Here is our Adoption Journey so far…
We started this process of adopting 2 little girls from Liberia in April of 2022.
After visiting Liberia for 5 months in 2024, we decided to additionally adopt a little boy. This little guy, already bonded to our Liberian daughters, also became very close to our entire family during our time in Liberia, and now, life without him with us is unimaginable.
We chose Liberia because we are impressed by Liberia’s resilience and progress as a war torn country that is healing from so much. Liberia works hard to allow adoptions when necessary and to reunite families whenever possible. We are grateful Liberia is allowing us to adopt our daughters, and hopeful as we watch Liberia grow as a country.
We started this journey in April of 2022.
In May of 2023, with the help of our friends and family, church, community, and organizations like Noonday Collection, Phill the Box, Funds2Orgs, and Adopt Together, we reached our fundraising goals to make our adoption possible. At that time, we anticipated our Liberian daughters would be joining our family in 3-6 months time.
We did not get any solid updates for months, until November of 2023, when adoptions for multiple agencies, including our agency, were suspended in Liberia, which prompted our visit to bond with our kids and explore all avenues in person in February of 2024. We returned home in July of 2024 after exhausting all resources to unite our family permanently.
There are multiple political conflicts that brought adoptions to a halt in November of 2023. Although these political conflicts put Liberian children at risk, the layers of the conflicts are multifaceted and complicated beyond the adoption process itself.
As we continue to wait, we are committed to intentional international parenting. We will continue to visit as much as we can and continue to pursue every avenue to unite our family on one continent. We appreciate any encouragement as we continue to walk this road.
Number of Days Living in Liberia: 115
Number of Days of Daily Videos: 159
Number of Days Adopting from Liberia: 802
Number of Days in Orphan Care: 1,142
YouTube link to subscribe:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhvmF_X0zoUuAwUF7WzqlfZaskzIBmns2&si=0SE6xFYPJoXfkGIY
Shop Noonday AND assist with our adoption expenses by just clicking here: https://bit.ly/ADOPTIONINLIBERIA
Click here to make a tax deductible donation to assist with our adoption expenses: https://bit.ly/adoptfaster
Venmo option to give to our adoption expenses:
@Rachel-Smith-964
To learn about other matched families whose children wait with our daughters in their orphanage, click a link below:
Bruce Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-bruces
Butler Family:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-butlers-1
Coffman Family:
http://www.adopttogether.org/families/the-coffman-s
Godfrey Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-godfreys
Lipe Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-lipes
McGafee:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-mcgaffees
Smith Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-smith-s
Whitney Family:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-whitneys
Number of Days Living in Liberia: 114
Number of Days of Daily Videos: 158
Number of Days Adopting from Liberia: 801
Number of Days in Orphan Care: 1,141
YouTube link to subscribe:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhvmF_X0zoUuAwUF7WzqlfZaskzIBmns2&si=0SE6xFYPJoXfkGIY
Shop Noonday AND assist with our adoption expenses by just clicking here: https://bit.ly/ADOPTIONINLIBERIA
Click here to make a tax deductible donation to assist with our adoption expenses: https://bit.ly/adoptfaster
Venmo option to give to our adoption expenses:
@Rachel-Smith-964
To learn about other matched families whose children wait with our daughters in their orphanage, click a link below:
Bruce Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-bruces
Butler Family:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-butlers-1
Coffman Family:
http://www.adopttogether.org/families/the-coffman-s
Godfrey Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-godfreys
Lipe Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-lipes
McGafee:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-mcgaffees
Smith Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-smith-s
Whitney Family:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-whitneys
Number of Days Living in Liberia: 112
Number of Days of Daily Videos: 156
Number of Days Adopting from Liberia: 799
Number of Days in Orphan Care: 1,139
YouTube link to subscribe:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhvmF_X0zoUuAwUF7WzqlfZaskzIBmns2&si=0SE6xFYPJoXfkGIY
Shop Noonday AND assist with our adoption expenses by just clicking here: https://bit.ly/ADOPTIONINLIBERIA
Click here to make a tax deductible donation to assist with our adoption expenses: https://bit.ly/adoptfaster
To learn about other matched families whose children wait with our daughters in their orphanage, click a link below:
Bruce Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-bruces
Butler Family:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-butlers-1
Coffman Family:
http://www.adopttogether.org/families/the-coffman-s
Godfrey Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-godfreys
Lipe Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-lipes
McGafee:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-mcgaffees
Smith Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-smith-s
Whitney Family:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-whitneys
Number of Days Living in Liberia: 111
Number of Days of Daily Videos: 155
Number of Days Adopting from Liberia: 798
Number of Days in Orphan Care: 1,138
YouTube link to subscribe:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhvmF_X0zoUuAwUF7WzqlfZaskzIBmns2&si=0SE6xFYPJoXfkGIY
Shop Noonday AND assist with our adoption expenses by just clicking here: https://bit.ly/ADOPTIONINLIBERIA
Click here to make a tax deductible donation to assist with our adoption expenses: https://bit.ly/adoptfaster
To learn about other matched families whose children wait with our daughters in their orphanage, click a link below:
Bruce Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-bruces
Butler Family:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-butlers-1
Godfrey Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-godfreys
Lipe Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-lipes
McGafee:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-mcgaffees
Smith Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-smith-s
Whitney Family:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-whitneys
Dear Adoption Supporter,
My family and I began the journey of adoption from Liberia over 2 years ago. We are partnered with Small World Adoption Agency based in Tennessee. In truth, we began our relationship with Liberia 9 years ago, when my dear friend, Devon Crews, connected with a 6 year old little girl named Blessing, who needed a family. At that time, Blessing resided in an orphanage unable to complete her adoption to the United States. There were no agencies performing adoptions from Liberia to the United States at that time. But, a law had just been passed in Liberia to open the doors for the avenue of international adoption. I referred my friend, Devon, to Jim Savley, who was the best expert on international adoption I could think of. Jim partnered with Albert Ballah in Liberia, and they worked tirelessly to diplomatically open the doors for adoption between Liberia and the U.S. Their efforts were a great success. Blessing is 15 years old now, lives in Centerville, TN, and is surrounded by a wonderful family.
