guatemala adoption update and editorial petition

Here is a quick current update on the Guatemalan adoptions.

GRANDFATHERING (This is the amendment that would allow in-process cases like ours to be grandfathered in as of Dec. 31st ) - Good News: GuatAdopt is reporting that "a number of good sources" believe the Guatemalan President, Berger, will come out in favor of a grandfather clause. We have heard that this amendment to the bill, that was passed will be voted on in early November. If this grandfathering amendment does not pass than 5000 babies that are in the process of being adopted will be without homes. These in process babies are all currently in foster care. Guatemala does not have the infrastructure or funding to find homes for these babies.

GRANDFATHERING - Bad News: The US Dept of Homeland Security has issued a new statement that, in addition to limiting the number of new cases being accepted, also appears to add a new requirement for any case completed after Dec 31, presumably including grandfathered cases. The additional requirement is to get approval from the new, yet-to-be-established, Guatemalan Central Authority for adoptions.
That could mean that a case completed on Jan 1st which is all ready to apply for a passport home, would have to sit for who-knows-how-many more months while the Central Authority is being established!

UNICEF - Bad News UNICEF headquarters has been responding to calls, emails, faxes in support of allowing in-process cases to be completed, by giving a very ambiguous statement. They are saying "We support the amendment to the law that will guarantee due process is given to these outstanding cases."
They say it in such a positive and upbeat way that many believe it to mean UNICEF is supporting the grandfather clause -- but that IS NOT what their statement means, in a legal sense. The phrase "due process" can, and very likely does, mean that UNICEF supports in-process cases ending on Dec 31st and then starting all over again under the new Hague-compliant system that won't be up and running for months, possibly years!
That is utterly contrary to a meaningful grandfather clause which would allow cases to be completed under whichever system they originated under.

Here is a link to a well written editorial written by our agency and an on-line petition to sign in support of it. Aaron and I have already signed.
http://www.petitiononline.com/saynotou/petition.html

Please keep praying for Lucia to come home soon. We are two weeks in PGN tomorrow (October 18.) I have been praying for a miracle that she gets out of PGN in 6 weeks. The norm is 8-9 weeks. Our biggest prayer is that her file does not get a "previo" and we have to start over in PGN. If this happens we could fall under the new laws and then who knows what would happen to Lucia and our adoption. If she exits PGN in a timely manner than we are safe and she will come home!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am trying with all my heart to trust God in His timing and plan. We will keep updating you and we should receive new pictures in the next couple of days.