Adoptions Three and Four...
updated July 1, l999

In December 1998 we found two African girls on an internet site who needed families.  Enthusiastically we began paperwork to adopt them.  In March, Paul, the daddy of our family, went to Africa to work on the adoption process, and he spent many, many hours in the orphanage with the girls, showing them pictures of our family and home.  The girls were very, very excited.  Daily, Paul worked  with the local courts and the American Embassy preparing all the paperwork  required to get visas for our daughters.  Soon the paper trail was nearly done, and Paul bought airline tickets for himself and the girls, then took them shopping for clothes for the trip.  A big celebration was held at the orphanage the night before the trip, and the girls were so excited they were literally jumping up and down!  Paul called home and the rest of the family was elated.  We could hardly wait the next 24 hours!
          However, instead of a homecoming, the following day was a nightmare.  The American Embassy noticed a rubber stamp was missing from the adoption decrees.  Panic stricken, Paul and orphanage workers scoured the city, looking for the person who had the stamp, but the person was nowhere to be found.  The girls were brought to the airport wearing their new clothes and carrying the new suitcases Paul had brought them, only to be told  that they couldn't get on the plane with their new dad.  Crushed, they were returned to the orphanage.  Paul, having an important speaking engagement in California the following day, began to board the jet alone.  However, just before he stepped on, African immgration officials took him to an office to ask him questions like what was he, an American man, planning to do with two African girls? Paul attempted to explain the adoption, the missing rubber stamp, and about our waiting family in the U.S., but he was told the girls would not be allowed to leave Africa without express approval of a certain African government office.  This was something new to him.  Paul was told to leave by himself, and he came home feeling heartsick.  Click here for photo of Paul saying good-by to the girls at the airport.
         Once home, upon calling the American Embassy, we were told they had changed their minds and decided  not  to issue visas to the girls afterall.
         The girls' and our nightmares continued while we, Paul and Cyndi, struggled to get the adoptions approved by African immigration.  Meanwhile, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services moved our paperwork to Nairobi, Kenya. On July 1, 1999 we received word that the African Children's Commission has completely approved our adoptions! We need your help to get our girls!  We need you to write to your senators and also to First Lady, Hillary Clinton, to plead for help in getting the visas for our children.  We must have the American I.N.S. office in Kenya give visas to our girls. There is  NO reason left for the United States to deny our girls their new home and family!!    You can help us bring our jewels home. Continue Below...

The girls are in America in our home now.  Thanks to everyone who helped!!

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For pictures of our new girls..