GUATEMALA ADOPTION HARROWING FOR COUPLE

BOB AND JANICE VOGEL

After about three years of trying to adopt a baby in the United States, Bob and Janice Vogel concluded that it was a difficult process, with few babies available for adoption. So they decided last summer to try an international adoption.

Since Janice's brother had spent time in the Peace Corps in Guatemala, had married a woman from there, the Vogel's thought it might be nice to adopt a child of Guatemalan heritage.

Things seemed to be going pretty well as the Vogel's learned in October there was a baby they could adopt. The parents and family of Janice's sister-in-law agreed to take the baby at birth to insure it received proper care. The baby was born on Nov. 11, and about a month later Janice headed to Guatemala to complete an adoption process she thought would take about three months.

Although they knew the process was not going to be simple, the Vogel's had no idea about the kind of frustration, anxiety, fear, and even adventure, that awaited them.

Rescued from mob

Government strikes, widespread rumors about the intentions of Americans in Guatemala, intense scrutiny from both the U.S. embassy and Guatemalan officials, and attacks on Americans by mobs complicated and delayed the process. On May 13, Janice and the baby had to be rescued by U.S. embassy security guards from an angry mob and taken into protective custody for several days.

"It is kind of the adoption from hell, but definitely worth it," Bob Vogel told the Southeast Missourian from his home in Hollidaysburg, Pa., where Janice and daughter Sara Marie Vogel finally arrived safely just over a week ago.

Vogel, 36, is a native of Cape Girardeau, and the son of Mel and Verna Vogel, 1466 Price Drive. He is a 1975 graduate of Central High School and for the last 14 years has been employed by the National Park Service. Currently, he is chief of visitor services for the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and the Johnstown Flood National Monument, located about 80 miles east of Pittsburgh.

The Vogel's experience was featured recently on ABC's 20-20 program.

"She's a cute little thing. We can't wait to see her," said Verna Vogel. "We're just very grateful Janice and the baby were not injured."

Mel Vogel agrees that the whole process has been frustrating and scary at times, but he is looking forward to meeting Sara. "There's just been one problem after another; it's been kind of nerve wracking."

`Nothing you could do'

Bob Vogel said it's sometimes hard to believe the long ordeal is over.

"It was very stressful knowing all this is happening in another country and there is nothing you could do," said Vogel. "I almost became paranoid that something bad could happen to them. It's been hard the last couple of days and has been an adjustment period for Janice to be home. We are finally starting to relax and getting our life together.

"Sara had her first physical in the U.S. last week and is very healthy and happy."

To help try to move the process along, Bob spent part of April and May in Guatemala trying to get the adoption finalized and then arrange for a visa for the baby so they could return to the United States.

"I went down for three and a half weeks and hoping to comeback as a family. We did finalize the adoption but we had one more step, to get Sara a Guatemalan passport. We thought that would take 2-3 more weeks so I came on back," said Vogel. "I thought it would be pretty much downhill from there. "

Vogel headed back to the United States four days before the attack on his wife and baby. "I thought things were relatively safe," he noted.

By the time he learned of the attack, Janice and Sara were in the safety of the U.S. Embassy.

Attacks on Americans

One of the rumors in Guatemala was that Americans were coming to the country and stealing babies and sell their organs for transplants. Since early March Guatemalans have attacked three U.S. citizens and a Swiss citizen. One woman, June Weinstock of Alaska, was accused of stealing a child and was stabbed eight times and beaten by a mob. She remains in a coma.

Because of the attacks on Americans, a travel warning was issued around the country. Because of that, Janice took precautions, trying to make sure that when they were in public, Sara was always carried by a Guatemalan.

On "Friday the 13th," as Janice points out, she and some friends went to Guatemala City to apply for the passport. The adoption had been finalized a few days before. They were staying at an apartment in town and had gone out to eat.

While riding a bus back to the apartment, Sara began to cry, wanting her mother. Eventually, Janice held the baby which drew the attention of a passenger on the bus who called police.

A mob began forming

Despite efforts to explain everything was fine and the baby was legally adopted, a mob began forming and accused Mrs. Vogel of stealing the baby. Hostile bus passengers chased them toward the apartment and they ran into the building and immediately called the American embassy. By the time a large security delegation arrived from the embassy, several hundred people had gathered outside shouting that they wanted the woman and baby.

Vogel explained that before his wife could be taken away, the Guatemalan government wanted her to be interviewed on television and by newspapers as a way of showing she was safe and that this was a legal adoption.

Tourism is a major industry in Guatamala and the government was sensitive about travel warnings that had been issued.

Eventually, Janice and Sara were taken from the apartment separately under armed guards who took them to the embassy. They spent two days at the embassy and then were put in seclusion while the ambassador and his staff worked with the government to expedite the passport application.

Nationwide exposure

Vogel noted that his wife had to hide because her picture was in every newspaper and on every television station in the country. Some Guatemalans would not believe that she was not stealing the baby, putting her in danger.

"The American embassy was very helpful. She met with the ambassador and they were very supportive in trying to expedite the process as much as possible," said Vogel. "They were very concerned about her safety."

Once everything was clear for them to leave Guatamala, embassy staff transported the two to the airplane for a flight to the United States where Robert was waiting in Washington, D.C.

Besides the embassy help, the Vogel's are very thankful for the support they received from many Guatemalans, including Janice's brother in-laws who kept the baby from birth and provided a home for Janice and Sara to stay at. They live in Caban, about 100 miles from Guatemala City.

"We thought we were pretty well informed going into this," said Vogel. "We belong to the Latin American Parents Association and when we started this process, Guatemalan adoptions were going smoothly, but we knew they would take a while. We met other people having more trouble than us."

Ready to move on

Vogel was generally philosophical about the whole matter.

"We were fortunate that Janice was able to stay with a family. Other than taking so long, the government being on strike and living in fear because of all the rumors, we found many people in Guatemala to be very friendly and caring," said Vogel.

The Vogel's were reluctant about doing the 20-20 interview, preferring instead to disappear in Pennsylvania and enjoy their new family. But Bob Vogel said they decided to do the interview because they wanted to share the concern and support they received from many Guatemalans.

"We would like for Guatemalans to see that Sara came home with us, to a caring, loving home," said Vogel.

They have also been interviewed by NBC news and will likely be included in a special series next month.

Eventually, Vogel said they will return to Guatemala for a visit to help insure Sara is aware of and proud of her heritage. But for now, he's content just having his family safe and together.