The End: Mila's visa was approved to enter the USA, her new country, which means our adoption and all the paperwork that it entails is DONE. The USA agreed to let me bring a a child in. Then we asked Albania if I could bring a child out. Then I had to ask Albania for Mila and tell the USA that Albania said yes. Then the USA said I could bring Mila in IF the Albanian courts gave their approval (we all know how that went). Last week the Albanian courts said yes, so we got her new Albanian birth certificate with my name on it and her Albanian passport. This week we presented those two items to the US Embassy to prove that Albania said yes now would the USA allow me to bring this newly adopted child into the USA to become a citizen...today they said yes and approved her Visa to enter the borders of the land that I love. It is finished.
The Beginning: Mila spent the first two years of her life within the walls of the abandoned babies unit of the maternity hospital in Tirane. This was a very unusual occurrence as most babies only spend weeks to months in the care of the 8 bed unit until permanent placement with a family or orphanage can be found. Complicating factors left Mila in limbo for 24 months with no where to be nurtured except the baby unit. Today we returned to where Mila's life started and celebrated with the women who cared for and loved her for 24 months. We fellowshipped together and they shared stories of Mila's early life--her infant personality, favorite toys and her first steps. It was good for me to get more pieces of Mila's puzzle, but I think particularly special for these women to see the fruit of their laboring hearts. Their love and care saved a life.
Her crib for two years:
The woman who named Kamila. She poured her heart into my girl, even coming to the baby orphanage and institution in Shkodra on her days off to visit her.
The two women who gave my girl her name: Kamila Naomi.
Bonus feature: Mila was introduced to her first piece of personal technology. She got to play some English learning games this morning with her brother (HUGE moment of sibling bonding) and listen to Albanian worship music this evening with Gramma.
We are wrapping up our time here in Albania: Friday we will visit a traditional village and Saturday visit with our Albanian friends...then we are on a plane HOME.
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