Guatemala Blog

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Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 11:28:06 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Joint Council has requested that we post the following information for families who have or still in process of adopting from Guatemala.

Dear Colleagues,

As stated in yesterday’s posting by Hannah Wallace, families and friends committed to the children of Guatemalan will launch the Guatemala 900 Campaign on June 17^th in WashingtonDC.  The launch of the campaign will include a rally, speaches, a march from the White House to the Capitol and a candlelight vigil at the Guatemalan Embassy. 

While not officially affiliated with Joint Council, the Guatemala 900 Campaign has a goal in parallel to the ongoing Joint Council Guatemala 5000 Initiative: a family for every Guatemalan child.  Joint Council has and will continue to work with many of the campaigns organizers and we fully support the goals of the Guatemala 900 Campaign.

On June 17^th, the Guatemala 900 Campaign will become a voice for the 900 children whose adoptions have yet to be completed despite 18 months of investigations, court hearings and interviews.  The campaign will advocate with the U.S.and Guatemalan governments to ensure a quick and final resolution of all cases and an end to the victimization of Guatemalan children.

Joint Council asks that all Members distribute information on the Guatemala 900 Campaign and to lend your support to this effort.  Detailed information can be found at www.guatemala900.org  

Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 10:08:33 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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This year, Mother's Day is Sunday, May 10th... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MOTHER'S AND ALL MOTHER'S-TO-BE!                                 ..... although not officially on the calendar as a holiday, did you know the Saturday before Mother's Day is celebrated among the adoption community as "Birth-Mother's Day?" A "BirthMother/First Mother" is the name given to a woman who conceives and biologically gives birth to a child who is relinquished or placed for adoption. The adoption constellation involves many people (extended family, support, etc), but the triad consists of three points.  The three-points of the triad are: the child, the Adoptive Mother (or Adoptive Family) and the BirthMother (or BirthFamily), in no particular order.  Without one of these "points" the triad would not exist.  The relationship among the three sides is inter-related and inter-dependent.  All three sides of the triangle are of equal length.  All three should be celebrated equally!  Many Christians believe that as we are all God's adopted children, this adoption triad metaphor reflects the Trinity of our Father. What are some ways that we as adoptive families can honor our child's BirthMother?  Internationally adopted children with little to no information about their BirthFamily oftentimes "fantasize" about where they come from and who their BirthFamily is.  In adoptive families that openly discuss the child's birth-country, BirthParents, and birth-culture, the children as adults report having a more positive self-esteem and self-worth.  Some parents encourage their children to write a letter to their BirthMom/BirthDad on these special days or even their own birthdays.  What is most important to remember is that each child has their own feelings about their BirthParents.  As Adoptive Parents, the best we can do is provide a safe and open place for discussion. Different ways to "honor" or "celebrate" birthparents: -Light a candle on special days. -Say a prayer for them. -Make a special page in the child's Lifebook to celebrate the BirthParent(s). -Write a letter to your child's BirthParent(s) and put it aside to share with your child later. -Write a letter/make a card jointly with your child for the BirthParent(s). -Read age appropriate books together. -Talk about what the BirthParents may look like. -Celebrate unique talents that the child may have... and attribute them to the BirthParent(s). Some adoptive families may not be comfortable talking about the child's BirthFamily or adoption.  Your child will perceive this level of being uncomfortable and may learn to be ashamed or fearful of the discussion.  In order to build a healthy relationship that is based on trust, it is important to be open with your child about their adoption.  If these discussions are open and supported from the beginning, your child will grow to learn that their adoption is celebrated, not hidden.  Your child will be proud to be adopted and will be able to honor their BirthParent's with Thanksgiving! The book I Wish for You a Beautiful Life (Yeong & Yeong Book Company; ISBN 0-9638472-3-6) is a compilation of letters from Korean BirthMother's to their relinquished children.  Each letter is very unique and provides a glimpse of the different cultures and emotions that this choice has created, related to separation and detachment that a BirthMother may experience and/or express in writing. As a Mother (whether through birth or adoption) of a child... whether your child is with you, with God, living in China or yet to be born... Bethany Christian Services and the Guatemala Team wish you a warm and loving "Happy Mother's Day."  We also keep in prayer the BirthMother's that give Life to these precious children and love them enough to want for them, what they cannot provide.  These women too, should be celebrated, honored, and given Thanksgiving.  Their struggles and choices are immeasurable and we may never know them, but we do know them in our hearts.  We pray that they are safe, loved and at Peace.   *In this Blog Post, we use the term "BirthMother" to refer to the woman who conceived and birthed the child whom was then adopted.  There are other terms such as: "First Mother" or "Biological Mother" or "Genetic Mother" to name a few.  The PC world of language and adoption is sensitive and we mean no offense to any particular term mentioned or not mentioned.

Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 08:53:47 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all families adopting internationally obtin the hepatitis A vaccination.

For more information you can check out www.cdc.gov/travel/travel.html .
Read More

Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 07:30:11 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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There are approximately 143 million orphans in the world today.
Many children are older, or a sibling group. Some children have medical, physical or developmental challenges.
We aren't asking you to help 143 million orphans, but you can make a difference by being a Bethany Prayer Warrior.

Prayer Warriors will receive pictures and information of children waiting through Bethany.

We ask that you pray for the children.
Pray for families who are willing to accept the children with special placement needs into their hearts and homes.
Pray for those who will never be adopted. May someone come into their life and love and care for them.
 
Each of us is part of the Body of Christ. It is He in us that is more than able to make a difference.

If you want to be added to the Prayer Warrior group and receive emails about waiting children, please send an email to:
jvandyke@bethany.org

Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 09:22:15 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Families who are considering starting a new adoption for Guatemala need to be aware that as of April 1, 2008 a Guatemala adoption is not possible, because USCIS will not approve any I-800 petitions for a Guatemala adoption. Unfortunately it has come to our attention though that the National Benefits Center (NBC) will accept and potentially approve an I-800A petition. The NBC does not have the regulatory authority to reject the I-800A petition and therefore would process the case.

At this time families need to be aware that Guatemala is not open for new adoptions, but is completing adoptions that still fall under the "old regulations".

Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 03:49:10 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Dear Guatemalan Families:

Even though the Multicultural Festival is not being held this summer, Fiesta Guatemala in Michigan will be held at Bykerks as in previous years. A date is yet to be determined.

Sincerely,

Guatemala Team

Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 12:49:46 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Dear Bethany Family, We regret to inform you that there will not be a Multicultural Festival in 2009.  For the last couple decades, we’ve been Blessed with the resources and volunteers to host this fabulous event for families across the country to unite in Grand Rapids, MI and celebrate their multicultural and adoptive families.  Unfortunately, that is no longer the case.  We hope that your local branch offices can maintain an annual picnic or gathering of some sort. It has been wonderful to see families gather here in Grand Rapids year after year, particularly our China families as they maintain the tradition of their annual travel group reunions.  It has also been tradition for Shiyan to come in from China every-other-year to visit with families as well.  Shiyan sends her regards to families and wishes everyone well.   Sincerely, The Guatemala Team Bethany Christian Services-International Grand Rapids, MI

Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 08:18:05 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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A coalition from JCICS was in Guatemala during the first week of February to review the changes that have taken place during the past year that Guatemala has been a convention country. Here is a link to the page to read the report that was issued: http://jcics.org/Guatemala.htm.

There have been changes during the past year: end of allegations of corruption in inter-country adoptions, protections against child trafficking, birth families respected, and Central Authority in place reviewing all adoptions.

Joint Council reports that an estimated 6000 Guatemalan children are institutioinalized. Abandoned children are being left on the streets and some found when it is too late. Only about 60 domestic adoptions took place during the last year and no new inter-country adoptions are being initiated. Approximately 1000 old case are still pending completion. Bethany does have less than 10 children waiting to be united with their forever families.

The protection of children in extremely important to Bethany Christian Services (and many other agencies that have worked in Guatemala). We are exploring ways to offer a continuum of services to the at risk children and families in Guatemala.

Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 01:33:40 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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As we are fast approaching the end of 2008, we want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year.

Many families who have been adopting from Guatemala have struggled during this past year as the adoption process has changed and families and children waited longer than anticipated to be united. We are very thankful that as of this point 80 children have been united with their forever families. There are about 10 families who have received PGN approval and are waiting to travel to receive their children and a  couple more who are still waiting for PGN approval. Please uphold in prayer with the us the children and families who are still waiting to be united.

As we look to the new year, we are looking forward to the opportunities for Bethany to continue to be involved in Guatemala with children and families.

Posted by Susan M. Dykema At 09:38:49 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)