"A human being is a part of a whole, called by us "universe", a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."

- Albert Einstein [1879-1955]

November 5, 2008:

WOW! What a year it has been!

The changes in Guatemala legislation along with the US implementation of the Hague Convention, translated into turmoil for many months.  We endured the storm, but it was an enormous test of faith and endurance for all of us at TOWA.  We thank God for seeing us through some unimaginably difficult and stressful times, and now we work hard to bring the remaining children in Guatemala home to their awaiting families.  Please pray for all remaining children to be safe, home, soon.

February 29, 2008: YES!!!!

Today was a very good day, as we learned we have received accreditation by the COA as a Hague Convention adoption provider.  After endless months of preparation and anticipation, it is an honor to make the first list of Hague Adoption Services Providers to be published by the United States Department of State.  This is a validation of our commitment to excellence and it opens the doors to us for a  future of continuing our mission with more enthusiasm than ever!

-Lymaris

DEC. 17, 2007:  THANK YOU!
We received a very good response to our request for donations for the Dominican Republic! God bless you:)

On the Guatemala side, news have been changing daily and I know it is a difficult time for everyone to be caught in the process.  Where do we stand?  As difficult as the US and Guatemalan governments have been making it for us, we know that cases that have a Power of Attorney registered prior to the end of the year and adoptions for which the PGN has been notified will be grandfathered on the Guatemala side.  Therefore, we remain commited to the children under our care who await families.  We have had many families fly down to Guatemala to sign their Power of Attorneys, and other families have processed them in the US when they have the capability of doing this expeditedly.  Please contact us with any questions but most of all, please pray for stability for Guatemala, and for the adoption door to remain open for those very few that have the opportunity for a forever family.

~*~Lymaris~*~

NOV. 1, 2007:  DOMINICAN RFEPUBLIC NEEDS YOR HELP!

Tropical Storm Noel left as many as 100 people dead and thousands are affected in some of the poorest areas.  Sadly to report, some of the areas hit where areas where I volunteered this past summer with Children of the Nations, a wonderful Washington originated organization.  WE taught at a school that is now under water, and a lot of the areas we toured where COTN has feeding programs are also under water.  The Yuma river overflowed and it is leelping thousands of people isolated without access to help.  If you would like to contribute urgently needed monetary donations, please visit http://cotni.org.  I can attest to the wonderful management and excellent representatives in the country and they can make a huge difference in the country's most affected areas.  Please also pray, pray, pray for all the people there who are undergoing terrible circumstances.  These are villagers that prior to this lived in tin bateys, no floors, and some are refusing to leave their bateys for fear of losing what little they have in there.  Thank you in advance for any amount you can donate.

Posted September 29th, 2007:

We received numerous inquiries by both phone and email this past week regarding the state of Guatemalan adoptions and the DOS statement.  We have been sending out memos to clients but stand by our position that it is our commitment to the children what brought us to this work and we will continue to find them homes, because there is no Plan B for them.  The President of Guatemala is on its way out and legislation needs to be approved later this year in order for Guatemala to be Hague Compliant by the beginning of 2008.  In all likelihood, pending adoptions will be grandfathered by Guatemala because the application of the law can only be prospective and that is a Constitutional guarantee.  

We know the US will grandfather all cases for which an I-600A has been filed.  If the President of Guatemala decided to do anything illegal there is a good mechanism in place prepared to restore order.  Also, we have heard that the PGN plans to request a year extension to implement new legislation.  Therefore, our stand is that until there is hope for these children we will work for them.

On that note, we are in dire need of donations for children in foster care, particularly those who do not have families yet.  We need new bottles, silicone nipples, Desitin ointment, and baby boy clothes ages 12 to 24.  We can use shoes of all sizes for all the children.  If you would like to donate any items, please send them to:

The Open Way Adoptions, Inc.
849 NE Mt Mystery Loop, Poulsbo, WA, 98370

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated by all the foster mothers as well as the children under our care in Guatemala. God bless you!

Posted: September 4th, 2007:

 I will be going for an impromptu visit trip to Guatemala from August 5th until the 8th.  Please look here soon for an update of this trip.  I am very much looking forward to seeing all the children again and the foster moms, who appreciate our support:( -Lymaris

Posted August 24th, 2007:

HE picks us up:) 

Sometimes we struggle and find it hard to hang on to our faith. But when we are feeling the most down, HE picks us up!!  Today was a day with many good news, all very  much needed.  Thanks to you all, prayer warriors, who keep all of us and our children in daily prayer.  God is good, and He knows the when and why.  He lifts us up, if we will only believe him...:) ~*Lymaris*~

Posted August 8th, 2007:

Wow! It feels like ages since I had a chance to sit down and update my little corner.  The move to Florida presented a variety of unancticipated challenges which have stretched my faith beyond what I ever expected, but we move on and continue working hard for all these children we hold so dear.  I am praying in particular for those out of the box cases as well as for the baby boys that wait SO LONG to have a family open their hearts for them.  It is hard to see them grow as they get older and wait and wait.  So I would like you to say a prayer for our waiting boys.  I would also like to invite you to join me in prayer for all the cases' progress as some of our children grow closer to coming home.  Thanks to all of you for your continued support and commitment to the children.  I love and appreciate you very much, for this mission would be impossible without the loving parents whom God has hand chosen for each of our children...

Lymaris

Posted June 25th, 2007

First of all I just want to say a big heart felt thank you to each one of the wonderful people and parents who wrote to me privately with encouraging notes regarding Jimena and who lifted many prayers on our behalf.  May the Lord bless you deeply. 

On a lighter an happier note, I am very glad to announce the official opening of the Dominican Republic adoptions program.  Given my last trip to the DR, I am very aware of the situation in the country and the extreme poverty many of the children live in.  Children of the Nations is doing amazing work in Barahona, DR, where they have set up schools, a feeding center, and have a truly great sponsorship program you can visit here:

http://www.cotni.org/children

I was very blessed to have the opportunity to interact with the children and people of the villages they sponsor.  We did some outreach educational activites, as well as school painting, and other jobs.

As wonderful as this program is, there are many orphaned children in need of permanent homes.  I am adding an album with many photos of the trip for you to browse... it's a work in progress:)

Posted June 3rd, 2007

"Thy Will Be Done, Lord..."

I went on a missions trip from May 20th until June 2nd with Children of the Nations to the Dominican Republic.  While on the trip, I received the worst news yet; Jimena passed away the day after my visit to the hopsital.  I cannot even begin to describe the deep despair and agonizing grief I experienced at her loss.  I was so angry that the bureocracy of the system kept me from doing more. I had so much hope for her....

Still, I thank God for allowing me to see her before she passed, and for being able to tell her that she was not alone, that she was loved, and pray for the Lord to keep her surrounded by angels.  I know her suffering is over.  This picture was taken the day I saw her...  Her death will always be a reminder that the fight is not over until it is over.  I hope to see Jimena in Heaven someday and be able to hold her again.

Posted May 18th, 2007:

"Witnessing a Resilient Miracle"

