth children then we would adopt. We never considered that
adoption would be pursued first and birth children a hope for the
future. We are convinced that He is in control of our life. He has
our best interest at heart. He knows what the perfect timing will be
for us. And though we are not there yet, we have a glimmer into that
state of being where one is content.

While we don't know what a pregnancy is like, we can somewhat related
to the process. Here is our "adoption process is harder than an
actual preganancy" case: we have been pursuing the children for
nearly 12 months, insurance does not cover the cost, we have filled
out three rounds of paperwork (all signed, notarized, apostilled,
FedExed, and translated), our labor consists of traveling across two
continents, one ocean, and 10 time-zones with two children that
barely know us, don't speak any English, may be teething, have
diarrhea, a parasite or two, and dealing with the United Airlines
flight attendants... This is all to say God has been doing a number
on our hearts in bonding to these two little ones. We are very excited!

We love you. Thank you for being apart of this journey with us.
Please continue to pray for our journey!

Please pray
o for a court date in October
o provision for the adoption expenses
o protection from evil
o strength in our marriage
o provision of enough vacation time for John, (the trip and 2-3 weeks
when we return)
o Austin and Jacob would bond quickly to us
o return trip would be miraculously smooth and quiet
o patience, strength, and understanding of each other and these boys


Take care,

John and Beth (nearly parents)

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Insight from Thurs. Russian Delegation to Washington

This was a post from a chat group we belong to. Makes for an interesting story.

From: Mitzie T.
Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2005 16:40:22 -0400

The reception was hosted by the Joint Council on International Children's Services. There were 8 Russian Delegates in attendance as well as, Tom Atwood (NCFA), Lee Allen (his assistant), representatives from Shoahannah's Hope, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, a handful of adoptive families and our beloved Leslie from AWAA. Susan from AWAA was also present.

I am telling you this so that you will know how hard AWAA is working on behalf of your family and mine. I did not see any other agency represented at this reception. After watching Leslie at work, I am convinced she attended this reception to speak up on behalf of all AWAA's families. Leslie speaks Russian and was able to communicate clearly with some very key officials. She and I spoke with the man from the Duma that I've listed below, Anatoliy. Let me just say that after speaking
with him, I am not afraid to face a judge in court. He was not a happy man. Leslie was agressive with her questioning yet polite. It was obvious to me that he was not digging the conversation. She asked him to look at our baby book and at first he refused. We talked for a few more minutes and then he agreed to look at Aleena's book. He commented about her blue eyes matching mine and then asked me (in English) a few questions that caught me off guard such as Aleena's medical diagnosis, how much we paid in the region, why I wanted more children, etc. He then asked me, "Are you a nice family?" Oh my... Leslie then pushed him to answer questions as to whether or not OO and LSSS will receive accreditation. He was clearly not happy with the line of questioning but our advocate just kept her composure and pushed on. I was truly amazed.

I spoke with Tom Atwood and his assistant, Lee. This was after the delegation departed for further meetings/dinner. He and his team were key in stopping the moratorium. He is still meeting with officials to avoid the 30 reaccredited agencies from losing their licensing due to "infringements" as stated by Sergey Fridinsky. Fridinsky is pushing to revoke these licenses and Tom Atwood is trying to find an alternative to this line of reasoning. The MOE was supposed to discuss accreditation issues last week but will continue to do so this coming week. We are praying that LSSS and OO will receive their accreditation without further delay.

You should know that the Duma man (Anatoliy) was looking for assurances from our government that no other children will be harmed. The case in the news lately of children being placed in cages has outraged him. It makes Americans look like animals. Anatoliy was also clear that if there were any more abuse cases, Russia would "shut down". Those are the words from one man. He was highly irritated that there weren't any Senators or Congressmen/women to speak to him at the time. I have no idea what the expectations were from both sides....I just know He is expecting alot from our government when he doesn't require the same from his own. I am told that over 3,000 children a year are killed by their parents in Russia. It is alarming that the finger continues to be pointed in our direction when their own country is in a desperate situation.

Our family then stayed behind to speak with a Russian family that lives not too far from us. This couple has 3 birth children and has adopted two older girls from Russia. They are Christians. Would you believe that Eric and this man knew a mutual friend that attends our church?? God was clearly connecting our families in a special way. The husband's name is Elijah.
Their family and ours gathered in a circle in the middle of the Senate Hart building and proclaimed God the victor over all things. We were tearful and pleaded with God on behalf of all of you. It was one of the most amazing times of my life. Although I listened to the hurtful things the Duma man spoke about, I knew that our God was greater than anything he could do to us.

