Roller Coaster Day

Joyce, Marvin (one of our teachers & translator), Marta (psychologist), all the kids, and myself spent 6 hours in an IHNFA building today (or rather outside of it) while they interviewed the kids and Marta. We got there at ten filled with the confidence of the Lord and were seated in an outside waiting room and given straight back chairs for the children (think heat, boredom, dirt, thirst, hunger, & more boredom...mixed with 10 children and how do you think the day went?)

They started by taking Fabiola and kept her for two hours...we had no idea what was happening, but other than concern for her we were still very confident. Slowly they began taking other children for much shorter periods of time and all reported they asked only about Alzira, their previous home. However, the officials began to stop by and say things like "we only have two more things to do and then we'll decide if we are taking them or allowing you to go home with them. This kept happening and the more it happened the more our confidence eroded(forgive us Lord). Finally they came with papers and told us we had to sign them or we would lose the children. The papers agreed that the children were at risk because of their home and their treatment...that meant we would be agreeing to charges leveled at us by Carla. I immediately said no way, but called our friend Vivian who told us not to worry this was just a way to cover their 'butts', and that we would be okay. On her advice we signed the papers...now they told us we had to go to another building for a final hearing to decide where the children would be from now on.

We waited at the IHNFA headquarters while others discussed our case and finally they called for me. The head of IHNFA told me they reviewed our case and found everything to be in perfect order and that she was typing a letter of custody to give the children to us....they were now "legally" ours!!! We are actually co-parents with the IHNFA head, but she told me it was just a formality until my residency is completed which should be no problem!

So it was a long, long day; but one that ended with a great celebration from "THE CODER FAMILY". The kids are excited and jokingly referred to us as Mami & Papi! The kids told us that on the way to the hearing the were really praying hard in the back of the truck...what a great lesson for them on the power of prayer! Now they are asking, "Does this mean we can travel to the United States?" We told them to begin praying now and maybe next year.................