Gathering the info.

Psalm 9:10 “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”

Will and I have started to gather our information for the adoption process. It's so much and so overwhelming, but I'm so excited at the same time!  I felt this way the first time we did In Vitro Fertilization. This amazing excitement of something great to come. Even thought the IVF was unsuccessful, I don't regret going through it.  

Just some statistics about Haiti and why I feel such a need to help one (or two) of these babies. I feel that Will and I are so blessed to have what we have, and to just bring one of these babies home and give them such a great life would bring us such joy. 

• Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere 
• Haiti Population - 9.6 million
• 50% of Haiti's population is school age
• Literacy rate is less than 50%
• 70% of population is in poverty
• Average annual income is $400 per year
• Approx 750,000 orphans since the earthquake

Orhpan girls at One Vision orphanage in Haiti

So what we have done to get started so far is very little, but I hope we are on the right track. We know we need to save about $20,000 give or take. This will take us a few months, so in the mean time we will just do a lot of research and take our time going through all of our information.  We have both joined a Haiti Adoption Facebook page which has tons of information and resources. We live in NC, and I have seen there are two or three other family from NC who have already started the adoption process, so I will be contacting them soon. 

We also have the list of IBESR approved adoption agencies in Haiti (see below). We will gather info from all of them and then narrow down to the lucky one.

1. A love Beyond Borders
2. Children House International
3. Carolina Adoption Services
4. European Adoption Services Consultant Inc. (EAC)
5. Bethany Christian Services Global, LLC
6. All Blessings International/ Kentucky Adoption Services
7. Wasatch Adoption
8. All God’s Children International (AGCI)
9. Holt International Children’s Services, Inc.
10. Love Basket
11. Dillon International, Inc.
12. Adoption-Link
13. Building Arizona Services
14. Lifeline Children Services
15. Sunny Ridge Family Center
16. Chinese Children Adoption International (CCAI)
17. Nightlight Christian Adoptions
18. America World Adoption Association
19. MLJ Adoptions Inc./Giving Hope Rescue Mission

I'm leaning towards Giving Hope Rescue Mission, but I don't know what path God will take us on. 

Tuesday we will attend an adoption/foster care information session through Social Services here in Raleigh, NC. This is mainly for families interested in domestic adoption, but we are attending just to find out what it's all about. We also registered for a Haiti Adoption Information Webinar through Carolina Adoption Services on February 6th. Hopefully we will be a little more informative after hearing from people who are actually experienced in the process. I am really interested in talking with families who have been through the haiti adoption process. I feel like all the advice I'm getting is from people who want me to do what THEY think is best, but have never adopted a child. It's very frustrating because we are going into the unknown and putting so much time, money and effort into bringing a child home from another country, I just really hope everything turns out okay.