Please do not read this and walk away defeated. Read these words and pray for specifics now that you know where the hearts of some of these men are. Pray against this evil, pray that hearts would soften, and please pray for these people specifically:

Mr. Anatoliy Vasilyevich Baboshkin, Deputy Federal Duma, Moscow
Sergey Fridinsky, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation
Tom Atwood, President of the National Council For Adoption
Staff of AWAA

It is interesting that when I looked at the FRUA page, there was a post from a woman that had attended this same reception. She walked away with a far different picture than I did. You see, she has already brought her children home. She spoke about the reception being nice with food and an open bar. She went on to say how nice it was to see the children from Perm
and have a picture taken with everyone.

I went to the reception knowing the battle would be great. I left there knowing our God was greater than the battle. It was also planted deep in my heart this sentiment: I do not know what tomorrow holds but I know the Holder of tomorrow!!!

I pray that you hang on to the One Who holds tomorrow. If it is His desire that we press on towards Russia, He will pave the way.

Blessings to each of you,

Mitzie

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The Duma

All,

Just wanted to inform you of a major answer to prayer. The duma turned down the amendment to impose a temporary moratorium on the adoption of Russian children from America. Praise God!

The next significant event connected to our adoption is The Council on Accreditation meeting on Thursday, September 15. They will decide which agencies will be reaccredited to move forward with processing international adoptions. Two of the umbrella agencies that our agency works under are expectantly waiting for the decisions which will be made by this council. Please pray for these meetings on the 15th.

Thank you so much for walking with us!

Love,

John and Beth

State Duma tells government to protect children adopted by foreigners

09/09/2005 15:53

MOSCOW, September 9 (RIA Novosti) - The government must take measures to protect Russian children adopted by foreigners, Russia's lower chamber of parliament said in a statement Friday.

"Parental violence against adopted children has become more frequent," the State Dua's statement said.

In the United States, 13 adopted Russian children have died from parental violence, including an 8-year-old boy who died of starvation in August.

The deputies expressed their concern that they learn about these facts only from press reports.

"Other instances of physical or psychological violence against Russian children, citizens of Russia, could be unknown," the deputies said.

The State Duma is also concerned over the fate of about 64,000 Russian children adopted by foreigners and living outside Russia. The deputies say the adoption process is becoming increasingly commercial and criminal.

They are asking the government to ensure that orphaned children be placed in Russian families as a priority.

The State Duma turned down an amendment by Deputy Nina Ostanina from the KPRF faction to impose a temporary moratorium on the adoption of Russian children by the citizens of those countries where Russian children died at the hands of their adoptive parents.

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Paperwork part two

All,

We trust this email reaches you in good spirits and you are doing well. We are just nearing the completion of our second round of paperwork for the adoption. It should complete the court documents that will be presented when we arrive to adopt the boys. We have told many of you of the political climate in Russia, and some we have missed. We will try to recap the basics here.

It has been reported that at least 13 adopted Russia children have been killed in the US by their adoptive parents. The three most recent cases (IL, NC, and MD) have been publicized widely within Russia. This has cause a political outrage towards Americans adopting russian children. Controversy flow in Russia over the issue but fundamentally there are other forces at work that may not be in the best interest of the children. One senior Duma lawmaker called for a moratorium on US citizens adopting children in Russia.

The Ministry of Education (the group who oversees adoption) made a statement against the moratorium but for law changes regarding independent adoption and home study content. Recent reports indicate that a desire to place a moratorium on independent adoptions and to insist that "bilateral agreements on inter-state cooperation regarding child adoption would be the most effective instrument of protection for Russian children adopted by foreigners." We interpret this to imply a desire for an international treaty.

This option would effectively create a moratorium on US adoptions in Russia because the US has already signed into law the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, the US implementation of the Hague Convention on International Adoption. "The United States has signed the Hague Convention but has not yet ratified. Ratification will occur when the instruments of ratification are deposited at the Hague." It is unlikely that another treaty would be signed.

So again we are at the point of total helplessness. So we are asking you to cover this situation in prayer. Specifically, the draft parliamentary inquiry will be review at a session of the Duma on September 9.

Please pray that
wisdom and discernment would prevail on the part of the Russia leaders
the bilateral agreement would be dropped from the draft
the lawmakers would act in the best interest of the Russia children
the gates of adoption would open wide for those waiting for children from Russia
those working on our behalf in Russia would be protected
our paperwork would be complete and nothing else would be asked for
we could complete our adoption before year end
we would have peace throughout the process

We love you all and thank you for walking with us during this journey.

John and Beth

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