Jeremy and Rachel Smith

Updates

• Update 282

  Day 1,122. Adopt from Liberia. Little Miracles Matter.

  April 24, 2025

  Water Fountain Project is Fully Funded!! Thank you to all of you who helped make this miracluous project possible. 2 of our Liberian children will celebrate birthdays in May, and they will do so with clean, cold water, free of any debris or insects, from their personalized cups with lids and straws.

  While we wait for battles to continue in the adoption world out of our control, we are grateful for this opportunity to serve the children at Small World Children’s Home with unlimited cups of clean cold water. May God continue to bless these kids through the willingness and generosity of the adults that choose to love them unconditionally.

  Please contact us for ways to help with more miraculous projects!

  #orphanismpanacea
  Keep…. …going.

• Update 281

  

  Dat 1,121. Adopt from Liberia.

  April 23, 2025

  Yesterday was discouraging. We received a letter from USCIS (United States Immigration Services) that they have added a fee for us to pay for our son’s adoption. This additional fee did not exist 2 1/2 years ago when we paid our “tax” to USCIS for our daughters’ adoption. It’s supposed to be a one time fee of $775.00 (which we paid in 2022).

  So, Jeremy pulled out our old checkbook that we only use for adoption fees and wrote the check, filled out the form and I fought back the urge to vomit at yet another fee that only hurts the kids these agencies claim to want to help.

  It is an extra $455.00 fee because Liberia is a non-Hauge country. Those of you that know about Hague, know it’s a problem as well.

  Both the U.S. government and the Liberian government continue to find ways to hold our children hostage in this perpetual state of orphanism.

  This week, Jeremy decided to wear an adoption tshirt to Easter Sunday church that we created and sold for a friend’s adoption (Deszoe) a few years ago. I read this statement out loud that I wrote and had printed on the back of the shirt. And I believe it still. Because no matter what happens or how long this takes or if we end up parenting internationally until they are adults, the people around us will do this.

  ADOPTION SUPPORTER
  =
  A PERSON WHO INTENTIONALLY
  ENABLES A FAMILY TO REACH AN IMPOSSIBLE SS$
  GOAL THAT FAMILY
  PURSUED ON PURPOSE
  WITH THE FIRM
  BELIEF
  THAT PEOPLE ARE GOOD WITH
  GOOD INTENTIONS AND THERE WILL
  ALWAYS BE ENOUGH
  GOOD INTENTIONS
  AVAILABLE FOR JUST ONE MORE
  KID TO BE ADOPTED.
  NO MATTER WHAT THE $$$.

  Thanks for being here.
  Keep…. …going.

  I wish that $455.00 could have been used for a water fountain for our kids, instead of a ransom for what can only be described as a hostage situation at this point.

• Update 280

  Day 1,119. Adopt from Liberia.

  April 21, 2025

  Update:
  A couple of months ago, the Liberian Government expressed its desire to resume working with our agency on adoptions. They outlined tasks to be completed by our agency within 30 days and asked to formally inspect the Children’s Home where our kids live.
  Our agency notified us that they have completed all the tasks set by the Liberian Government over a month ago. The Liberian government did not completely their inspection within the 30 day timeframe, but did finally complete it before April 15th. Our agency needs a letter from the Liberian government stating they are in good standing and can resume adoption activities. This letter will then be sent to IAAME, the US agency that oversees adoption activities.

  We are hoping and praying every day for a letter of clearance from thr Liberian government so we can resume our adoption process. Next steps for our daughters’ adoptions are simple. Our son’s paperwork will take more time.

  In the meantime, we have the opportunity to assist with a project to install a water fountain at our children’s home. They do have well water that is safe, but this will provide a cleaner source, and keep mosquitoes out of their drinking water.

  We appreciate your continued support for our family, both on this continent and in Africa.

• Update 279

  Day 1097.

  March 30, 2025

  Day 1097. Adopt from Liberia.
  This update is complicated. Our adoption is complicated. Choosing to do this “right thing” is complicated. At times, it feels like everything is stacked against us, and choosing to provide a home to 3 kids that need a home is just not something we are going to be allowed to do. As the days flip by on the calendar, my ability to sleep decreases. We have done all we can do, and we believe the trajectory for our kids’ futures as US citizens is the plan God has provided for them. We also acknowledge that we live in a fallen world, and with those fallibilities, comes the loss of God’s original ideal plan, that they would remain with their family of origin and reside in their country of origin.

  101 days ago, we officially inquired to our adoption agency to adopt a boy we bonded with in Liberia while on our 5 month “bonding visit” to meet our Liberian daughters. It has been exactly 1000 days since our Liberian daughters consented for us to adopt them.

  As I continue to look at numbers and patterns, hoping for symbols or signs this paper pregnancy will end, I also acknowledge that my tears, my heartache, my indignation as a parent, and even my frustration as a US citizen, are all known by God. As His daughter, I will continue to move forward.

  As a parent, I know that my Liberian kids are in the early stages of “attachment” and that it is important for their trust in me that I do my best to keep my promises to see them every 6 months. That is an expensive promise.

  The last update we have received simply states that the department within the Liberian government (the MOG) needs to do a site visit to our children’s orphanage, and then we can resume adoption activities. This has been the update for the last 45 days or so.

  Our home study is complete, and our paperwork to add our son is pending.

  We have #phillthebox load #29 ready to leave our house with no extra room in our garage (thank you to those who continue to lay your offerings of your possessions on our driveway).

  We have decided to support Hope of Blessing International (HOBI) long term, as a way to keep our children connected to Liberia, their country of origin. HOBI is a non-profit 501c3 founded by 2 US citizens, who were born in Liberia, and are committed to exact change for the futures of 30 children that we believe will take up leadership roles in the Liberia they will inherit. We believe they are going to do a great job.

  We still need more funding because each month incurs more fees…

  We still need more textiles and more Noonday purchases and more words of encouragement and more keep…. …going sentiments.

  We still need support on all aspects of this one right thing we are trying to do.

  I have been broken and put back together by this process more times than I can count.

  It is an honor and a privilege to parent both our Liberian born children, and our American born children. Although we hope to parent all of them on the same continent soon, we are grateful for today. Today, they are all healthy and surrounded by safety and peace, with guards on every corner to keep them that way.

  And for that, we are grateful.

  Keep… …going.

  Psalm 23
  A psalm of David.
  1 
  The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
  2 
      He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
  3 
      he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
  4 
  Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[or the valley of the shadow of death)
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
  5 
  You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
  6 
  Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

• Update 278

  Day 1067. Adopt from Liberia. Keep going.

  February 28, 2025

  We received such a positive update yesterday! Now we need to move as quickly as possible to find the remaining $6320.00 for our son’s fees. If you live in Tennessee or Florida, contact us if you have any textiles to donate!

  To shop Noonday Collection to benefit our adoption, click here: https://noondaycollection.com/rachelsmith-audrey

  We are so grateful to everyone for watching and sharing our videos and our story.

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