Words No One Wants to Read

I'm coming home. Without a baby.

I finally had a discussion with my lawyer that helped me to precisely understand the possible time frame for all the steps involved. Communication here is difficult and for many reasons, we had not been given an accurate description of everything involved. Part of this was on the agency's end, partly from the lawyer, and also due to the fact that this is a pilot program. We are the pioneers.

Pretending that we had the authorization in hand from the ministry, the steps that need to be taken to match the child, go to the doctor, test everything, file the paperwork with the courts, have the hearing should take 3 to 5 weeks if everything is smooth. Then it is required to go back to the Ministry to finalize and then begin the Visa process with the embassy. Those two steps average another 2 weeks. AND I DON'T HAVE THE LETTER YET which adds more time. I decided it was impossible for me to stay here that long, to be away from my beloveds in Vermont for potentially another 8 weeks on top of the 3 I have already spent.

So, back I come. To be honest, it is a little hard returning to an expectant community without a baby once again. I guess the feeling would be one of embarrassment. It also is tough looking at all those tiny clothes and leaving them behind in Rwanda, when I really want to use them once and for all. But on the whole, my spirits have been lifted with the clarity of what I need to do.

I am not giving up hope. I do not regret traveling. The adoption IS moving. The Ministry has given urgent (for them) attention to this case. Apparently everyone (now 4 people) have read the file and are meeting on Monday to decide our fate (which is enormously disconcerting truth be told, but that is another post.) So it has moved fast for Rwanda. I hear that some Dossiers have taken a year to get through the Ministry, but the average fast one takes 8 weeks. We are at 3 next week. Me being here on the ground has moved the process along, so I don't think it was a mistake in that regard.

What it looks like now is that the lawyer will continue to press on while our family s together in VT. She will call when everything is thru the court and it is time for me to come back. I have to be here to go back to the Ministry and do the Visa. Another 2 weeks away from my family.

I cannot wait to be reunited with Ri and Scott. I am a weary traveler, for sure, and I already have it planned how tightly I am going to embrace them and sit in the back seat with Ri and maybe even put all the mattresses on the floor for one big sleepover the first night... it feels good to be coming back for a spell and with hope in our hearts.

Please don't stop reading, there is more to come. Many things which I have not yet written about a family that needs immediate help, about my visit to the orphanage. And we still need every ounce of energy and support and prayers possible.

Many Blessings, I will see many of you soon!