What's New
A Huge Thank You!
Goodbye Miss Hallie and Miss Lauren!
Lauren and Hallie have been working at the orphanage since January. Lauren came for a internship through the University of Southern Georgia, and in the last few months, she has spent time with each child in the orphanage and put together assessments of each child’s physical, emotional, and social development. This information is used in communication with IBESR and adoptive families. She also spent time with children with developmental delays, doing one-on-one sessions with each of them daily, as well as creating an interactive program for each age group that engages the children in exploring their future cultures, covering such things as school, church, and family in order to prepare them for acclimation after their adoptions are complete. She returns this week to the States for graduation this May before moving to Alabama to participate in the Briarwood Fellows Program.
Hallie is from Chattanooga, TN, and she served at the orphanage as the missions intern in the summer of 2012. She returned in January to teach art. She has worked with the children on drawing, painting, and other art concepts. While Teacher Mary Claire headed home to Texas for several weeks, Hallie stepped in as a substitute for the kindergarten class. She did a great job of encouraging creativity in the children and challenging them to try new things. She also helped host missions teams that visited the O. She heads back to Chattanooga where she hopes to pursue her passions of art and education.
The orphanage held a goodbye party for them, complete with ice cream made by Margo, and some of the children shared their sentiments for Hallie and Lauren. Rickza said, “I am happy you came in January. I am praying for God to bless you and protect you,” and Wilson enthusiastically proclaimed, “I love you very much!”
Stachira, one of our younger children wanted to practice her English in sharing her feelings, and she very seriously said, “July…August…September.” When Miss Angie asked if she had anything more to share, she very emphatically said, “July.”
Both girls were a huge part of the mission at the orphanage, and clearly, we will miss them after they leave.
Lauren and Hallie, we appreciate you guys so much! We love you, we are praying for you, and we will miss you. Hope you get to come back soon, and thank you for all you’ve done!
Lauren and Hallie have been working at the orphanage since January. Lauren came for a internship through the University of Southern Georgia, and in the last few months, she has spent time with each child in the orphanage and put together assessments of each child’s physical, emotional, and social development. This information is used in communication with IBESR and adoptive families. She also spent time with children with developmental delays, doing one-on-one sessions with each of them daily, as well as creating an interactive program for each age group that engages the children in exploring their future cultures, covering such things as school, church, and family in order to prepare them for acclimation after their adoptions are complete. She returns this week to the States for graduation this May before moving to Alabama to participate in the Briarwood Fellows Program.
Hallie is from Chattanooga, TN, and she served at the orphanage as the missions intern in the summer of 2012. She returned in January to teach art. She has worked with the children on drawing, painting, and other art concepts. While Teacher Mary Claire headed home to Texas for several weeks, Hallie stepped in as a substitute for the kindergarten class. She did a great job of encouraging creativity in the children and challenging them to try new things. She also helped host missions teams that visited the O. She heads back to Chattanooga where she hopes to pursue her passions of art and education.
The orphanage held a goodbye party for them, complete with ice cream made by Margo, and some of the children shared their sentiments for Hallie and Lauren. Rickza said, “I am happy you came in January. I am praying for God to bless you and protect you,” and Wilson enthusiastically proclaimed, “I love you very much!”
Stachira, one of our younger children wanted to practice her English in sharing her feelings, and she very seriously said, “July…August…September.” When Miss Angie asked if she had anything more to share, she very emphatically said, “July.”
Both girls were a huge part of the mission at the orphanage, and clearly, we will miss them after they leave.
Lauren and Hallie, we appreciate you guys so much! We love you, we are praying for you, and we will miss you. Hope you get to come back soon, and thank you for all you’ve done!
Little Artists
Baby 2 up through the oldest child at the orphanage have enjoyed painting with Miss Hallie and Miss Lauren the last few weeks. Using tempera paints in primary colors, the kids experimented with mixing paint to create all new colors. Sometimes we used paintbrushes, and sometimes just our fingers. There were paintings with houses, rainbows, and flowers, and some with something a bit more…abstract. Mommy Clenide, the orphanage’s weekend manager, jumped in on some of the action as well. Everyone had fun and were very proud of their creations. The result is some lovely, messy, colorful works of art (and children).
Bubble Art with the Kids
Amy, Co-Host of the Bobby Bones Show, Visits Maison
Christmas Devotions at the Orphanage
This year to prepare for Jesus' birthday, we will again be using the Jesse Tree devotions. Two years ago I used this one and the kiddos LOVED it. We added an ornament every day, and no ripped them down, and they begged to leave it up after Christmas.
This year, we are using the same ornaments but a simpler devotion put out by the Reformed Church of America. They have agreed to allow me to put it in a booklet form to share with you. You will find it below in a pdf format. If you can not download it, and would like it emailed to you, please email info@forhisgloryoutreach.org.
We would invite the families to join us as we prepare our hearts for our Savior's birth.
~ Miss Angie and the kiddos
This year, we are using the same ornaments but a simpler devotion put out by the Reformed Church of America. They have agreed to allow me to put it in a booklet form to share with you. You will find it below in a pdf format. If you can not download it, and would like it emailed to you, please email info@forhisgloryoutreach.org.
We would invite the families to join us as we prepare our hearts for our Savior's birth.
~ Miss Angie and the kiddos
Advent Tree 2012.pdf
click to download
Find Out What's New at Maison
Medical Teams in Action
Thank you to the LifeClinic team for providing medical care to all of the children and Nannies. The team also provided care to people from a nearby tent village. Along with a host of volunteers, doctors and nurses all donated their time and skills. Additionally, they brought with them a fully stocked pharmacy ready to meet the needs of all those who were examined.
Thank you to Kay and Kandis from West Conroe Baptist Church. The two physical therapists helped chart development as needed on the children. They also provided Nannies easy simple exercises to further the development of all the children. They came equipped with a fully operational wheelchair for Angenica that properly supports her back, and provides her the mobility she needs.
Hague Convention Update
Press Release
Hague Convention
The FHG Board would like to thank all the adoptive families and supporters of Maison. There have been many rumors concerning adoptions in Haiti over the past couple of months. We have been informed that the Haitian Parliament approved the Decree for the ratification of the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption yesterday, Monday 11 June 2012. At this point, Pierre is waiting on facts before further comments can be made. We do not know what this means, or what impacts this will have on future adoptions. We realize this is extremely frustrating, but we appreciate your prayers and patience in this matter. In the mean time, we will continue to care for, and love the children in the orphanage. Please understand that we are just as anxious as you are concerning this matter. Join us in praying for the leaders of Haiti as we cling to Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
The Hague Adoption Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention) is an international agreement to safeguard intercountry adoptions. Concluded on May 29, 1993 in The Hague, the Netherlands, the Convention establishes international standards of practices for intercountry adoptions. The United States signed the Convention in 1994, and the Convention entered into force for the United States in April 2008. Read the full text of the Hague Adoption Convention.
The Hague Adoption Convention applies to all adoptions between the United States and the other counties that have joined it (Convention countries). Adopting a child from a Convention country is similar in many ways to adopting a child from a country not party to the Convention. However, there are some key differences. In particular, those seeking to adopt receive greater protections if they adopt from a Convention country. (See our chart comparing the Convention process and the non-Convention process.)
Convention Facts
• It requires that countries who are party to the Convention establish a Central Authority to be the authoritative source of information and point of contact in that country. The Department of State is the U.S. Central Authority for the Convention.
• It aims to prevent the abduction, sale of, or traffic in children, and it works to ensure that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children.
• It recognizes intercountry adoption as a means of offering the advantage of a permanent home to a child when a suitable family has not been found in the child's country of origin. It enables intercountry adoption to take place when:
1. The child has been deemed eligible for adoption by the child's country of birth; and
2. Proper effort has been given to the child's adoption in its country of origin.
• It provides a formal international and intergovernmental recognition of intercountry adoption, working to ensure that adoptions under the Convention will generally be recognized and given effect in other party countries.
Keys to the Convention Process
• Accredited Adoption Agencies: Only adoption service providers that have been accredited on a Federal level may offer certain key adoption services for Convention adoptions. When adopting a child from a Convention country, prospective adoptive parents know that their agency has been evaluated by one of the Department of State's designated Accrediting Entities. These Accredited Entities evaluate agencies using uniform standards that work to ensure professional and ethical practices.
• Transparency: When adopting from a Convention country, accredited adoption agencies must itemize and disclose in writing the fees and estimated expenses associated with the adoption ahead of time. The adoption service provider is only permitted to charge for unforeseen expenses under very specific circumstances. There is also an official mechanism for lodging a complaint against an accredited agency to the Department of State.
• Adoption Certificates: Every child adopted from a Convention country receives a Hague Adoption Certificate or a Hague Custody Declaration. The certificate is issued by a U.S. consular officer after determining that the adoption (or grant of custody) has met the requirements of the Convention and the Intercountry Adoption Act. In Convention adoptions a U.S. consular officer also determines whether the child appears to meet the criteria for visa eligibility before the adoption is finalized (or custody is granted) in the country of origin. This will allow the parents to know ahead of time whether the child appears to be eligible to enter the United States.
• Updated Forms & Visa Categories: Forms I-800A and I-800 replace Forms I-600A and I-600 for Convention adoption cases. Through Form I-800A, which must be filed prior to Form I-800, prospective adoptive parent(s) gain eligibility to adopt. Prospective adoptive parent(s) will identify the country from which they will adopt on this form. Form I-800 later determines the eligibility of a particular child to be adopted into a U.S. family. Children adopted from a Convention country must meet the definition of a "Convention adoptee." New visa categories, IH-3 and IH-4, will be used in Convention adoption cases.
Hague Convention
The FHG Board would like to thank all the adoptive families and supporters of Maison. There have been many rumors concerning adoptions in Haiti over the past couple of months. We have been informed that the Haitian Parliament approved the Decree for the ratification of the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption yesterday, Monday 11 June 2012. At this point, Pierre is waiting on facts before further comments can be made. We do not know what this means, or what impacts this will have on future adoptions. We realize this is extremely frustrating, but we appreciate your prayers and patience in this matter. In the mean time, we will continue to care for, and love the children in the orphanage. Please understand that we are just as anxious as you are concerning this matter. Join us in praying for the leaders of Haiti as we cling to Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
The Hague Adoption Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention) is an international agreement to safeguard intercountry adoptions. Concluded on May 29, 1993 in The Hague, the Netherlands, the Convention establishes international standards of practices for intercountry adoptions. The United States signed the Convention in 1994, and the Convention entered into force for the United States in April 2008. Read the full text of the Hague Adoption Convention.
The Hague Adoption Convention applies to all adoptions between the United States and the other counties that have joined it (Convention countries). Adopting a child from a Convention country is similar in many ways to adopting a child from a country not party to the Convention. However, there are some key differences. In particular, those seeking to adopt receive greater protections if they adopt from a Convention country. (See our chart comparing the Convention process and the non-Convention process.)
Convention Facts
• It requires that countries who are party to the Convention establish a Central Authority to be the authoritative source of information and point of contact in that country. The Department of State is the U.S. Central Authority for the Convention.
• It aims to prevent the abduction, sale of, or traffic in children, and it works to ensure that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children.
• It recognizes intercountry adoption as a means of offering the advantage of a permanent home to a child when a suitable family has not been found in the child's country of origin. It enables intercountry adoption to take place when:
1. The child has been deemed eligible for adoption by the child's country of birth; and
2. Proper effort has been given to the child's adoption in its country of origin.
• It provides a formal international and intergovernmental recognition of intercountry adoption, working to ensure that adoptions under the Convention will generally be recognized and given effect in other party countries.
Keys to the Convention Process
• Accredited Adoption Agencies: Only adoption service providers that have been accredited on a Federal level may offer certain key adoption services for Convention adoptions. When adopting a child from a Convention country, prospective adoptive parents know that their agency has been evaluated by one of the Department of State's designated Accrediting Entities. These Accredited Entities evaluate agencies using uniform standards that work to ensure professional and ethical practices.
• Transparency: When adopting from a Convention country, accredited adoption agencies must itemize and disclose in writing the fees and estimated expenses associated with the adoption ahead of time. The adoption service provider is only permitted to charge for unforeseen expenses under very specific circumstances. There is also an official mechanism for lodging a complaint against an accredited agency to the Department of State.
• Adoption Certificates: Every child adopted from a Convention country receives a Hague Adoption Certificate or a Hague Custody Declaration. The certificate is issued by a U.S. consular officer after determining that the adoption (or grant of custody) has met the requirements of the Convention and the Intercountry Adoption Act. In Convention adoptions a U.S. consular officer also determines whether the child appears to meet the criteria for visa eligibility before the adoption is finalized (or custody is granted) in the country of origin. This will allow the parents to know ahead of time whether the child appears to be eligible to enter the United States.
• Updated Forms & Visa Categories: Forms I-800A and I-800 replace Forms I-600A and I-600 for Convention adoption cases. Through Form I-800A, which must be filed prior to Form I-800, prospective adoptive parent(s) gain eligibility to adopt. Prospective adoptive parent(s) will identify the country from which they will adopt on this form. Form I-800 later determines the eligibility of a particular child to be adopted into a U.S. family. Children adopted from a Convention country must meet the definition of a "Convention adoptee." New visa categories, IH-3 and IH-4, will be used in Convention adoption cases.
Maison has been blessed by receiving a new playground that was donated by Kids Around the World. The kids are very excited about their new playground. They love climbing and sliding.
Interested in a Mission Trip?
