First year as an American

Last year at this time we were praying and waiting to see if Fritz would receive his certificate of citizenship. Thankfully he did in time for us to apply and receive his American passport for our return to Haiti in mid-September.

We spent five months at home working on second grade and working on the new house. Fritzlin helped with hand washing the clothes as well as being our main dish-washer.

We enjoyed trips to visit friends as well as having both college kids home for Christmas.

In February because of political instability we were required to evacuate. We all enjoyed the helicopter ride despite not wanting to leave home.

Fritzlin was very excited to finally get to experience snow, but the thrill rapidly disappeared in the cold. We had tried to explain while he held frozen food that it was like your whole body being in the freezer but 'I did not understand!"

Fritz continues to do well in school and adjusting. He visited the doctor and dentist again on this trip along with having some wellness and school evaluations. All agree he is doing very well.

We've been very thankful to be able to meet up again this year with two of his foster families, that he lived with during his time at Children of the Promise.

He continues to ask lots of questions. Fritz enjoys playing with strings, plastic animals, Lego's and reading books.  Now proudly has his own library card and likes to pick out books.

Soon he will enjoy summer day camp at Beechpoint for a week and the end of the month a week with  other GP MK's at REquip. We hope to return to Haiti next month, at which time Fritz and I will start third grade and maybe a garden.

We remain very thankful to the Lord for His faithfulness during each step and waiting period of our adoption. We continue to hold up those waiting for families, waiting for paperwork, and waiting on the Lord. Courage!

Done!!!!! Praise the Lord.

Seeing sibling's photos on a church wall.

Door to Adoption Opened: 6 years,1 month, 1 week, and 3 days.

First application paperwork in the mail until receiving Fritzlin's American passport in the mail: 5 years, 5 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days.

We will continue to pray for adoption paperwork to move forward, now it will be for the other kids that Fritzlin shared foster homes with or other families as we are finally done.

We will be heading home to Haiti the middle of this month, starting a new phase of life at Délice.

For the first time in over 6 years we can travel at will!

It really does not feel real.

The waiting is over.

So many answered prayers.


Thank you to all who supported us through this journey, through: prayers, help with paperwork, encouragement, and sharing the ups and downs.

First day of second grade. 

Fritzlin was more excited to see the eagle in his American passport than the one sheet of paper that is his certificate of citizenship. He was jumping up and down saying 'Now I'm an American.'

Campus Cookout for Anna's class

Free pizza for library summer reading program.

So he's been an American for a while, but now he's an American who can travel across boarders!

Very exciting as we're getting close to our final week in USA and preparing to return to Haiti.

All that remains is to receive all the documents we sent in for his passport and to send off some copies to our adoption agency.

Praise the Lord, through Who all blessings flow!

Sept. 2013. Home-study paperwork.

We learned and changed so much through this journey.

So many things we did not know or expect back six years ago.

We experienced almost every emotion from positives to negatives and sometimes several in just a few hours time.

We will forever be grateful to the Lord for allowing us the privilege of being Fritzlin's family.

    For being part of the family of God.

For opening so many closed doors on our behalf that finally allowed Fritzlin to join our family.

Thank you Lord.

Prayer Request & Week 10 in USA.

Fritzlin continues to do very well with all the major changes that come with living in the USA.

 Lots of interesting things to do:

• Open-house and 4th of July parties
• 10 church visits so far. Children's church
• Visits with family- including Fritz's second forster family. Plan to meet with his first foster family next week. 
• Medical visits: eye doctor, dentist, health department, labs. ALL GOOD!
• Swimming, library, garage sales, restaurants
• Lots of new foods and different types of ice cream.
• TV shows...not enough TV time but we figure that is typical for 7 year olds.
• Visiting Lake Michigan

We even have managed to complete first grade math and are very close to finishing up hand-writing and reading.

Our agency and other experts tell us that because of the way the paperwork was filed and visa given that Fritzlin IS an American citizen. 

BUT....because we also live outside of the USA there is a grey area. 

We have been asked to submit additional documentation. At this time if nothing changes Fritzlin will not be getting a Certificate of Citizenship.

We are not totally clear what that would mean in the future.

We have all the papers needed to get Fritzlin's American passport but if then he would receive a green card things would be very complicated.

So while he is an American....getting the paperwork to prove it, his Certificate of Citizenship, could be 'challenging'. 

We hope to be able to return to Haiti shortly after Eli and Anna start college classes on September 4th. 

I'll post here for adoption specific issues and rare updates.

To follow Friztlin's adjustment and our family, click the tab at the top of this page labeled 'Blog' to go to our normal ministry/family updates.

Thank you for your prayers. 

Captian Curious arrives in America!

We packed up and moved the last of our belongs from the neighbor's house to our house on Monday.

Tuesday we traveled to Fauche to deliver Anna's cat for the summer and have a going-away party.

Wednesday we returned to COTP and spent some time with Fritzlin's last foster family. Lots of laughs and fun until the good-byes.