I had to go down to Guatemala for a short trip to attend a PWM meeting.  The trip was also an opportunity to address issues regarding one of the children: little Jimena.  Jimena's middle name is Milagros, which means miracles in Spanish.  Jimena is nothing short of a miracle.  We don't know what caused her hydrocephaly at birth, but what we do know is that her birthmother tried to place her for adoption once before, and that Jimena was returned to her.  Months later, she approached us wanting to relinquish.  The relinquishment was never finalized, as she failed to return. We had asked her to bring all the medical information she had so that we could have our pediatrician follow up and get the details of her previous surgery for a shunt.  Once in our care, the foster mother found that the tube from the shunt was coming out of her rectum.  Upon medical evaluation, the pediatrician informed us she needed immediate surgery.  She was at high risk for meningitis.  We contacted the birthmother and informed her about the urgent need to admit her, and made appointments at the Hospital which she missed, twice.  We were able to persuade her to show up for a third attempt at admitting Jimena, and never heard from her again.  For weeks we tried to contact her, but she made sure we could not.  Jimena had a strong infection and was treated for it, and her shunt was removed.    Social Services took over her case in Guatemala, and we have since been fighting to get her custody.  Amazingly, we have had more inquiries about little Jimena than any other child we have had.  I have asked  many people to pray for her, and they have.  Eventhough she is alone in the hospital, she has been kept by angels all the time.  She has fought and is a survivor, a true witness to resilience.  I arrived in Guatemala Tuesday, May 15th.  The PGN attorney we were to see was not there, and the hospital would not let us in to see her.  It was one of the most frustrating days of my life.  The complete feeling of powerlessness in a situation where you feel you can really make a difference.  I could not sleep that night.  The next day I attended the PWM meeting.  After the meeting I was able to get to the hospital.  I met our attorney and Foster Care Administrator there.  This time we were able we to get in.  I had prayed for the Lord to remove the obstacles and move the mountains....and he responded, we were in the hospital! So where to find her?  First, we went to the Intensive Care Unit.  Reluctantly, the doctor opened the door and we inquired about her. He told us she was not there and he had no clue where she was at.  No, computerized records seem unavailable.  Many hallways, many stairs later, we made it to a different area of the hospital.  I kept walking as the rest followed.  We walked as if we were supposed to be there, looking around into all the little rooms crammed with sick children and a sad relative next to their beds.  I peeked through one of the rooms and saw five beds in one little room.  The center crib had a baby.  It was the only baby alone.  It was Jimena, I just knew it.  I walked into the room and kept walking towards the crib as the adults in the little room stared up at me.  I felt one of the biggest reliefs in my entire life when I saw her little face.  So fragile, my dear Jimena, yet so strong.  There she was, this delicate flower.  Abandoned, sick, all odds against her, but there she was, fighting on.  How I wanted to hold and kiss her.  My heart just ached. But I could not.  All I could do was talk to her and caress her tiny hand through the bars of the metal crib.  I called her name and she looked up, she was responsive.  She would grip my finger over and over.  I could not find a doctor to talk to, but we were able to squeeze out as much info from one of the nurses as we possibly could.  We now know she will be discharged from the hospital soon.  It was so hard to leave her there.  We continue the fight to get her custody.  Please pray for the Lord to soften the hearts of the authorities involved, so that she may be released to our care.  We can then take her to be seen by the Pediatric Foundation's Neurosurgical Journey in June.  Jimena needs your prayer.  I will update as the situation changes....Also, while there, I met and prayed with Ana, a Guatemalan woman whose son, Andres, 11 years old, has a brain tumor. I told her I would ask many people to pray for Andres.  Please pray for Ana and Andres too.

~*~~Lymaris~~*~

Posted April 20th, 2007:

I just returned from a week long visit to Guatemala.  This trip was really all about the children:)  I very much wanted the kids to have fun and they did.  It was a very productive and intense visit.  Four families were visiting that week. 

The Partnership in Women's Ministries continues to take shape, and the website is running!!

Please visit Http://www.pwmguatemala.org

Please pray that the funds become available to purchase the property that is currently under lease.  The following album has many snapshots of what this week was about.  I hope you enjoy viewing it...

~~*~Lymaris~*~

Posted March 24th, 2007:

The Partnership in Women's Ministries continues to take shape thanks to the efforts of the organizational board in Guatemala.  Heading these efforts is Mike Soderling,  MD, Latin American Representative for Health Development International, (healthdevelopment.org) mjsoderling@hdi-guate.org, and President The Association of Christian Hospitals and Clinics of Guatemala (Guatemalan non-governmental organization). 

This partnership comes to fill a huge void in Guatemala, where women lack total control of their lives and are powerlessly subjected to lives of misery, without education, many children to feed, and all too often bound by violent relationships with abusive men. 