As a family, we supported the Crews’ journey to Blessing. We were intimately involved in the obstacles and the delays that Blessing’s family endured on this rocky road of adoption for Liberian orphans to make their way to the United States. This rocky road was paved by the relentless efforts of Devon Crews, Jim Savley and Albert Ballah. Once we saw the mountains moved to bring Blessing to the safety of her family, we chose to follow that same road, and partnered in April of 2022 with Small World Adoption Agency to adopt a sibling set of sisters, needing a family.
To date, 65 children have been adopted through Small World, and reside in the United States. On December 21, 2023, Small World Adoption Agency was suspended in Liberia and investigated. The accusations were vague, but involved the way the children enter the home. The investigation has lasted 5 months and has not revealed any wrongdoings by Small World Adoption Agency. There are 15 children matched with families that are unable to complete their adoptions to immigrate to the United States, due to the ongoing (unfounded) suspension.
Our 2 Liberian daughters are among the 15 children caught in what can only be described as a chaotic political conflict with no end in sight.
In an effort to find out the truth, and to be near our children during this time of uncertainty, we chose to come to Liberia on February 13, 2024, to see if we could uncover what could be done to resolve this issue. We are still working on that resolution, and progress is painfully slow.
One thing we have been able to do is find ways to support the orphanage and the adoption agency directly with fundraising solutions to cover rent on the property where the orphanage stands, solar panels to give reliable and affordable electricity, healthcare and medications for the children, shoes and backpacks for the children in school, repairs at the orphanage and partial salary solutions for the caregivers at the orphanage. We have exhausted all resources over the last 4 months of living in Liberia with our family. We have exhausted our financial resources and all of our savings. Small World Adoption Agency recently hired a new lawyer that is finally taking action on behalf of the children and families caught in this chaos. According to Liberian law, this ongoing suspension is illegal and Small World’s lawyer is now taking assertive legal action to get the suspension lifted. We anticipate this progress to also be slow, but hopefully an answer to our heartache.
The purpose of this letter is to make a desperate plea for more funding. The attorney fees are $3500. The cost of maintaining the orphanage to feed the children, compensate the staff, and cover operating expenses to continue to fight this battle is another $3500.
Without $7000, this ministry is in real danger of complete collapse. All adoptions in Liberia for all agencies, both international and domestic are now suspended. As we continue to plead with diplomatic channels for rescue of this process, we need $7000 in the next 30 days to breathe life back into this adoption program.
We are desperate for any available funding and any fundraising program to support these children while we press the government officials both in Liberia and the United States to act within the guidelines of the laws and foreign policies written long ago to keep this process smooth.
As a mother of two of the 15 orphans caught in this crisis, I am exhausted with grief at the days these children have lost while separated from their permanent families. There are also 20 children at the orphanage who are “unmatched” without families promised to them. My fears that these 20 will remain unmatched are becoming a reality. We visit the orphanage often, and each goodbye gets harder. As we have come to know all 35 orphans so well, my heart aches that each time we visit, we represent hope that one day their families will come for them as well. At this point, I fear that hope is false. Staring down a budget crisis with no real answer but the good intentions of friends and strangers is always a last resort. You are our last resort. I hope that this letter finds good hearts with good intentions and a rainy day fund ready to save these kids lives and futures.
With gratitude,
Rachel Smith
Online Donations (select Small World’s Children’s Home):
https://smallworldadoption.com/donate-today/
Mail Checks to:Small World Adoption Agency/ Liberia program
PO Box 1109
Mount Juliet, TN 37121
Venmo option: @Rachel-Smith-964
Adopt Together Profiles for Individual Families in this program:
Bruce Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-bruces
Butler Family:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-butlers-1
Godfrey Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-godfreys
Lipe Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-lipes
McGafee:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-mcgaffees
Smith Family:
https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-smith-s
Whitney Family:
http://adopttogether.org/families/the-whitneys
