Adoption Update Part 2

We were cleared by Immigration and Naturalization Services in December to bring our little one into the USA. We will most likely have to update this application and several other pieces of paperwork by the time we travel.
Our entire package was submitted to Colombia in the first part of January. It takes about 2 weeks for someone to translate it, then it is sent to the ICBF (Colombia’s equivalent of our DFS program in the US). The ICBF is the one who actually approves applications to adopt a Colombian child. We can expect to hear back as to whether or not we have been approved in April or May. Then we are assigned to a region in Colombia from which we will be adopting. It is our understanding that we will not be assigned to a region until 3 months or so before traveling. The assignment is a sign that we will be parents within a few months.
Judging from the last email we received from our social worker it will still be about 18-22 months before we travel. It is a very long wait and there are several of us waiting. However, since we began the process in June we have seen 4 families come home with children. One family got 1 child, one family got 2, one got 3 and one got FOUR CHILDREN! Those adopting from Colombia typically get a sibling group, not just one child. Not to worry, we are signed up for one, unless there are twins, or possibly some other extenuating circumstance. We are cleared to bring 2 home, but we only intend to get one… unless it is twins. Chris really wants twins.
We are very relieved to have our paperwork turned in to the country. Now we just have to wait until the time gets a little closer and we can start updating our paperwork. What are we doing in the mean time? Well, the adoption agency has provided us with a travel guide that we are reading. It touches on everything from the way our child might handle the adoption to what to take to the country. We will be in Colombia for 3-4 weeks and they will try to let us know where our hotel reservation is 1 or 2 days before we travel. We are going to read, read, read.
What can you do to help the time go more quickly? First of all pray. We would like prayers for a speedy approval from Colombia. Other things to pray about are for our baby, of course, and for its birth family, that baby Sinclair will come from an already loving home and be used to a family environment. Pray for a healthy mother who loves and nurtures her baby while it is in her womb and while she cares for it before it goes into the hands of the ICBF. Please pray that we will be good parents worthy of such a blessing and that the time will seem to go by quickly for us.
Other things you can do are to just ask questions if you have them. We are always open to talking about our adoption and the plans we have. Feel free to refer people to us if they are considering adoption and have some questions about the process. You can send pictures of your children to us and let us know what they are doing at that age. Our child is going to be between 9 and 14 months when we come home. We would love to know what your child did at that age and some of the tools you used to teach them and bond with them.
We are excited beyond what words can say and we are so thankful to have you, our family and friends, to share our joy. Thank you for the prayers you have already offered and for your warm regards. We will keep you posted as things progress.