A recent article highlights the extent of the problem and it is partly covered in a book being written by the female journalist writing it.  You can get it here:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?le=/chronicle/archive/2007/03/25/ING94OP7H41.DTL

The most pressing need right  now is funding, in order to buy one of a few possible properties where the center would be established.  The mission statement for the PWM, as it stands now is:

Donations are being collected by Emmanuel's Heart International, which has set up the 501(c)3 out of the United States, and is one of the partner ministries.  100% of these funds will go to support the PWM.  Your donations are tax deductible.  EHI is renting the home in Guatemala right now where the first woman and her children are already being hosted.  Please, please, please spread the word and let your friends and family know about this unique project so they can also send the urgently needed monetary donations to:

Posted March 8th, 2007:

Due to the whole climate surrounding Guatemalan adoptions, we are frequently asked what we think of the Hague and its impact on Guatemalan adoptions.  I think the following link is very informative as well as summarizing of our position:

http://www.guatefam.org/hague.htm

We are monitoring the situation daily and will keep updating if we feel any changes are imminent, but that is not the case for now.

My next visit to Guatemala will be April 10th, 2007.  Families are welcome to send care packages to their children to our office, for me to deliver personally. 

Also, we would love donations for the Partnership in Women's Ministries, as well as for the foster mothers.  If you have gently used women's and children's clothes that you would like to donate to the women and children of Guatemala, please email me at info@theopenwayadoptions.com to give you the address in FL where these donations are to go, from where they will be sent to Guatemala.

Thanks!

*~*Lymaris*~*

Posted February 28th, 2007:

While sitting at the Guatemala City Airport on the way back home after my last visit, I pondered about the events of what was a very intense week, filled with much activity, and very little room for rest.  It included assisting a visiting mom, a meeting with representatives from other ministries interested in partnering to help Guatemalan women, and a two day conference on The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation of Intercountry Adoption.

At the meeting for Women's Ministries, there were representatives from other Christian organizations who are doing wonderful work in Guatemala, from teaching in poor areas to building houses.  The goal  is to bring together different organizations that can help the development of a program to assist abused women.  An alarming percentage of women and children in Guatemala are constantly experiencing abusive situations from the male figures in their lives.  Most of these women have no means or education to suppport themselves, and thus they must endure these relationships in order to provide for their children.  We want to develop a program together, where the women can come and be safe, as well as learn a new trade to help them start new lives with hope for the future.  As we work towards this common goal, I will write about new develpments on this partnership that God has called us to, and information on how you can help.

The week also included a seminar on child health care for the foster mothers.  I was able to spend much time submerged in the Guatemalan culture and met lots of new people.  Everytime I go to Guatemala I fall deeper in love with this country and its people.  Everytime I learn something new, and become more aware of situations that go on which renew my passion and commitment to my work.  This reassures me that I am here for a reason and that bringing change through the way we do things here is a must.  I once read the biography of Cameron Townsend, founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators, and I could have never imagined that the passion I felt for the work he did in Guatemala as I read it, would be duplicated in my own work.  It is a true priviledge. 

The Hague Conference organized by Focus on Adoption was very informative.  The bottom line is that Guatemala needs to approve legislation soon that is considered to be Hague compliant.  Guatemala already has many procedures in place that meet Hague requirements, but there are some gaps to fill.  These details need to be worked out and legislation has to be approved by the time the U.S.A. implements the Hague Treaty on Children's Rights.  This is expected to happen sometime in in early 2008.  

Sadly, some important pieces of the puzzle were missing at the Conference, such as the PGN and US Embassy representatives.  How can we get a real picture of the possibility of "Solutions", when these parts are missing along with their input?

Please continue to pray for Guatemala, its people, and especially, its children.  Also, please pray for a happy medium to be reached regarding Hague implementation, so that the adoption sytem is not affected, and most importantly, the children of Guatemala.

~Lymaris~

Foster Mom training, held February 19th, 2007

THANK YOU!! to those families that contributed donations:) for the foster mother training.  Foster moms received training from two different pediatricians on various topics of child care.  Here is the album of the activity:

The following album is from the Guatemala 

TOWA Christmas gathering, Dec 29, 2006: