In a Haze

Dear Gustavo

Since we arrived back in Tegucigalpa on Monday from our long weekend in Siguatepeque, there has been a smokey haze engulfing the city caused by nearby fires. The smell of smoke has been everywhere and it was bad enough that the airport here had been closed for a couple days. Thankfully, the haze has lifted slightly and we can begin to see the mountains that surround capital once again.

Real "basket" ball

On that drive home on Monday, I felt like we had entered into a haze of sorts with your adoption as well. We had a conversation with our lawyer and she mentioned that the next document we need processed is still delayed. The person responsible has stated she would wait until the maximum number of days in which to sign (which is April 30th) even though she has had all of the necessary documents since April 1st. We tried going to registration office in hopes to briefly explain our situation but they were dashed as she refused to come out to see us.

Knowing that this document, one that is required for a new birth certificate which in turn allows for a passport and visa, could easily be completed with a stroke of the pen but is unnecessarily held up, has left us disappointed. Your mother was greatly disheartened as she immediately realized that the potential end of the year activities she might attend were now not possible, the soccer games we've missed, the dance recital for the girls we missed, we would not see the play in which Joshua has a lead role. Add to that the financial implications of having to stay longer and some other issues which I will intentionally not mention, and we have been mightily discouraged these past few days.

Who knew cleaning windows was so much fun

But all hope is not lost. We found out today we can, on our own without waiting on anyone else, make other appointments in the meantime that may help speed the process up once the document is signed. A slight break in the haze, so to speak.

I say "slight" as we found also out that a woman at the U.S. Embassy said it normally can take one to three months to get a visa. This was a shock as we understood from our lawyer that it might take two to three weeks. The visa process cannot begin until a new birth certificate and passport are obtained.

Here's a response from your sister, Megan, to this news:

This is very hard news and it's seems like this process will continue to drag on and on. You and Papa have gone to such great lengths to pursue this boy. You have spent years of effort and time. You have persevered and it has been encouraging to me because I know Our Father went to even greater lengths to get us. He spent more. Was humbled more. Was tested more. When He adopted us into His family it wasn't because of anything we did right (just like Gustavo). It is not in vain. We continue to rebel but he is still parenting us. He hasn't given up on us. We must keep running the race set before us.

While we have kept our eyes focused on the smoke just in front of us, we have missed the long term perspective, that these delays are only "light and momentary" (2 Corinthians 4:17). We still have you. We will at some point return home. We will one day give our children back home the largest of hugs. You have a wonderful laugh. We love you.

Love
Papa