Dossier to Rwanda...
Our dossier was delivered to the Prime Minister's office on Wednesday, September 15, 2010. We are officially waiting for our non-objections letter (which is their approval for us to adopt from Rwanda)! It's just now starting to sink in that we made the August 31st deadline. I don't know if we will get a "get-in-line number" or how they plan to process things at this point in time. Considering all that has happened, I'm happy just to begin the wait. One thing I do know is that they (Rwanda) has already started hiring and training more staff as they develop their new Hauge process. However, I don't know what that means as far as processing dossiers like ours that are waiting under the old non Hauge system. I think we will all have a better idea of time frames in another month or two once things start moving along again. One cool thing is, I learned this week is our adoption agency, Gladney, was asked to help with some of their training! What a great opportunity! If you are looking into adoption, I highly recommend Gladney. They are a Hague agency. I have had great case workers that have always called or emailed me back within a day- they will talk with me on the phone and answer all my questions and concerns with professionalism and care.
Now What?!
I signed up for a class with TCU (Texas Christian University) Institute of Child Development. It's called Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Professional Training Program. It taught by Dr. Purvis, who wrote The Connected Child, in fact, the book is part of our curriculum. I was researching upcoming conferences about parenting as it relates to international adoptions. When I told my friend that I was thinking of going to a particular one she asked me to think about going to the TBRI training. She and a few others from our church's orphan care ministry were planning on going and invited me to join them. After looking it over, I was thrilled to go! This is just what I was looking for! God is providing me with excellent parenting tools. I already have a great kiddo and I'm an excellent mom (with God's grace and guidance) and I trust I will have another great kiddo and be an excellent mom to him as well. However, I do know from others who have already walked this path that children from hard places need extra special care and a commitment to helping them overcome their challenges. I want to understand all I can now and risk being over prepared so that everything my family does to get ready for our son, he will be set up to succeed.
So for now I have homework to keep me busy! :)
