Month: November 2009

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace–but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

– Patrick Henry
March 23, 1775

Thank you to all the men and women who have fought and died to give us the freedoms we have in America!  Thank you to all the men and women serving and fighting around the world today!

Just a short update on the girls’ adoption.  We are still waiting for the final declaration by the judge.  It has gone to the D.A. and now it’s just waiting. We should be getting it very soon.  While in Lima we talked with the embassy and got the low down on requirements for the girls to get into the U.S.  I’ll try to explain it the best I can.

First, the U.S.views legal custody from the time that we got the legal placement (Colocación) from the judge which was September 30th, 2008.  That means to start the paper work to immigrate the girls we have to wait until September 30th 2010.  We would have to file an I-130, which still wouldn’t get the girls U.S. citizenship.

Second, the U.S. penalizes us the days that we are out of the country (Peru).  They require 2 years (730 days) of us living with the girls (in our legal custody) in Peru.  That means that the 2 weeks in January that I was in the states has to be added on to September 30th, 2010.  So technically, it would be mid October until we could file the I-130.  Also, I was told that the I-130 would take about a month to process.

Please keep us in your prayers.  We are praying and trying to decide what is best. Option 1:  Just wait until we can immigrate the girls and go home some time next November. Option 2: Try to get the girls a tourist visa and go home for a little over 5 months (and just be penalized for those days) so we can see family and raise more support.   Both options have their drawbacks and benefits.  Pray that the Lord would show us what is best.

Here are some pictures of our trip to Lima:

We got back from Lima this morning!  Praise the Lord we had a great trip!  The Lord has been so good to us.  We were able to go to the Embassy and we got  some answers (I’ll explain about that later).  We also got our car this afternoon!  We praise the Lord for this car!  What a blessing it will be to be able to drive.  We’ve been over 4 years taking taxis and combis.  Here’s a picture of the car: