A Story About Hope

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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hope-to-America/127715230649335

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http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
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http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/uscongress/a/letterscongress.htm

Margaret Wambui was born on September 11th, 2008 at the Kijabe Hospital in Kenya. Two days later her biological mother left the hospital and abandoned her newborn. Despite the situation the hospital chaplain felt that baby Margaret had a glimmer of hope and began calling her just that. Hope. Miriam Rich, a local missionary at Kijabe, heard about Hope and went down to the hospital to hold the infant and show her some affection. When the nursery became overcrowded with sick children, the hospital asked the Riches to take care of the child, as an extension of the nursery. One month later in November 2008, the Kenyan government granted the Riches custody of Hope. With a contagious laugh, a joyful smile, and a love for reading, Hope began to thrive within her new loving family.

After over 25 years of missionary service in Africa, Dr and Mrs Rich are trying to move back to the US to reunite with their family, including three of their children currently attending US universities. Despite obtaining a successful Kenyan adoption in April 2011, and the fact that Hope has been under their care for almost three years, Hope was recently denied the immigrant visa needed to move to the US with her family. The Riches are requesting your help to get Hope to America. Please continue to spread Hope's story and contact those who can help her get the needed visa.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• hope to america
• hope
• to
• america
• kenya
• adoption
• visa
• africa
• rich
• warren
• miriam
• immigration
• missionary
• kijabe
• hospital

[THEcalicoacresmamma]

Why did the US Consulate deny Hope a visa? We have adopted internationally 8 times, are waiting for visas for our next 2 now, and are quite familiar with the process.

Does the US not acknowledge adoptions from Kenya? When I contact elected officials witha request I like to know what I am asking. Our Senators helped us with adoption troubles during a formal suspension on adoptions between the US and another country in 2006, but we were granted a Humanitarian Parole.

[hopetoamerica]

@THEcalicoacresmamma Good question. Hope only has a Kenyan adoption, not USA. The visa was denied because the embassy is claiming we only received custody of her in April 2011 with the Kenyan adoption, even though she has been in our care since November 2008. They want 2 more years of her living with us before they grant the visa, and refuse to recognize the custody Kenya granted our family in 2008.

[lgcottle]

We adopted a boy from a country where we have the 2 step process also (have to adopt from the country then USA), and sadly enough, you do have to have legal custody of the baby for 2 years. If you can prove the child was placed in your legal custody since 2008, then you have a chance to get the visa. Otherwise, you do legally have to wait. After that it is very easy to get the visa. It is a long process, but as you know full well, it is well worth the wait!

[greeniiiiz]

Please contact Sen. Mary Landrieu (D - LA) she is a known adoption advocate. Even if you are not from LA :) she advocated for the Smith's Kenya adoption and they are from MD.

[jenibransford1]

Great job on the video! I just wrote our congresswoman. We are praying for you guys. We love you!

[jasaunders1997]

Great video! We will continue to pray for you all! We have written our congressmen also!

[reinschjesse]

I've written to my congressmen...have you?