11. Confusion

I titled this post "confusion" because that is what this week has been.  It would be impossible for me to detail all the information that we have come across this week but here's a basic run down.  (We'll start with the good news.)

Our letter to a birth mother was shared with over 100 local businessmen/pastors today!  We are thrilled and hope this will lead us to a connection soon.

I came in contact with a woman who has been trying to complete a private adoption here in Korea for about a year.  She knows the ins and outs of the system far better than we do.  She told me (bluntly-might I add) that there is no way we can adopt from Korea privately because we are simply "out of time."  So...hours of research later...she may be right but she may not.

South Korea is scheduled to join the Hague convention on July 14th of 2014.  This is a good thing because it protects children from human trafficking.  The down side is that Korea really doesn't have it's act together as far as the adoption process goes.  The process has gotten much worse over the last ten years.  The country has more babies than it can handle, prides itself on taking care of it's own (rejecting help), and is limiting international adoptions (again, out of pride). 

After July, private adoptions will be illegal and an agency must be used.

So, you would think we have until July to find a match, right?  According to this lady, all adoption paperwork must be completed 190 days prior to the Hague convention going into effect (Feb 14, 2014).  In order for the paperwork to be complete you need several (and I am using that term lightly) documents including FBI background checks (6 weeks for completion), child abuse background checks (6 weeks for completion), and a home study (2-6 months for completion).  We have to comply with all U.S. Federal Laws, Texas State Laws, and South Korean Laws.

From my research, I cannot find anything saying all of this needs to be completed 190 days out.  However, we are getting fingerprinted tomorrow and have contacted several agencies asking for rush home studies. 

This is definitely an all or nothing season for us.  We are working really hard in obedience to what we feel called to do not knowing if anything will come of it.  It is exhausting but at least we will know at the end that we did our best regardless of the outcome.  Please keep all of this in your prayers!