Sheila Chery

is adopting a child from Haiti

After many years in Haiti serving at Children of the Promise as the nurse and then the special needs house mom, God brought me and Lucas (4 years old) to South Carolina in a whirlwind of unexpected events. Most recently, we had been fostering Joshua (15), KK (14), and Jerry (11), and were heartbroken to be leaving them. I prayed and wept about whether I might be able to adopt KK, waiting to be legally eligible and knowing I couldn’t care for all three on my own. And then in August my sweet KK passed away, just a few weeks before I was legally able to begin the adoption process.

But God has not allowed me to be paralyzed by grief or regret. Instead, he has tenderly but persistently pressed Joshua and Jerry into my heart and mind. They need a forever family. God has already poured his love for them into and through me. It seemed so complicated, though. How could I care for two boys with profound special needs as a single mom? What if the process is too slow and Joshua ages out? Or dies? How will I afford the international adoption fees? Would it be fair to Lucas? I’d need a fully accessible home and a wheelchair van. I’d need an army of support. It would be so much easier if only…

But he finally helped me realize: it’s actually not complicated at all, is it?

I play piano on the worship team at my church and we’re introducing a new song by Bryan and Katie Torwalt called Simple Kingdom:

“Your kingdom is simple
As simple as love
You welcomed the children
You stopped for the one
We want to see people
The way Jesus does
Your kingdom is simple
Lord, teach it to us

Your kingdom is backwards
It flows in reverse
What You call a treasure
This world calls a curse
The small become great and
The last become first
Your kingdom is backwards
Lord, teach us to serve
As it is with Your kingdom
Let it be with Your church”

God has given me the incredible gift of seeing Joshua and Jerry the way he does, their great worth and their great need. And his kingdom is simple, so I’m stepping forward in great faith.

Updated 1/30/2025 to add: This has been a long process and things on both the Haiti and the US side have been slow. During that time, our sweet Joshua also passed away :( I had just enough notice to do a FaceTime call with him, tell him how much we love him, and pray with him. We know that his mind and body are free in a way they never could be here on earth, and we look forward to a heavenly reunion when he can actually walk to me and return my embrace. There is joy in the anticipation, but also so much sadness that another piece of our family has been taken away. Jerry’s adoption is still in progress, and we have reached the last few steps!! The biggest hurdle now is that once we receive notice of his final embassy appointment in Port Au Prince, we need to find a way to get him there safely as in-country flights are indefinitely suspended. Please join us in praying for these details to get worked out!

Updated 4/15/2025 to add: Jerry made it safely to and from Port Au Prince and we now have his Visa! I am in the process of arranging travel details for the pick-up trip and will be able to bring him home in May! I’ve also reduced the fundraising goal on this page because of grants received. Praise God!

Adoption Status

Home At Last

Adoption Agency

Hand In Hand International Adoptions

Updates

  • Update 7

    Jerry is Home!!!

    June 2, 2025

    Over Memorial Day weekend, we traveled to Haiti and brought Jerry home with us! I wasn't sure if Jerry would remember me after 4 years away, so it was a very sweet surprise to see that he does seem to remember me. Lucas was able to travel with me, and he had blast re-exploring Haiti. Lucas's dad joined us as well for some extra support while traveling and to share these new memories of Haiti with Lucas.

    Now that we are home in South Carolina, Jerry is settling in well! Our first family outing was to church yesterday, which Jerry handled like a pro. It has also been a joy seeing Lucas take on the role of big/little brother as he figures out which things make Jerry smile or laugh, which things make him agitated, and how he can help Jerry throughout the day.

    Jerry is 4 years older and 4 years bigger than when I last had him in my care, so I am also figuring out what new accommodations and equipment we will need at the house and when we go out together. Railings for the front and back steps, a wheelchair for outings, and toileting/showering equipment are high on the list!

    I am so grateful to all of you for your support and would love for your thoughts and prayers to continue as we find our new family rhythms and settle into what life as a family of 3 looks like now!

  • Update 6

    10 Days Away!

    May 13, 2025

    I will be leaving on May 23 to pick up Jerry in Haiti! After 4 years apart, it's hard to believe the time has finally come to be reunited. I would greatly appreciate your prayers for safe travel to, within, and from Haiti. There will be a lot going on during our 5 days in Haiti: transitioning Jerry into my care, reconnecting with old friends, visiting the homes we've lived in that hold a multitude of both wonderful and heartbreaking memories, trying to appreciate the beauty of Haiti knowing she and her people are suffering more than ever before, and lots of goodbyes. While there is immense joy in bringing a member of our family home forever, I expect to be emotionally and physically exhausted when I return. And that is when Jerry and Lucas will need me to usher them into this new season together with as much grace as I can muster. Did I mention I would appreciate your prayers??

  • Update 5

    Successful trip to Port au Prince!

    March 27, 2025

    Jerry made it to Port Au Prince yesterday via the HERO helicopter and made it back to Children of the Promise this afternoon! Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support. He was able to complete his medical appointment, immigration, and embassy appointments. His passport was printed same-day, which is highly unusual...this typically takes a couple of weeks! Praise God for a safe and successful trip! So close to bringing him home!

  • Update 4

    We exited MOI...ALMOST DONE!!!

    February 22, 2025

    We have officially exited MOI, which is one of the last steps before Jerry comes home!
    Now he needs to travel to Port Au Prince for his final embassy and medical appointments. Due to significant safety concerns in Haiti, the orphanage where Jerry lives will not send a caregiver by car or bus, only by air. Domestic flights in Haiti are canceled indefinitely, leaving me with the option of chartering a helicopter. This will cost about $10k roundtrip. If you are receiving this update, it means you have already supported Jerry's adoption, so perhaps you wouldn't mind just sharing this with someone else who might find it in their heart to get us through this last hurdle? My endless gratitude <3

  • Update 3

    We're getting so close!

    January 30, 2025

    I am so grateful for your support, and seeing another anonymous donor is such an encouragement to me!

    I just updated the profile page to share the news that Joshua passed away :( It has actually been a little while since that happened, and this page had simply slipped my mind during that time. It brings me joy to know he is praising the Lord in health and strength, but we were gutted to lose another piece of our family here on earth.

    The process has continued for Jerry, and we have reached the final steps! We are waiting for his final embassy appointment, at which point they can also schedule his medical appointment. These both need to occur in Port Au Prince and Jerry lives in northern Haiti. Because of the current landscape and recent events in Haiti, in-country flights have been indefinitely suspended, so we are praying for a way Jerry and a caregiver can safely travel to PAP for those appointments.

$11,756 raised of $8,000 goal
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Donations 27

  • AdoptTogether Emergency Fund gave $5,032
  • Wanda and Wes Lee gave $200
    We will be praying for safety for you as you travel to Haiti and as you make this transition to caring for a second child. May God bless you and work out every detail for His glory!
  • Edwin F Fabros gave $200
    We remain grateful for all AdoptTogether did to help us adopt our son Reynold from the Philippines in 2016. Just giving a bit back.
  • Anonymous gave an undisclosed amount
  • Joy Dixon gave an undisclosed amount
  • Anonymous gave $100
    Sheila, My thoughts are with you through out this journey.
  • Dara Young gave an undisclosed amount
  • Anonymous gave an undisclosed amount
  • Danielle Horst gave $300
    Love you, friend! Praying this gets finalized so you can all be together again. -Isaiah 43:1
  • Shelley Warnemuende gave an undisclosed amount