To Our Public Servants at the United States Department Of State:

Thank you for your service in these very tough times. We know you are facing many challenges due to the current situation in our world. We are reaching out to you as you play a significant role in the completion of adoptions from Burundi, Africa. We need the Department of State to step up and step in to ensure adoptions continue to move forward through Burundi, Africa by continuing to build positive relationships and communication between your office and their Central Authority.

We, adoptive families, are seeking your assistance to ensure an invitation is issued to their delegation to come to the United States for a visit. We understand U.S. adoption agencies have worked with the National Council for Adoption and have spoken with you at the Department of State. Adoptive families have been told that you are aware of this situation and are happy and willing to help. Thank you!

It is our understanding that the Country of Burundi would like to send a delegation to the United States to see that children are thriving in their new homes. It is also our understanding that while this should NOT keep the Burundian Government from making referrals to US families, there does seem to be a slowdown of current referrals coming out of Burundi to U.S. families. Opening up communication will go a long way to build a relationship that Burundi seems very interested in forming, to promote a positive relationship between countries, and streamline the process to create referrals of orphans eligible for adoption and place them with U.S. families.

We understand that travel is still difficult, due to Covid19, but we are asking that you will begin the conversation, reach out to the Burundian Central Authority to build relationships as you plan and work out an invitation thus making plans for the visit so it can occur as soon as possible when things open up again.

We know this is an extremely difficult time and we are praying for you to have wisdom and that you will move this item up as a priority, as so many Americans are waiting to bring their children home from Burundi.

We call upon you, the leaders chosen for such a time as this, to pause for a moment and consider how this communication, relationship, and invitation affects so many lives. Please understand that your efforts to build a positive relationship will help to create a clear path for our children to be home and be in our arms.

Thank you for hearing the voices of the people and taking immediate action to begin conversations to build relationships and plan for an invitation to the delegation from Burundi, Africa.

Your Fellow Americans