Daniela's Homecoming

We've had lots of questions about when Daniela is going to be home. The Adoption Timeline on this page has been updated with our travel dates. We will try to send regular updates to Facebook or you can follow us on Twitter @mjp2.

Coming Home

It's hard to believe this day has finally come. We have been working for nearly 2-1/2 years to get our daughter home from Haiti. This morning Daniela got up early. She was all smiles because she got dressed in nice clothes (she's all girl). She got on a plane in Cap Haitien, and flew to Port-au-Prince. She went to the American Embassy, and sat before the Consulate... again. Then she was issued a Visa.

That means she's coming home! The date is not certain, but Daniela should be home by Sept. 12, 2009.

A Story of Faith and Compassion

Last week I had the honor to spend some time with one of Compassion International's Leadership Development Students. Faith grew up in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. It was a difficult life in a dangerous place. She grew up in a home without plumbing. Cooking was done over a fire, and eating 3 meals a day was merely a fantasy. Fortunately, Faith had someone in Central Wisconsin that cared about her. They sponsored through Compassion's Child Sponsorship program. That simple act gave her hope. Hope for an education. Hope for a better life.

Today, Faith has a bachelor's degree in economics, from the best university in Kenya. She will never be impoverished again.

This is what I love about Compassion International. They don't throw money at a community with the hope that the improved environment will improve the lives of individuals. Instead, Compassion teaches children of their value, and potential. These children who are filled with hope always improve their community.

The linked video is of Faith telling her story at Creation West to a crowd of 20,000. At the end, Faith is stunned to learn she was standing beside her childhood sponsors. It is a wonderful surprise.

Watch Here!

If you are interested in helping a student earn a college degree go to www.compassion.com/ldp

A Glimmer of Hope?

We learned today that the orphanage believes they have delivered all required documents to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. I have e-mailed the Embassy staff to confirm that. They return e-mails within 3 days, so hopefully soon we will have more news. It has now been 9 months since the Haitian government issued her a passport. We are hoping the disappointments are done.

Another Disappointment

We are now facing another unbelievable delay. After finally getting the archived copy of Daniela's birth certificate, it did not match the registered copy.

What we understand is that in order to get Daniela a visa so she can come home, the orphanage needs to either get the archived copy amended, or have a judge rule that the two documents are indeed referring to the same child.

We are praying to receive a positive judgement quickly. If the archive copy needs to be amended, it could be a very long delay.

Still Waiting

Since there are a certain number of people who check in to see if Daniela is coming home yet, I wanted to just post that we are still waiting.

Three weeks ago we learned that the last document needed for her visa was in hand. We are just waiting for an appointment at the embassy, where hopefully they will issue her visa. Unfortunately, we just don't know when that will be.

So for now (as we have for the past 2 years) we are waiting.

My Youngest Daughter

Yesterday we received the wonderful news... we finally have the last document required by the American Embassy in Port-au-Prince. Soon we will have an appointment at the Embassy, and if all goes well, we will be bringing Daniela home!

Tomorrow is the 2 year anniversary of our decision to adopt.