Guatemala Adoption Information and News

Ortega/Hague Update
Guatemalan papers are reporting that committees of Congress met yesterday on the adoption law. This was NOT the vote on the amendments. But based on these reports, Guatemala will postpone implementing the Hague until April 1, 2008 in order to better coincide with the US's likely ratification date. Interestingly, one paper quotes US Consul General John Lowell as saying this is unnecessary.

In addition, one paper is reporting that the Ortega Law's effective date will be bumped back to April 1 as well. One story also mentions that one amendment to be voted on is to permit singles to adopt.

Once again, this all coming from Guatemalan papers. If you would like to see the newspaper articles in full, please visit http://www.guatadopt.com/ website. (there is a link to their website on the right margin).

Thanks!

Received a Letter from our New York State Assemblywoman.

Wow, we were quite surprised to get a letter from G.F. New York State Assembly Fifth District. She wrote us to let us know, that she forwarded our letter to P.K. our congressman and requested him to help us with our situation. And the letter had a real signature too. Sorry, but Margaret is a stickler about letters being signed or stamped. Hand signed letters mean a lot more to Margaret, then just the ones that have the stamp signatures. It was very nice for G.F. to take the time to write us and our congressman and request him to help us.

Please continue to Pray, send good wishes, fingers crossed - whatever works - so Anna comes home real soon.

thanks for your continued support.

Colom Wins Presidency - Guatemala will have a New President.

Its official....Alvaro Colom is the next President of Guatemala. He will take office on January 14, 2008. To see the details on the election and the information about the new President for Guatemala, please go to this website:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/05/america/05guatemala.php

It is really unsure, his opinions on Adoptions, so I guess time will tell.

Got an Email from our Lawyer today - Yippie!

HI All,

Margaret was quite surprised to get an email from our Lawyer on a Saturday. We know our lawyer likes spending the weekends with his family and NOT work. So it was a nice surprise to get this email. Thanks for taking the time to email us Edwin - it is greatly appreciated.

Our lawyer told us that he checked with PGN last week and we were with the 2nd reviewer, or as he would say - they are called "asesores".

So that is good news, now let just hope we go to Barrios desk and get signed off - that would be soo soo great!

Our Efforts have Paid Off! Thanks so much!

The Joint Council posted this wonderful information on their website (www.jcics.org/Guatemala5000.htm)

"Through our collective efforts, the Guatemala 5000 Initiative has resulted in 203 Members of the United States Congress supporting the completion of all in-process adoptions via their signature on letters being sent today, October 31, 2007 to Guatemalan President Oscar Berger, UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman and UNICEF Guatemala Director Manuel Manrique. The 203 Senators and Representatives represent the largest number in the 22 year history of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption and the first time the Coalition has addressed UNICEF.Joint Council thanks the thousands of adoptive families and their friends who made calls, sent faxes and emailed their Congressional representatives. We also extend our considerable appreciation for the efforts of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute for their tireless efforts, to the National Council for Adoption for their support and to the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Coalition, Senator Mary Landrieu, Senator Norm Coleman, Congressman James Oberstar and Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite for their vital leadership.The text of the letters along with all signatories will be available on Friday, November 30 2007 on both the Joint Council and CCAI websites. It is our continued hope that these letters will result in the development of a legal, transparent and expeditious process by which the thousands of children currently in Guatemalan orphanages and foster-care will find their permanent, safe and loving family.As we have stated many times, Joint Council will continue our advocacy on behalf of the Guatemalan children until each child needing a family has found one."

Thank you all for your continued support, prays, & good wishes.

Just an Update

Hi All,
A few of you have been asking what is going on with Anna. Well, we are in PGN. This is the waiting stage. PGN is closed until Tuesday (closed for All Saints Day, closed Monday due to the Presidential Elections on Sunday), so we will not be hearing anything - if anything until next week. Hopefully, we'll be on Barrios's desk (reviewer #3, last person) and he'll be in a good mood after a long weekend off and sign us OUT! Positively thinking of course. :)

Please continue to pray & send your good wishes, for Anna Maria to get out of PGN so she can come home.

Thanks for your continued support.

Today is All Saints Day in Guatemala

All Saints day is One of the Guatemala's most important holidays, All Saints Day (sometimes called Day of the Dead here) is marked by processions and festivals mixing Mayan and Catholic traditions. Most activities take place in the cemeteries, where people decorate grave sites and celebrate their dead. In the village of Santiago Sacatepequez, less than an hour from the capital, locals fly huge brilliantly colored kites, representing souls rising to heaven. Notes attached to the strings carry messages to the dead and to God.

All Saints Day is a very religious day in Guatemala, where most places are closed. Even PGN is closed today.

Just to give you an idea on how big the kites are - look at these pics. They are so amazingly big. Guatemala also makes their pinatas big for party celebrations.

I saw these pics on another adoptive family blog, and I just had to show them to you all.