DRC adoption journey has begun!

Congrats! We are 1/2 way done with our home study. I am getting nervous for all the problems they are having in the east of the country. I am just crossing my fingers it will not escalate or the country will close. Has your agency said anything about this to you.... Or thoughts of what will happen.

Adri- Yes, I actually just sent an email to my agency - Wasatch - and asked about the information I saw on the travel gov website. The response was that Goma is thousands of miles away and has not affected their international adoption program at all. Question about the home study: I haven't met with the social worker yet, but how clean should I clean my house? Neat freak clean or I live there clean???? I am slightly stressed about that! :thanks:

Well my first meeting with the Social worker was at his office. Our next meeting is when he gets her fingerprint clearance and then he'll come to the house. I am going to clean as if my friend/relatives were coming over.... Straighten up, dust, vacuum/mop... I try to do a really good cleaning of my house every two weeks anyway so I am just going to do that. :-)Hope that helps!

Neat freak clean is NOT required. They are looking for safety and an invironment where a child can thrive. Tell them you plans for your child/childrens room. They will need a plan that you have made in case of fire (how to get out of the house, where will you meet, who gets the children). They will want you to have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. Smoke alarms in appropriate places in your home. Ammo and guns should be stored separately, and locked. If you have a large pool, it should be fenced with a lockable gate. Some of this may be state specific, but the first visit this will be talked about, you don't need to run out and do this stuff before they show up. Remember, if your agency OK'd them to do your home-study they are on your side. The same person that did our home-study also did our personal interviews She ask me what I would do if my child broke a valuable bowl sitting on an entry table.

Perfect! That is exactly the info I need. I will need to purchase a small fire exstinguisher for the kitchen! I have smoke detectors everywhere - in bedrooms and right outside bedroom doors and in every room, plus acarbon dioxide detector in lower level. It is definitely good reminder that I need to keep perspective on this and the social worker is on my side!

I am so excited and nervous. My home study has been scheduled for next week. I've been organizing and decluttering my house for the past week. :clap:

Well I had my first home study visit last week and it went really well. She didn't spend too much time looking around the house at all. We spent most of our time talking about the DRC, the hague training, why I was interested in adopting and also things like the ethnic diversity in my town. The visit actually turned out to be alot of fun because I got a chance to share my excitement and reasons for wanting to adopt internationally. Now to get started on the big writing assignment...

Has anyone heard of an orphanage called Wren Song in DRC?

I just need to shout it out loud right now. My home study is approved! I can hardly believe it. What a huge piece to be complete and there were plenty of challenges along the way, but it is approved. Have a great night all!