How you can help us
Hello again from the internet cafe... our only means of communication as we have no cell phone and our laptop is fried. We are still stuck in Almaty and it doesn't look like things will get better soon. IF (big if) we get the boys visas tonight, we may be able to leave on Tuesday (after 17 days here). We were promised, in writing, 13 days. We gave $800 that we weren't supposed to have over a week ago and they still claim to be out of money. If we don't get the visas tonight, it could go past 20 days. My dad is sick and I am getting sick... coughing up stuff that ain't too pretty and today started a fever. It's time for us to go home.
We believe both in the power of prayer and the power of the people. If you'd like to help, are angered by the indifference and have been horrified by our treatment and the treatment of the Woods family who were here a record 62 days, then I invite you to send an email on our behalf. Just a short subject line or sentence saying something like "Shame on you!" or "Let the Gaines family go home" or "Get off you butts and do your job"... it would be sooo great. Flood Orson Mozes email account info@adoptaip.com or call him toll free at 1-866-969-8445. And, if you're really feeling frisky, post this request to FRUA, the Kazakhastan adoption boards and anywhere else you think folks will heed the call.
On a brighter note, today is Steve's birthday (the big 40) and I hope we can find him a good dark beer to make his day a little better.
And, hey, thanks for listening!
posted by Unknown at 2:57 AM
13 Comments:
Gosh!! My prayers are definitely with you guys!! Most agencies get their families out of there in 3-7 days for trip 2. Another family using a different agency is heading that way next week. It will be interesting to see how short their trip is...
Kathryn
4/19/2006 4:05 AM
We are praying that you get your beautiful boys home as quickly as possible. We have enjoyed watching your journey from afar and we are stunned at the treatment you are receiving.
D&N
WFR
4/19/2006 4:50 AM
Hope you all make it home soon! Glad to hear that the Woods finally are on their way home. Soon you will be on your way too!
4/19/2006 7:37 AM
It does not surprise me of the treatment you are recieving this is the NORM with AIP. They are a very dis-honest agency and treat most of the families like this. It is not the norm how the Sapp's had been taken care of, Orson used them to get a little back from what he lost last year hurting and loosing all of the families the way he did. That is why it is sooo important for people to speak the truth about an agency even if they adopt children, a succesful adoption to me is not only adopting a child but how you are treated as well. I hope you get out of there soon and they get things worked out for you, it amazes me how they can not have the money, where does it all go, they only pay out about 100 a day for the driver, trans and apartment and charge way more than that, they also make money off of the country fee, it is not the amount AIP charges it is far less.
I will post your message on the FRUA boards and the Kazak group like you requested but you need to back this up and follow through and try and get this man shut down he causes more harm than good. There are plenty of other great agencies out there that can and will help these children find homes in the right way.
Good luck and I hope you and your Father are feeling better soon.
4/19/2006 7:53 AM
It does not surpise me about Orson Mozes actions. He speaks a good game but when it comes down to it he does not support the families overseas. This is not the first time I heard of a family getting screwed over by him.
I pray a safe and soon return for your family!!
4/19/2006 8:19 AM
Steve & Terri -
I'm so sorry to hear of your difficulties!!
Indeed picking a reputable agency is the most important aspect of international adoption and it does seem that Orson Mozes' reputation is well deserved. I hope that you can get home to Texas soon so that those cute boys can get their drawl started. :-)
Debbie "in Austin, adopted leah Alyona from Taldy-Korgan, KZ in 2002"
PS You can get your kids' names changed if/when you do a readoption. We did ours in San Antonio with Jana Baker and it went great (in fact, our group even made the news as the largest group ever).
