Refresh

refresh:  make like new; give new life

We've all heard the phrase "refresh the page" - be sure you have the most recent information on a webpage.  We've heard how "refreshing" a new beverage can be - how a walk on the beach can "refresh" your soul.

Our "refresh" button  has definitely been clicked.  Following the silence of the last few weeks, we received this information:

IBESR:   In a decree dated August 10th, IBESR announced that it will accept dossiers prepared between May and July of this year between the dates of August 15th and September 15th.  The new process and policies will be implemented on October first.      

Just prior to this update, we received word that our dossier was officially "IN" IBESR.  This means the process is rolling right along and we will not have to navigate the transition to the new procedures Haiti will be implementing very soon.

However, the refresh really came when we received another updated report on each of the girls, listing us as the "adoptive parents of"...Shortly after, we were asked ("ask the parents if") if we would give our permission  for the two youngest girls to participate in their first communion. 

I'm not sure what words best describe the surreal nature of these brief phrases and interchanges.  Without having met the girls, without them knowing who we are, it's still a foreign concept to be considered their parents.  Click Refresh.  Our drive has been refreshed - our drive to meet with the travel doctor, work on our Haitian Creole, increase our fundraising efforts, read more, plan more.

Thank you for joining us on this journey - your continued thoughts and prayers are so appreciated.