Donations

Thank you for those of you who have contributed to bringing Roman home.  I know that not everyone has a paypal account.  If you would like to donate without having to set up paypal please check out this link  Bring Roman Home

You can use a credit or debit card to donate if you would like

Thank you
Tiffany

Our Journey

Thank you all for following our story!  We are pretty excited and can't wait to start our home study on August 3rd.  We have lots of paper work to fill out and turn in before then. Kenneth and I are still really new to the whole process so we will keep you updated as much as we can.

For those of you interested in donating I thought you might like to know what your donations will be used for.

The First step is the Home Study.  This usually consists of 3 or 4 visits from a social worker.  As I said before we have a lot of paper work to fill out!  This process usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks to compete.

Next we sign our contract with T. (she will be assisting us with the adoption).  She will assist us in getting our application to USCIS (US Immigration Service). We will have to complete form I-600A  (Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition).  We will have to provide proof of our marriage, our birth certificates and a copy of our completed home study. 

While we are waiting for the I-600A to be approved we start to prepare the Ukrainian dossier paperwork.  This process can take 3 to 4 weeks.  Before we head to Ukraine we have to have our dossier translated and authenticated in Ukraine and the submitted to to the SDA (not sure what that is).

We are planning on making two trips.  The first trip Kenneth and I will both have to go.  We will be there through the referral of the child through the Court proceedings.  This will take about 3 weeks to complete.  We will return home for a couple of weeks and Kenneth is planning on taking the second trip.  He will finish and tie up and loose ends which includes picking up the court decree, obtaining a new birth certificate for Roman, a passport and a visa from the American Embassy in Kyiv. 
Kenneth and Roman will be heading home!

Estimated Budget

1). Home Study - $1,500

· Usually consists of three visits

· If you’re not sure who to use, ask T. for a recommendation

· Make sure that that T. reviews H.S. BEFORE Social Worker issues

Takes around 4 -6 weeks typically – a lot of timing depends on you; get paperwork done as soon as possible!

2). Application to T (Adoption Process Simplified, LLC) $250

· Fill out application/contract for Adoption Process Simplified to have T.  facilitate your adoption

· Send in application with $250 check

3).Send Application package to USCIS - $890

· Check for $890

· Completed Home Study

· I-600A Application 

· Copies of Marriage Certificate

· Copies of Birth Certificates for husband and wife

· Divorce Decrees if applicable

Takes around 40 days to receive USCIS approval

4). During USCIS approval process – Prepare Ukrainian dossier paperwork  - $1,700

· Send T.’s 1st half of fee $1000

· Sign contract, send translation fee $ 500

· Apostille dossier $ 100 (can be< or > depending on state)  

· FedEx dossier to Ukraine $ 100

Takes 3-4 weeks to prepare (overlaps USCIS)

5.) Final Steps before Traveling –  $4,000

· Dossier gets translated and authenticated in Ukraine, then submitted to SDA

· Send in 2nd half of facilitation fee $1,000

· Prepare to Travel – you will receive travel date, packing list, Embassy forms and TIPS

·  flight reservations, 2 people $3,000 (semi off season)

Note – estimating flights cost is the HARDEST to predict, depends on season and advance notice and just luck!

6.) MONEY TO TAKE WITH YOU TO UKRAINE-

· $9,000 Balance for Facilitation Fee

· $100 Ukrainian cell phone and internet aircard usage

· $1,000 orphanage donation (prepare and give in a nice card to Orphanage Director)

· $1,050 Food ($25 daily X 42 days-extra just in case)

· $1000 Internal Ukraine travel (on high side – depends on region traveling to)

· $700 difference if region has expensive (OLD TYPE) passport for child

· $1,550 Lodging (Kiev Apt $70 x 5 nights=$350) + (regional apartment $40 X 30 nights=$1200)

· $300 clothing/personal items for children/Souvenirs

· $230 at the Kiev American Embassy (must be new cash correct bills - no credit card)

· $2,000 extra cash to have in case some unexpected delay happens

· $650 Plane tickets to come home including one child

Meet the Family

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”  ~Isaiah 1:17

Tonight, I am writing a guest post for my brother and my sister-in-law.  Tiffany works as a paralegal in Mooresville, where Ken serves in law enforcement.  I am writing, because they are far too busy with all of the wonderful and exciting new things that God has blessed them with.  Most of you reading this post already know Ken & Tiffany, but for those of you who may not here is a quick introduction.  While they have only been married a few months, their relationship began almost a decade ago.  They both told me they couldn’t wait to get married and start a family!  I was thrilled!  Honestly, I’ve been dying for my brother to get some payback, for my kids to have cousins.  I had hoped that they would get pregnant right away and we’d have a new baby in the family before their first anniversary.  In the meantime, my own family was called to a mission project of sorts (you can read all about it here www.mommasmonkey.blogspot.com if you like).  We were being called to host an orphan from Ukraine for 5 weeks this summer.  His name is Roman and he is amazing!  I restarted my blog with the stories of our mission with Roman.  This is where “my story” ends and Ken & Tiffany’s begins. 

Ken & Tiffany are parents-to-be!!  That’s right, you heard me, future Mom & Dad, in more ways than one.  Now pick your jaw up off the floor.  Let me clarify, for those of you that dozed off a little in the middle.  Ken & Tiffany are going to adopt a 15 yr. old boy, named Roman from Ukraine AND they are expecting the birth of their first child!   “WHAT?!?  How did this happen?” – I hear you all screaming.  Well, be patient and I will tell you.  Remember I told you that Ken & Tiffany have been together for nearly a decade and that they hoped to start a family right away.  Well God had such an amazing journey planned for them and gave them both His blessing!  Kenny knew almost immediately after reading my first blog post that God was calling him to be a father to this boy he had never met.  He wrestled with whether it was right or if it was even something he wanted, but was overwhelmed by this feeling that this is what he MUST do.  He admits that he knew Tiffany would be his biggest obstacle, not knowing how she felt about adoption.  Tiffany was looking forward to meeting Roman (but did not have any expectations) and invited our family up to celebrate Kenny’s birthday.  We all had a wonderful time, but it was getting late and we needed to go.  I had all the crew loaded in the van and was saying goodbye when Roman hopped out of the van.  He ran over and hugged Tiffany & Kenny.  And that was it, one hug and she was hooked.  She cried all the way to work the next day.  They both prayed about it individually, still not knowing how the other felt.  By the time they had a chance to talk, God had planted seeds so deep in both their hearts that they were certain of His will.  About a week later, they found out that they were expecting!  We aren’t allowed to share too many details about Roman, but I just have to tell you, that Roman and the baby could share a birthday!  I am one excited Auntie!!  Please join me in praising God for bringing this family together.  Please pray for them also, they will have a LOT to do in a very short amount of time.  They will also need to raise funds to bring Roman home.  Here is where you can help.  Every little bit helps, so if you can, please donate.  Also, would you please share their story with your friends, coworkers, family, and church?  Ask them to pray, to donate, and to share as well.  We can’t wait to bring Roman home and to tell him about all the people that helped to make that possible.  We will update here as we meet deadlines and fundraising goals so you can follow our progress.