Friday, June 13, 2014
We headed to the Capitol to be heard ~ !!!
On June 6th, we travelled to WA DC and together with many other families who have adopted from Nepal and were stuck in the 2010 Pipeline. There, we met with our Senators and Representatives to enlighten them to the injustice and inaccuracy of the closure of adoptions in Nepal.
Both Ends Burning has prepared a 53-page report taken from all 55 of our private investigations, (that's over 3,000 pages, and an average of $25K per investigation) proving that the US Dept of State's claims of fraud and corruption in the Nepali adoption system were FALSE. A copy of that report is available for anyone wishing to read it click here: THE REPORT
Both Ends Burning has prepared a 53-page report taken from all 55 of our private investigations, (that's over 3,000 pages, and an average of $25K per investigation) proving that the US Dept of State's claims of fraud and corruption in the Nepali adoption system were FALSE. A copy of that report is available for anyone wishing to read it click here: THE REPORT
We personally visited Senator Patty Murray's office as well as Maria Cantwell. We also visited the offices of many of our WA State Congressmen and women. I felt that in almost every case we were well received and heard. Though we were unable to meet with the Senators and Representatives themselves, we met with their aides who were responsible for foreign affairs.
We are asking them to follow-up with these actions:
2. Call for a Congressional Hearing to Investigate the closure of Nepal
3. Enter a floor speech on behalf of us and our children to correct the record.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
So what have we been doing lately...???
Sending a shout out to our friends at Aama Nepal Orphanage via enjoying our morning tea!
*****
Enjoying hiking and biking in the gorgeous spring mountains:
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| In typical Nepali style, a little nunu on mommy's back |
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| Uncle Papa enjoys the a little mountain peace |
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| ...that is until the little monkey wakes up! |
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| Exploration...the best! |
Ok, so no photos of the biking portion of this day, but we did bike way out a canyon that was recently closed by a mudslide, making it a blissful, carefree (or car-free) ride and a wonderful place for a little nunu (nepali for sleep or nap), and a picnic lunch.
*****
How about a little swimming with Uncle Papa??
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| The pool is heated...really heated (for those of you who remember KTM!) |
HOW CUTE IS THAT???
*****
Or biking and then taking a little skinny dip???
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| But then, "Mommmyyyy getting wet!!" |
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| So like a true nature boy... |
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| why not just get nekked! |
*****
And lastly, a visit with Grandma and Grandpa and cousin Tristen
And lastly, a visit with Grandma and Grandpa and cousin Tristen
Friday, April 29, 2011
Springing Back, Sprouting Within
With the coming of Spring I am finding that the 'me' that I know as "Jenni" is coming back. It has been a long time since I have felt 'normal', and it feels really, really, really good. I know that I will never be the same as pre-Nepal, but the lightness, the joy, the positive outlook, the deep sense of the Universe as benevolent, and the World as a beautiful place, is all starting to come back. When a friend recently invited me to a BBQ (no big deal) and inside my being I jumped with excitement, I knew things were beginning to sprout within. I WANT to be social, I am looking forward to being with other people... these are things that I have somewhat avoided for the past 3 months. I just wanted to be close to home (if I wasn't working, and thankfully work is a haven of peace), and spend time with only my innermost circle. Why?
I have been trying to make some sense of the depth of what I, and many other brave women endured in Nepal while fighting for our children amidst such poverty and chaos. I am finding that my nerves cannot take a lot of stimulation anymore, that it agitates me when things are too chaotic or loud. I have never loved city noise, which is why I live in the mountains, but I think those 4 months being bombarded day and night with noise, shattered some part of me that I am only now starting to put back together. And in those long months, I lost some of my light and learnings, and fought with sheer will in order to endure the hardship of living in a place that was completely the opposite of the things I value in a place to live: tranquility, beauty, community, clean air, nature. I remember literally bracing myself mentally just to go outside for a walk, because the pollution and street noise were so overwhelming. I remember not going out at all because I just couldn't face it. I remember sleepless nights because dogs and horns would not stop to let me rest. I remember the feeling of waking up to another day in Kathmandu.
With all that behind me, and being safely home with my son, I should be on top of the World, and I am...but with a heaviness that I've been neither able to understand or shake. But slowly, as the sun's yang rays warm me inward, I feel the tension beginning to melt away, and the 'real me' beginning to reawaken. As I unravel this, I will share more.
And now for some other kinds of sharing... Look at this little boy ride his 'stryder'... such balance! Unreal!
And a great day for a picnic with Uncle Papa!
I have been trying to make some sense of the depth of what I, and many other brave women endured in Nepal while fighting for our children amidst such poverty and chaos. I am finding that my nerves cannot take a lot of stimulation anymore, that it agitates me when things are too chaotic or loud. I have never loved city noise, which is why I live in the mountains, but I think those 4 months being bombarded day and night with noise, shattered some part of me that I am only now starting to put back together. And in those long months, I lost some of my light and learnings, and fought with sheer will in order to endure the hardship of living in a place that was completely the opposite of the things I value in a place to live: tranquility, beauty, community, clean air, nature. I remember literally bracing myself mentally just to go outside for a walk, because the pollution and street noise were so overwhelming. I remember not going out at all because I just couldn't face it. I remember sleepless nights because dogs and horns would not stop to let me rest. I remember the feeling of waking up to another day in Kathmandu.
