We want to thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts. You have all supported us, worried for us, and prayed for us. You have truly been a part of our adoption. We have learned so much about being there for others and giving strength to those who are in doubt. We love you all so much! God bless! 

Yes, we are coming home!!!  Last Friday, we got another letter telling us our fingerprints had expired and I about lost it.  We had our fingerprints renewed earlier this year and knew both were valid.  So long story short, we (Ruth, Johana, and I…our good friend, Kailah drove in from Huehue to stay with John) went to the Embassy with our proof and a ton of questions.  So the paperwork was taken and 40 minutes later DHS approved our case and sent our file over to DOS.  Then we went to the Doctor for Johana’s Visa Appointment and then back to the Embassy for another meeting with the Counsel General.  She was wonderful!  She even asked her staff when our VISA appointment was scheduled.  Our VISA appointment was scheduled for Tuesday (Sept. 1)…so Todd flew in last night.  We had the appointment today at 7:30AM and we can pick the VISA up tomorrow at 3:30PM and we fly home on Thursday!!!!!!  I can’t even believe it!!!!   Praise the Lord!  We are coming home!!!!

This is a glorious morning!Nora left this morning at 5 AM with a peace that surpasses understanding.  She was so organized, even had an agenda to pass out. (she should be a lawyer).  Thanks to Todd Bush and my brother, Max for so clearly laying out an argument for us to use.  She had all her documentation (we worked all day Saturday try to get a printer to work) .  Read the rest of this entry »

On Thursday, we got another email requesting more information from DHS.  It was more than heart breaking for us to get this information.  DHS has asked for the following information:  1)  Provide a literal transcript of the CD (listed in number 6 of the first part of this message) accompanied by a certified English translation. Read the rest of this entry »

Today, all 4 us (My Mom, Johana, John, and I) went to the Embassy to try and talk to someone in DHS.  On the ride to Guatemala City from Antigua, John got sick and threw-up all over my Mom.  So we pulled over in incredible traffic and changed clothes.  My good friend Kailah was driving us.  So we got cleaned up at Mc Donald’s…while in the bathroom there was a lady cleaning her pink dress that she had spilled something on and then it looked like someone had cut their hair in the sink.  You know it is never dull in Guatemala or should I say Mc Donald’s. Read the rest of this entry »

Today, I left for the US Embassy at 5 AM to get there at 7 AM.  Traffic is extremely bad in the morning between Antigua and Guatemala.  Anyway, I met Andres (Attorney) there.  It was so crazy…we had to stand against a blue wall outside the US Embassy until a lady named Angela (Guatemalan) came out and gave us a number (number one b/c there wasn’t any other adoptions).  She walked out at 7:45 AM.  Then Andres and I had breakfast and during breakfast he asked me all about Jesus, God, and what I believe.  It was awesome and a great conversation.  At 9:00 AM, we went back to the Embassy for our appointment.  Read the rest of this entry »

Thank you all so much for your encouragement, prayers, letters, emails, and willingness to help us.  There have been letters sent from all over the Country.  Todd and I are overwelmed by all of you.  Thank you.  We could not have made so much progress without your help. Read the rest of this entry »

Just when we thought all was a go, our own country has presented us with a MAJOR set-back.   Our lawyer submitted our file for pre-approval for Johana’s VISA.  The Embassy(DHS) replied by asking for further documentation of her abandonment hearing.  Our lawyer requested the documentation from the Quetzaltenango Court.  The court replied that what they sent was all they had.  That all of the proceedings had been archived on an audio cd.  Our lawyer has tried to explain this to the US Embassy but they have replied saying that if we don’t supply the info they will deny our case.    We are heart sick.   This has taken so long.  My family has been appart for five almost six long months now.  John has spent half of his life here without his dad and has had ear infections, bronchitis, and RSV since we have been here.  We have expired all of our funds.  I have to return to work on August 6th or I will loose my job.  I am at a loss.   After complying with all the entire CNA process and the US Adoption processes; why has our own country done this to us?   We are desperatley in need of help.   Please pray for God’s interventio Read the rest of this entry »

Greetings from Guatemala,     Thought I would give an update.   Nora, John, Johana, and I left Huehue last Saturday.  We took ourselves along with 8 pieces of luggage on a Guatemalan bus.   It was a new challenge but it was ok.  The trip was  a bit rocky and the walk to the bano was a bit treacherous. We got to watch three Spanish westerns.  All three had the same actors! There was a trap door on the floor that kept bouncing up with the ride.   After arriving it took much explaining and two taxis to get us to the hotel.  Todd met us there.      On Sunday we took an up and down and around ride to lake Atilian, a lake formed by several volcanoes. Read the rest of this entry »

On July 8th at 4PM, Johana became our “legal” daughter. 

Thank God everyone.  Johana is now a Zemler.   Myself and a friend went up to the top of the mountain behind us to a small town.  The road   was so steep that we had to ask four men to get in the back of the truck so it would make it up the mountain.  We had lots of problems.  The court there said they wanted more documentation.  I called our lawyer and he called an official who was sitting in Congress.  He called the court and then after I provided copies of everything under the sun and four hours later we got the birth certificate.  Â
Our Attorney told Todd that it is time to come back.  We are going to try and get an appointment with the embassy next week.   Please pray that these two appointments are close together (passport and VISA)  so that Todd won’t have to go back and return again.   Also please pray that there are no more hold ups.  

God Bless and Thank you.