Samf Family Haitian Adoption
God planted a deep-seated desire to adopt long ago. My mother was one of seven children, adopted out from a neglectful, abusive home, and none of her six biological siblings went with her. I witnessed firsthand her longing for a sibling and heard hardship stories of foster care. My desire grew to bring sibling children home to a good family one day.
When Jon and I were engaged in 2006, we discussed and agreed on being open to adoption down the road. Seven years later, after being blessed with three biological children, we began to discuss and pray for direction regarding adoption to grow our family; we prayed for confirmation of the calling to adopt, whether to pursue domestic or international adoption, and choosing the right agency.
One Sunday, our new Associate was introducing his family, including four biological children and one newly adopted daughter. As we sat in church listening to their recent adoption story, tears flowed and our hearts longed to bring home an adopted blessing. On our way home from church, Jon said, “I really believe we need to pursue adoption!” Our mutual excitement soared as we felt answered prayer confirmation to grow our family this way.
Our prayers continued as we researched domestic and international adoptions. Our hearts were broken for Haitian orphans as we learned about the dire circumstances of many children: starvation, disease, child slavery, child trafficking, and third world poverty living conditions. Another prayer confirmed, we began then to research adoption agencies to bring home our Haitian children. Wanting to find a good agency fit for our family, we researched seventeen agencies over the following year. In February of 2016, we signed a contract with A Love Beyond Borders (ALBB) and officially began our adoption journey! We completed our home study with Caring For Kids, Inc. and submitted our dossier paperwork through ALBB to Haiti in March 2017.
Looking back on our adoption journey that has led us to this point, I can recall sharing with Jon my overwhelming gratefulness stating, “We are so blessed for God’s direction and provision in growing our family! I’m so excited for our next steps in bringing home our Haitian children!”
2016
February - Started application with adoption agency A Love Beyond Borders (LBB)
October - Home study/dossier in process; contracted for home study with Caring For Kids
2017
January - Home study completed; final dossier preparations with LBB
March - dossier submitted to Haiti through LBB for referral
2018
Oct/Nov - LBB gives us a potential referral of three siblings, ages 7, 5, and 2 years! We prayerfully consider & agree to advocate for them with LBB as our children!
2019
June - We are “matched” with our children and now waiting the official referral to be sent from Haiti to our agency.
Sept -Due to violence in Haiti, government offices have not been open for our completed referral to be sent. Please pray for peace, provision for our kids, & for referral to come!
After we receive the official referral, we travel for 15 day socialization trip and then return for legal/immigration to finish process. Return to pick-up possibly Spring/Summer of 2020.