With all that behind me, and being safely home with my son, I should be on top of the World, and I am...but with a heaviness that I've been neither able to understand or shake. But slowly, as the sun's yang rays warm me inward, I feel the tension beginning to melt away, and the 'real me' beginning to reawaken. As I unravel this, I will share more.
And now for some other kinds of sharing... Look at this little boy ride his 'stryder'... such balance! Unreal!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
From my AMAZING lawyer
This was written by Kelly Ensslin to her colleagues after her last client from Nepal received their visa. She said not everyone in her office was really aware of what she was doing, and after sending this out, within seconds her inbox was full. "My colleagues were moved to tears by your struggles and successes, and each offers you their sincere congratulations."
By way of background, Nepal re-opened international adoption in Spring 2009 and dozens of American families made the commitment to adopt a child in need. Nepal is the fourth poorest country in the world and leads the world in illiteracy, malnutrition and crime. It is a tough place to live, especially for orphaned children. Without adoption, these children are at high risk for human trafficking and worse.
By August 2010, the United States was suspicious of the paperwork submitted to support the immigration petitions associated with the orphans being adopted by American families and suspended all adoptions from Nepal. At that moment, there were 62 families in the process of completing adoptions and the United States committed that those cases could proceed. However, the Department of State "investigated" the orphan status of those children (62 cases in 82 days) and found that 56 of the cases were not "clearly approvable" meaning that the paperwork was insufficient to establish that the children were in fact orphans. The families all received a Request for Evidence from USCIS which required them to hire attorneys and submit additional evidence that the children were orphans and gave them 84 days to do so.
Smith Moore Leatherwood represented twenty of those families. Jeanne Foley, Annette Buss, Bill Forstner and Andrea Carska-Sheppard each made valuable contributions to these cases. We also hired four teams of investigators in Nepal to conduct investigations. Our investigators interviewed police officers, orphanage staff, and residents and business owners in the areas where the children were found abandoned. We ran newspaper, television and radio ads searching for birth families and asking for anyone with information to come forward. We learned that the Department of State, through speed and cultural insensitivity, was unable to ascertain the truth -- that each of these children were abandoned and in need of permanent homes. Jeanne Foley worked tirelessly to help me prepare our submissions to the USCIS and last Tuesday, we received the last of our approvals.
All twenty children are now US citizens and belong to wonderful loving families. Through our efforts, these children have been able to escape hunger, neglect and abuse. Through our efforts, these children have what every child deserves -- a loving permanent family.
Needless to say, this has been an incredible honor and privilege. On my office door, we hung a photograph of every child we've helped come home. They are beautiful kids and I'm so proud of what we've accomplished.
Thank you,
Pardon the interruption... I just want to share some good news -- our firm has just helped create twenty happy families!
By way of background, Nepal re-opened international adoption in Spring 2009 and dozens of American families made the commitment to adopt a child in need. Nepal is the fourth poorest country in the world and leads the world in illiteracy, malnutrition and crime. It is a tough place to live, especially for orphaned children. Without adoption, these children are at high risk for human trafficking and worse.
By August 2010, the United States was suspicious of the paperwork submitted to support the immigration petitions associated with the orphans being adopted by American families and suspended all adoptions from Nepal. At that moment, there were 62 families in the process of completing adoptions and the United States committed that those cases could proceed. However, the Department of State "investigated" the orphan status of those children (62 cases in 82 days) and found that 56 of the cases were not "clearly approvable" meaning that the paperwork was insufficient to establish that the children were in fact orphans. The families all received a Request for Evidence from USCIS which required them to hire attorneys and submit additional evidence that the children were orphans and gave them 84 days to do so.
Smith Moore Leatherwood represented twenty of those families. Jeanne Foley, Annette Buss, Bill Forstner and Andrea Carska-Sheppard each made valuable contributions to these cases. We also hired four teams of investigators in Nepal to conduct investigations. Our investigators interviewed police officers, orphanage staff, and residents and business owners in the areas where the children were found abandoned. We ran newspaper, television and radio ads searching for birth families and asking for anyone with information to come forward. We learned that the Department of State, through speed and cultural insensitivity, was unable to ascertain the truth -- that each of these children were abandoned and in need of permanent homes. Jeanne Foley worked tirelessly to help me prepare our submissions to the USCIS and last Tuesday, we received the last of our approvals.
All twenty children are now US citizens and belong to wonderful loving families. Through our efforts, these children have been able to escape hunger, neglect and abuse. Through our efforts, these children have what every child deserves -- a loving permanent family.
Needless to say, this has been an incredible honor and privilege. On my office door, we hung a photograph of every child we've helped come home. They are beautiful kids and I'm so proud of what we've accomplished.
Thank you,
Kelly
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