I am hopeful that we can use this blog to keep our friends, family, and people who love adoption updated about our goings on in the next month or two in particular. But, we know that many people only have a limited picture of what has been going on. So, here are the nuts and bolts, the concerns, and hopes! It's a long blog...
Why adopt again and why Liberia?
We have been incredibly blessed by adoption. When Addison turned one we wanted to start the adoption process again to grow our family. We applied again and were chosen for a little girl to be born in a couple of weeks. The birth mother backed out of the deal with only two weeks before the due date because she could get cash by giving her child to a family in Arizona. We were heartbroken but soldiered on. We also lost another pregnancy shortly afterward. Then, we lost a second potential adoption opportunity for a similar reason. Adoption is a vicious rollercoaster ride. Finally, we got pregnancy with Shiloh. During our pregnancy with Shiloh we never let go of our desire to adopt and thought we would like to continue the adoption process that we had started. But, our agency was not getting many babies and those they were getting were not being matched to us. Then we had yet another miscarriage after Shiloh's birth. So, we started praying about the foreign arena. We knew that we couldn't get a baby but we did think we would be able to get a young child (under 2) and planned to keep the birth order of our kids. When we approached our adoption agency, they recommended China or Liberia. They have a special connection with an orphanage in Liberia that all kids in that orphanage are adopted out of our agency. Why not, we thought? They warned us that no babies were available in the orphanage at the time because adoptions out of Liberia had been closed for seven years. All the "babies" in the orphanage were now older kids. But, she said, when the kids started to get adopted out, it would make room for babies to start coming in. We thought that sounded ok. Then, God sent us a twist. The adoption agency sent us a list of the waiting kids. Jason, specifically, fell in love with a family of three and the rest is about to be history.
You know they sell their kids in African countries when they really have families.
It hurts me to bring up this statement but it has come up several times. And, yes, there are places in Africa were this is true-most recently this has made news in Ethiopia. But, Africa is a continent not a country and each country is different culturally, legally, and spiritually. We have very detailed histories of our children, legal documents including birth certificates and interviews with the kids biological mother. Our kids have not been and are not being stripped of their family and NO MONEY has been given to their family members or any one else to make them available for adoption. I want to tread carefully here...adoption stories belong to the children themselves. They have the right to share and not share parts of their story. Some family members and intimate friends know their details, but otherwise, these kids are old enough that we feel the need to protect their privacy and needs until they are ready to share them themselves. Here is the very basic; the father is not present and the mother is disabled, older, has several other children and is in extreme poverty. If it were not for the orphanage they would have died of starvation. They have been in the orphanage for several years.
Who are they?
The oldest girls is named Gifty-she is 11. We have been told that she was 10 but just received her birth certificate and it claims she is 11. The orphanage disagrees so who knows. She loves to dance. We know that she has a large umbilical hernia that is going to need medical examination.
The boy is named Kai-he is 8. He loves to play soccer and has been called the quiet protector of the family. He is healthy and we do not anticipate any medical issues.
The younger girl is Kumba- she is 7. She is quiet but enjoys playing and memorizing Bible verses. Many of her pictures show a spunky, playful personality. She is healthy and we do not anticipate any medical issues.
Sorry, no public pictures until the adoption is completed in Liberia. (Hopefully next week. You can pray for the court date to be mid-week next week!!!) I know this is basic but we don't know a lot. We have been in touch with them in a limited fashion via an adult worker at the orphanage who loves Facebook. Nope, we haven't met them.
How can you afford adoption?
We can't.
God can. God did. God is.
And our family, friends, churches, and grants have helped out! This has been one of the verifications to us that this is God's plan. We have a lot left to go and we trust God with that too. The adoption itself is paid for as are my and the kid's plane tickets and court costs. Here is what we have to still pay for just as a picture of what it takes to adopt: The kid's medical exams in Liberia and back home in the US, the kids visas, some of my travel vaccines, Jason's plane ticket, some of the housing, transportation, the time of the social worker in country, the post-adoption visits, and some adoption filing fees once the kids are back in the US.
You can also contact your congressmen about the tax reform. It eliminates the adoption tax credit used to finance the majority of American adoptions.
What are the travel plans?
I (Anna) am leaving on Saturday (November 11th) and arriving in Liberia at 10:50pm (Liberian time) on Sunday the 12th. I will be there for three weeks before Jason arrives for the last week. Only one parent is required to be present. Jason needs to stay home to keep our two girls somewhat normalized and, of course, to work. While there, the adoption is actually the very first thing that happens. Within the first couple of days, I will go to court. The rest of the time is spent getting the necessary documents to leave the country- new birth certificates with us as parents, new passports with their new names, medical exams, visas, and an exit letter from the country. Apparently it is a lot of waiting in an office and the coming back later and waiting in the office some more. The country appears to be changing their adoption laws constantly and one of the major concerns is the length of time we are required to stay in the country with the kids before leaving. Please pray that this can get done in LESS THAN FOUR WEEKS.
I am staying in a small "hotel" that is owned by an American woman and is often used for traveling US citizens. It has all the amenities we would expect here..wifi, private bath, personal kitchen, a/c, security, shuttle, etc... The kids are in a private Christian school and since we will be there for a month, the kids will stay at the orphanage during the week so that they can attend school. The kids will stay with me on the weekends!
Why did your travel plans change?
We were originally supposed to travel in October and be home today with the kids! But, the country of Liberia has a young democracy and has only had one democratically elected president. She has reached her term limit and the first democratically voted transfer of power is occurring. The "primary" election was in October and the US Embassy put a lot of pressure on the adoption agency to cancel our trip to avoid any potential chaos and violence. They cancelled our trip literally 18 hours before my flight. There was no violence and only minor hitches in the elections. Their official run-off elections are THIS TUESDAY. Please pray that it goes well because if we can't go now, we can't go until next year.
Who is taking care of Addi and Shiloh?
Jason's parents will be here to watch them during the day. They are traveling up from Albuquerque. We are sooooooo thankful. A few friends are helping out here and there to fill in some gaps. You guys are amazing. If you are in the area, we wouldn't mind some extra help...just let Jason know.
Schooling and other daily stuff once in the USA
We have had a variety of questions about some of the logistics. Plans always change but as of now...
...the kids will attend public school. Unsure of the grades exactly
...the kids speak English (as does the whole country of Liberia)
...except for Shiloh, the kids have one large rom to sleep in with plenty of beds. Kai may be moved out once he feels secure sleeping in a room own room for the first time ever.
...we invested in a gigantic Ford Expedition to carry our big family. They will all fit with space for one more if you want to join us.
How can we stay in touch?
I'm hoping to use this blog as one way. I'm also on Facebook. While I'm there I will be connecting with family via FaceTime and WhatsApp for texting. Ask Jason, too. I know he would love to tell you about our journey while he is still home.
Prayer Needs
That we can bond quickly as a family, for Addi and Shiloh as they adjust to being in a bigger family and have to share their parents and space, for cultural adjustments for the kids, quick process in Liberia, financial provisions for now and to outfit the kids
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