4/19/2006 9:40 AM
Steve and Terri,
So sorry to hear about your trouble! I am an adoptive parent who just returned from Kaz a couple months ago, using a different agency. We had a close call - we almost used Orson Mozes, and I thank my lucky stars we ended up with another agency. We still had our bumps in the road, and witnessed greed and corruption, but what you're going through is obviously pure extortion. It's painful to hear that you're being held up solely through their neglect and greed, especially knowing the situation with Terri's dad, the fact that Terri now has some sort of bug, and also the fact that, at this point in the marathon process, you just plain want and need to be home with your children.
I called AIP a few minutes ago to express our outrage and disgust, and a man answered the phone who later identified himself as the bookkeeper and told me he hadn't worked there for long. Poor guy, I told him that he was probably unaware of the shameful actions of his employer, but that I needed to call to register my disgust and anger over your situation. I gave him an earful and suggested that he pass it on to his employer. You have probably considered this already, but you should contact the US Embassy. I know you don't have a cellphone, but if I were you, I'd take a cab to their offices and ask to meet with an officer.
One other thing, please don't feel bad for picking AIP as your agency, like many unsuspecting others who only wanted to create a family...I don't think it's helpful to provide pointers here and now to others about avoiding AIP and other unscrupulous agencies...that's obvious! Instead you should be supported and comforted by those of us in the adoption community who are outraged at AIP's practices. Let's issue warnings for prospective adoptive parents to "do your homework" in a different forum. For now, let's all keep calling and emailing Orson, as well as the appropriate authorities, to stop the disgusting practices of his entire organization.
Terri and Steve, take good care and hold on for the day you can get on that plane and come home with those beautiful boys.
From an adoptive mom to 2 wonderful Kaz girls
4/19/2006 11:38 AM
oh my gosh Terri - I have been out of town and just looked at your blog!! What is going on?? I will email and call and tell the others I know. Can I do anything else? Tracie
4/19/2006 2:16 PM
Terri,
I am an AIP client also. I called Mr.Mozes for you today. He said that he will give you back the $800.00 when you get back and that you are going home on Tuesday. I hope this helps? I sure hope you feel better. I have enjoyed reading your blog and I wish you the best of luck. Sincerely, Katrina Luedtke
4/19/2006 5:55 PM
Terri, Steve, Liam and Aiden,
My prayers are with you. I will get down on my knees tonight and pray that you touch down on Texas soil by Sunday! Hang in there! The boys certainly don't need their parents experiencing this kind of stress. Shame on AIP for allowing this to happen!! Know that you have LOTS of people here on your side and praying for a quick and safe trip home!
Sherri
4/19/2006 6:13 PM
Terri and Steve -
I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles. I've followed your blog throughout your trip and have enjoyed it so much. You and the boys are in my prayers and I hope you get home soon.
Take care, feel better and Happy Birthday!
4/19/2006 6:27 PM
Hi Terri and Steve,
So sorry to hear about what is going on over there in Almaty. I wrote an email to Orson Mozes as well. You have so many folks here in the U.S who are praying for you. One thing I would suggest that you do while waiting to leave is document everything that happened both in Ust and in Almaty- write it all down and take it with you to your exit interview at the Embassy. Before your interview, you'll be asked to fill out a survey on which agency you used, how long you were in country, how your experience was, etc. I would strongly suggest that you submit your written documentation with this survey. This is probably the best way to let the embassy know what happened. Oh- you'll also be asked who your facilitators were in country. Even if you don't have last names, list that you used Orson Mozes and the first names of your facilitators and translators. And of course, tell the Embassy attendant about what happened.
In the meantime, hug and kiss your little ones. When all is said and done, no matter how horrible this trip was, know that it was all worth it because of your two beautiful boys. We're praying that Terri is feeling better soon and that you are on a plane back to the states as soon as humanly possible.
Love,
Eryn (and Greg and Em)
4/19/2006 9:28 PM
What the heck is going on? Why isn't the money where it should be? Why does Yulia like to hang up the phone on people and feign phone connection issues?
We are so sorry that you are still stuck. We will continue to pray for your family's safe return to Texas.
Jason, Melissa and Maksim.
4/20/2006 1:54 PM
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