CEJA

We've learned some new information about CEJA (Brazil's State Judiciary Commission on Adoption) this week.  Seems that the CEJA offices in Rio and Sao Paulo have closed to the US because of something to do with the way the US is implementing the Hague Convention on International Adoption.   Rio and Sao Paulo were two of the states we thought our dossier might travel to, but in light of these new events, our dossier is safe at home in Paraná in the south of Brazil.  The only other state LIMIAR works in is Pernambuco, way up north, but we're told that Pernambuco rarely makes referrals of children in our age range.  

So, it seems we know more specifically where our children (probably) live.  The capital and largest city of Paraná is Curitiba (Koo-ree-chee-ba), which was the home of all 12 children adopted by the 3 American families we are familiar with (2 from our agency, one from another).  Seems like God is doing what he does, and putting us right in the exact spot where He wants us.  I can begin to see Him using the feet of those who've gone before us to tread a path of blessing.   I can begin to imagine Him taking away our worry about where to stay, how to get around, what to do with our time in Brazil with our children.  I can even hope that some of the children who have come home from Curitiba to their American parents in the last year would have been friends with our children, and that someday we could meet with them in sweet fellowship.  

I was reminded while speaking with Luciana today that we must just be patient.  I think I'd forgotten that for a while, thinking that it "could be any time now."  That is uncertain.  What is certain is that we will be parents someday--someday we will see our children.