September Adoption Family: Pioneers to Sierra Leone

Our Adoption Journey to Sierra Leone: September of 2009 God made it very clear that we were supposed to sponsor a little baby that was approx 8-9 months old. He had been abandoned at the front gates of the hotel where our American team was staying. The father was a paraplegic and could no longer care for him. I really felt God calling us to “Sponsor” him and prayed for him daily. In the night while Rich was sleeping I would pray that God would open Rich’s heart to adoption and never said a word about adoption to Rich just kept it between God and I.

We were still trying to decide which child we wanted to sponsor and I sent a couple pictures of children available for sponsorship with Rich as he was going out of town on that Wednesday in Sept 2009 for a business trip. He told me he would look at them that evening once he got to his hotel. I received a call from him that afternoon, and the first words out of his mouth were, “Honey I had some time during lunch to look over the children and I just can’t get that little boy out of my heart”! Yes the little boy he was referring to was the child I felt so strongly about as well. We chatted a minute and I said, “Okay it’s official we are going to sponsor the little baby boy Kevin.”

We hung up and I was in tears, just so happy God had put this little boy into our life! NOT one minute went by and Rich is calling me again, Hello???? I said! He said, “Honey I not only want to sponsor him I fell like God is telling me we are to adopt him!!!” Oh my goodness, yes I was a crying teary eyed mess!!! God had answered my prayer! A prayer that I knew only God could answer!

So here we are in August 2010, I went to visit our little Kevin in May 2010 and he is absolutely precious. The hardest part was leaving him there. We are still in the fundraising process of our journey and are currently anxiously waiting for our I-600a to be approved. Rich will travel with the Educational team going in September 2010 to meet Kevin and serve in the orphanage for 9 days. Our plans are too hopefully have him home by the end of this year, but this is God’s journey and we are just along for the ride!!

We are selling Simply Love Sierra Leone T-Shirts for our adoption costs. If you are interested in purchasing a shirt please email me at tiff.johnson85@gmail.com. Feel free to visit our blog at www.johnsonlove5.blogspot.com

Front of “Man Up” Men’s Shirt