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.
I went shopping at the busiest street market in Liberia and got everything I wanted in under 2 hours. That has to be some kind of record.
We are so grateful for all of the encouragement and support we have received.
Donate $1 if you want to see me drive a car in Liberia. It should be entertaining. If at least 10 people donate $1 in the next 48 hours, I will drive a car in Liberia. And Nelson will video it!
Donate here, or Venmo me at @Rachel-Smith-964
I went to church in Liberia! We also had a party at the Tropicana. It was an amazing day.
We still need $8,884.00 to complete our son’s adoption. Thank you so much for all of the encouragement and support so far!
I took my 3 Liberian kiddos to the beach today. It was their first time seeing the ocean. Then, they swam in the pool and played in my hotel room. It was so fun! They had a blast. We ended the day with a birthday party for one of their friends at the orphanage. I cannot tell you how it feels to lift the heart of an orphan by giving them hope and happiness, even for just one day, all I know is that it is so fun to watch. It lifts my soul to see their eyes light up. These 33 kids are amazing.
There are 18 unmatched kids in my children’s orphanage. Meaning they don’t have families who have chosen to adopt them. These kids need sponsorship. They need people to love them and support them while they wait for their family to choose them.
Their ages range from 10 to 1.
Today was a beautiful day of connecting kids with their matched parents on the other side of the earth. Although we continue to endure the delays caused by the Liberian government, nothing could stop the hearts and minds of matched parents connecting to their kids today. #orphanismpanacea
1.2.2025.
Landing in Liberia.
I remember the first time we landed in Liberia, I was so apprehensive. I had heard so many stories and opinions… so we took it slow. 3 kids in tow, Jeremy and I took it slow.
And we met Harrison. Harrison works at the airport in the Fire and Security realm. He’s so nice and greeted us with a smile. “Welcome to Liberia,” he said. I shared it was our first time to visit and the intent of our travel. He walked us through each line. He shielded us in the chaos of baggage claim and walked us through the security steps. Like not verbally explained it, but stayed with us. He showed me where to stand with my kids while he and Jeremy tackled the baggage claim chaos. It’s like being at a market in the street or maybe a concert crowd grass seating during the first opening act. It’s intimidating.
I told Jeremy to get his number so we could let him know when we came back through. When I traveled back and forth from the U.S. alone back to Liberia while Jeremy waited with the kids in Liberia, Harrison met me again when I came back through. His smile the same and my name on a sign. He walked me through again and helped me get my luggage and keep my belongings safe. It was dark when I got there, and Harrison walked me and my stuff all the way to Emmanuel, our driver, who was waiting for me with vigilance and excitement that is so Emmanuel. I felt as protected as a child would be as they transition through caregiver handoffs. Then, off to our favorite hotel, the Tropicana, where again the staff met me, welcomed me, and ushered me to my room and my family.
The spirit of hospitality lives in Liberia in the hearts of its people. Especially those in my age bracket. They remember the war, they cherish the peace, and they defend it with their spirit of hospitality.
Today, as I make my final descent into Liberia, I know Harrison is waiting, because Jeremy already talked to him. I know Nelson, our dear friend and overseer of HOBI, an orphanage for children, waits for me by the sidewalk.
I know my ride to the Tropicana will be fun, and filled with laughter and memories and plans for the week.
I know when I go to visit my kids tomorrow at the Small World Children’s Home that I will be greeted with a stampede of hugs, I will be welcomed as if I never left.
I know that Albert ( the Small World orphanage director) will be visiting government offices and working all connections possible to find a way to give me some solid news of progress while I’m there. I know my daughters will greet me with excitement and my son will likely still have some bewilderment that we are adding him to our family as well, no matter how long it takes.
I know whatever I need and whatever my vision is for the next few days of intentional international parenting, there is a team of seen and unseen people, assembled by God and welcomed by me, to protect me in this next part.
I know that God called me here and has anointed every moment of this trip for His glory.
And for that, above all, I am grateful to be here. Grateful for Liberia, grateful for this process and grateful for the support of so many people, both Liberian and American, that have changed the trajectory of their day, their week and even their life, to help me be the mom to all 6 of my kids that I want to be. The texts, the prayers, the comments, the favors, the driving, the packing, the fundraising and the solidarity is miraculous to receive. Although it is so difficult to walk this plan out, I can’t wait for the smiles and the laughs and the hugs and the new moments of hope not yet lived.
Grateful. Grateful for the front row seat of something so hard, so important and so miraculous. May the mountains blockading our children creating this invisible continental divide be thrown into the sea. But, even if they do not fall into the sea today, I will not change my course. This is exactly where I am supposed to be. As an American citizen and a mother, with friends in Liberia to help me, those evil blockades cannot stop my fun this week. So excited.
Keep…. …going.
For more on our story, click here:
https://bit.ly/adoptfaster
