But the greatest of these is LOVE!

"Love doesn't hide. It stays and fights. It goes the distance; that is why love is so strong. So it can carry you all the way home." - author unknown

Whew! Friday was rough, but Shawn and I took the day to process everything, re-read our RFE 800 times, and we got to speak to our agency about the next steps. At least we don't have the incessant waiting and lack of details regarding our case. We can take action and work toward getting Kai home!!

Before Friday neither we nor our agency knew any details regarding Kai's birth. We were told only that she was abandoned, and that we may or may not be able to find out any other information. The RFE provided details about Kai's birth in the Hung Yen Province General Hospital. To summarize, the field investigation (done by CIS) resulted in two conflicting reports:

1) The first was from a midwife at the hospital that said the birthmother (who provided a name and address) was admitted to the hospital on 10/30 at 10:30 a.m. She delivered the baby, but at 5:30 p.m. she could not be found. At 7:30 p.m. hospital administration was informed.

2) The second was from a chief hospital official. He said the the birthmother was admitted to the hospital on 10/30, delivered the baby, then was discharged the following day with all "proper briefing on follow-up care". However there was no relinquishment letter obtained.

What we suspect happened is that the midwife's story was correct. The hospital official concocted his report in an effort to save face as to the care and supervision of the patients. His report even shows the date of the discharge to be 10/30/08, which we feel further supports the fact that it was not written at the time of the actual discharge ('07).

Anyway, the CIS in HCMC is requiring US to find the birthmother, have her sign a relinquishment letter, provide certified copies of her personal identification, get DNA testing done, and to provide an explanation of the discrepancies in the two reports. UGH!!!!!!!

Our agency tells us that many times these women give false names and addresses because they do not want to be found. We are hoping that is true in our case.   In most cases the birthmother understands she is unable to care for the child in the way that an adoptive family could.  The in-country facilitator was going to attempt to locate the birthmother this weekend, using the information she provided. If attempts are made to locate her and are unsuccessful, then CIS has to consider this to be an "abandonment case" and to approve our I-600.

If she IS found, we have to jump through all the hoops to provide all the information the CIS is asking. It could take months.

Of course, it is important to us to know that Kai is in fact a true orphan. I cannot fathom anything untoward happening that forced the birthmother to leave her behind.  She clearly left the hospital, either by disappearing or being discharged, without the baby.  What a loving gift she has given us!

We will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to find resolution to this! Thanks SOOOO much to everyone for the tremendous support.....it has been an unbelievable journey to Kai!! I can't believe it isn't yet over, or at least coming any day now, but I have to accept it and go forward.

God has really been lifting me up during this. I have had many moments of despair and helplessness, but I could write volumes of different instances when I have felt Him carrying me through. Just this morning in church, the beautiful music ("The Anchor Holds" and "More Than Wonderful") and the pastor's message entitled "Strength in the Midst of Turmoil" were all speaking RIGHT to us!! Shawn and I took turns passing the only tissue I had between us.....He is making us stronger through this, and I know He is drawing us nearer to one another and, more importantly, nearer to Him!!

"Right now three things remain: faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is LOVE!!"
I Corinthians 13:13