Jeremy and Rachel Smith

Updates

• Update 238

  Adopt from Liberia. Day 853.

  July 29, 2024
  We have been back in the US for 27 days. It feels like an eternity away from our Liberian daughters. We appreciate all the encouragement and support we have received from so many people. We hope to have good news soon. Number of Days Home from Liberia: 27 Number of Days we lived in Liberia: 139 Number of Days Adopting from Liberia: 853 Number of Days in Orphan Care: 1,194 Shop Noonday Collection for Hope of Blessing International (HOBI) orphanage: https://bit.ly/noondayforHOBI Venmo option to donate to HOBI orphanage: https://www.venmo.com/u/HOBICHILDREN YouTube link to subscribe: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhvmF_X0zoUuAwUF7WzqlfZaskzIBmns2&si=0SE6xFYPJoXfkGIY Click here to make a tax deductible donation to assist with our adoption expenses: https://bit.ly/adoptfaster Venmo option... Read moreto 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

• Update 237

  Day 834. Adopt from Liberia.

  July 10, 2024

  We have been back on US soil for 8 days. Still no change in Liberia.

• Update 236

  Day 830. Adopt from Liberia.

  July 5, 2024
  Number of Days Home from Liberia: 4 Number of Days we lived in Liberia: 139 Number of Days of Daily Videos: 187 Number of Days Adopting from Liberia: 830 Number of Days in Orphan Care: 1,170 Venmo option to donate to HOBI orphanage: https://www.venmo.com/u/HOBICHILDREN 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://noondaycollection.com/rachelsmith-smithadoption 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... Read moreFamily: https://adopttogether.herokuapp.com/families/the-smith-s   Whitney Family: http://adopttogether.org/families/the-whitneys

• Update 235

  

  Day 825. Adopt from Liberia. “Don’t worry. Mom will be back for you.”

  July 1, 2024
  “Don’t worry. Mom will be back for you. And then…” This statement is a promise I have heard my 10 year old American daughter say to my Liberian daughters for 2 weeks on each visit leading up to our exit from Liberia. We came to visit. We hoped we would adopt them on this trip. We knew it was a long shot. We knew they needed us. We were concerned about the financial and physical status of the orphanage due to lack of adoption throughput, but couldn’t get a straight answer on what they needed. Answer discovered: Nearly everything. They needed... Read morenearly everything. And we made a list and facilitated fixing nearly everything. It took 4 months. “Never assume the person of peace is unskilled at war.”-unknown I do not mean I will take up arms and storm the gates of all government offices that hold a piece of paper that I need to free my daughters from the captivity of orphanism. It’s more complicated than that. I can promise you my war skill set has been in full utilization for the last 5 months. These kids need more help. Speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves in this instance requires a massive army. This war for their futures is fought on the battlefield of diplomacy and integrity and corruption and poverty. As those 4 entities encircle each other in a cyclone of chaotic political conflict, we must be heard above it. But who is the “we”? And what needs to be heard? It is complicated. We can do hard things. You can do hard things. (Thank you, Kate, for this affirmation). It is not coincidental that the brightest minds and the most determined hearts are those that surround us today and every day in this crisis we find ourselves in. It is not coincidence that the mountain we want thrown into the sea is fighting against its removal. Even in Star Wars, we learn, “the dark rises, and the light to meet it”. To those of you that are that are the brightest minds and the most determined hearts, thank you for being here. I have no idea what will solve this situation to restore adoptions for the children of Liberia. I do know that spreading the word and continuing to come up with new ideas is what we need right now. We need news outlets, and legal advice and people willing to get on planes to meet with government officials both in the US and Liberia. We need funding to support a program not designed to survive a 6 month + suspension. We need new strategies and new avenues to free these children from the orphanism that wants to hold them hostage. We need new ideas. Creative ideas. This photo is the hand of my 10 year old holding that hand of my 6 year old, promising, “Don’t worry. Mom will be back for you. And then, you will get to come home.” Home. What does that even mean to a 6 year old who entered orphan care at the age of 3 in a state of severe malnourishment? Mom. What did that mean before 5 months ago? To my 6 year old, “Mom” is the word she knows she can now use when wants something. Right now she whispers it, like a question she is not sure she will get answered. “Mom?” To my 10 year old, “Mom” is the person she wants her little sister to equate with freedom, hope, home, the future and everything else that lies ahead that she sees, that this orphan before her could never see. My 10 year old says “mom” with confidence and expectations of results. We have a history. A whole decade of it. But my 6 year old Liberian daughter understands “Mom” has battled for her and her sister and her friends for 5 months. From crayons and markers to cookies to hugs to solar panels to clothes to hope, this person she calls “Mom” is in charge of coming back. My 6 year old Liberian daughter could never understand the lengths I have gone and will go to give her a safe and peaceful future. My 10 year old daughter fully understands these “lengths” because she just lived them. For 2 years, she has lived them alongside us. For 5 months, she has lived in Liberia. We need more help. While we wage war against the evil in this world that plots death and destruction for my Liberian daughters, please continue to join us. Pray if you pray, but know this, I prefer you pray for God to show you what action He wants you to take on behalf of these orphans, my daughters and their peers. Don’t just pray for God to fix it. Pray for God to equip you and direct you on how to wage war on their behalf. The powers of this world cannot win here. Show me your skill set. Tell me what you would do to fix this. We need everyone. Talk to your friends. This is a war for the future of children in poverty all over the world. International adoption is under unprecedented attack. If we do not participate in their rescue and permanent safety in families, I can assure you that the evil of this world will participate in their recruitment for destruction. And that destruction will land on your doorstep, one way or another. “Don’t worry. Mom will come back for you. And then…” If I am going to fulfill this promise made from one of my children to the other, I will need a massive army. I look forward to your ideas. I am grateful for your help. -Rachel

• Update 234

  Day 823. Adopt from Liberia.

  June 28, 2024
  We took our Liberian daughters to a fancy restaurant today for our farewell lunch. It was so much fun to be out and about as a family. We are beyond sad to leave them here. We need the Liberian and US government officials to do better. As we journey home without them, we anticipate 2 more trips to Liberia that only one parent will go and the other will stay in the US working to keep our lights on in Florida. Any help in any form is always appreciated. We have no idea how long this will take or how... Read moremuch money it will cost. We are grateful for the hospitality of so many Liberians during the last 5 months of living here. We will miss them and are forever indebted to them for their assistance and compassion.
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