Thursday morning Fritzlin was not feeling well at all so we picked up some cough medicine before heading to the airport.


Fritzlin just wanted to sleep.

On the plane he did get to meet the pilot and see the cockpit.

ECHO's goats

After that he napped-turning off the movie and refusing anything to eat or drink.

Once in the Miami airport, waiting for more than an hour began, as we slowly worked our way forward through the Immigration line.

Poor Fritzlin would move from post to post so that he could rest his head on his hands.

Once we reached the front of the line we were taken to a smaller room for Immigration. I'd only enough time to give him a dose of medication before his name was called and we moved into a second room.  In a few minutes we were handed back his Haitian passport and told we could go.

Fritzlin perked up a bit as we made our way to the rental car. Once in the car he fell asleep. Not even a Wendy's Frosty could keep him awake after the first bite. His breathing was rapid and difficult.

He slept soundly all night.


The next couple days were filled with friends, family, and TON's of questions.

Starting day 5 now, and Fritzlin has enjoyed ice cream every day so far!

This week we will be at our Area Retreat with other Global Partners folks before heading to Michigan.

Thank you so very much for the prayers!

Keep them up as we bond with family and learn so much about the bigger world.

Visa Approved!!!

The picture taken for the visa...

Celebrating tonight that Fritzlin's visa to American has been approved!


We will travel to Port au Prince on Friday to pick up the visa at the US Embassy. Will let them know tomorrow so that Cory's name can be on the list to get in without a long wait on Friday.

Only one more piece of paper to go, an exit letter from IBESR that should only take a day or so..

We plan to fly out in early May to attend our Global Partner's area retreat in Florida.

Working on summer plans for after that!

Very excited to finally be at this step.

The type of visa issued means that as soon as we enter the USA we will meet with the officals and Fritzlin will be an American citizen before we leave the airport.

We will then wait to receive his Certificate of Citizenship.

Thank you for the prayers.

Medical and Embassy visits.

Medical visit went OK once everyone who needed to be there arrived. A communication misstep had us waiting for 3 hours at the doctor's office before everything came together: us, embassy letter, staff member, Fritzlin's passport, and most improtant Fritzlin.

Then the actual visit took about one hour. Fritz enjoyed a sucker but not the TB skin test placement. It was great to see and personally hold his Haitian passport for a bit and read Frtizlin Thede, all spelled correctly!

Then a needed second errand came to light as photos were needed for the next day's Embassy visit and for IBESR. So off to the photo studio we all went...and more waiting.

Tuesday morning in front of the US Embassy, adoption cordniator for COTP joined us, the first (Port au Prince based) staff person, and Fritz with all the needed paperwork for the final visa interview. I stayed in the truck and prayed, and prayed, and prayed some more.

Praise the Lord ! No further information was requested...because Fritz had already seen the doctor they kept his passport. The first staff member will bring the medical report when it is completed and then we should hear in 3-5 business days.

Moringa tree where I waited for them at the Embassy.

Wednesday morning we did a return trip to the doctor for the skin test to be read. Then once the report is completed and placed in an envelope it can be/was picked up and delivered to the Embassy.

Results were not shared with us and should the envelope be opened before reaching the Embassy the process would be delayed.

Not sure when or if the report has been delivered so we continue to pray for favorable results and the issuing of Fritz's visa so we can travel.

Once the visa is issued we will return to Port-au-Prince to personally pick up Fritz's passport complete with visa in it for travel to the USA, along with a sealed packet of papers for entry into the USA.

Waiting is hard at this point...you'd think after 5 years, 3 weeks, and 5 days that we would be at professional patience levels but seems we are running thin. Thank you for the prayers-we know that the Lord has used each prayer to get us to this point!

I-600 Approval !!

During yesterday's lunch break, to our great delight, an email  informed us that Fritzlin's I600 visa application had been approved!!!

 A second email included the next steps...how to fill out needed forms; set up the medical appointment; and what is needed for the Embassy interview.

We celebrated with our traditional cheesecake.



Next week staff members, Fritzlin, and we will travel early Monday for the medical appointment in Port-au-Prince; go to the Embassy for the final interview on Tuesday morning; and Wed. will return to the medical clinic to have his TB skin test read.

After the interview...there may be additional information needed to be researched or resolved before the visa can be issued or they may only need the final medical report. Once all information is in place there will be a short 2-5 business day wait while the final paperwork is prepared.

Then Fritzlin would be able to travel with our family to the USA and he will become an American citizen when he enters the USA. We plan to travel in early May to join other Global Partners missionaries in Florida for our area retreat.

This morning we awoke to no internet. Very thankful that we were able to get it working again so that we could work on the needed forms and paperwork for Fritz's visa.

Picture from before we met. 

Prayers:

• Good travels for all involved
• Political stability and no protests to interfere with any of the travel or appointments
• Good medical report
• No additional information needed for the visa
• or rapidly getting any information needed for the visa
• Getting travel set up for the area retreat and summer plans