A Little Bit of News is a Lot of News, Sometimes

What the heck is an "Article 5" document?

Yesterday we heard  from Ruth, our facilitator living and working as a missionary in Burkina Faso-- this was the first update on our adoption process since July, so we were hungry for news, and for word of how our little boy was doing......Was he getting enough to eat?  Was he going to be re-starting school soon?  Was he healthy and safe?  Did he know that we were coming?

Ruth shared that she submitted paperwork to the US Consulate for our "Article 5" requirement.  She'll go back to pick up this important document on October 21st.  This is the last document needed, before an international adoption can be completed......which means that we are edging ever closer to a court date!!  I think too, that it means that our son's visa application has been prepared and submitted already.

I also learned, that for this program in Burkina Faso, our first court date, where our attorney represents our family in court is the actual "adoption hearing".  When the judge approves our petition, our son is OURS!!   From this date,  the court secretaries will have about 30 days to prepare the necessary documents-- the "Adoption Decree"** being one of these.   Our attorney will work to prepare our son's new birth certificate, which will be issued with his new name-- his FAMILY name.  And when we arrive in Burkina Faso, about a month after this court date, we'll  appear once more before the judge, and  finalize our adoption.

So an "Article 5" document is a symbol of hope and promise, and we thank God for his continued faithfulness-- showing us the path, lighting our way.

** If you are adopting internationally, be sure to check with your HR department or health care provider about adding your child as an eligible dependent on your insurance plan.  For some insurance companies, the Adoption Decree and birth certificate are required within 30 days of the "qualifying event".  In our case, and in many cases, the decree is not printed or available to families until 4-6 weeks from the qualifying event.  It pays to be proactive!