Some examples of coules who previously adopted a child with the help of TAS.
We are French and were living in Tanzania for the last 10 years and we have always wanted to adopt a child and obviously from Tanzania.
When Myriam got pregnant we decided to start adoption process. After we received the French agreement for adoption, we went to the social welfare in Dar. Living in Zanzibar we wanted to adopt there but because Zanzibar is under Muslim laws and regulation, it was not possible so we went to mainland Tanzania to Upendo Orphanage in Moshi.
In Moshi we met Sister Emaculata in charge of the orphanage. She is just an incredible person, full of love for all the children. From Moshi we came back with Mélissa. She was 13 months old (our natural son Orian was 9 months old at this time). This was in November 2005.
Now Mélissa is 2 and half years old, she smiles and speaks all the time. She started to go the French school 2 month ago and she loves it. Orian and Mélissa are growing up like twins are they can not be separated. For us, it is just happiness to have both of them.
Testimonial by Amy and Ben Hathaway
"We are British, but have lived in Mwanza, Tanznaia for 4 and a half years. Initially we worked at the International School here in Mwanza. We started the adoption process soon after we arrived and at the time, we were volunteering at Starehe Children's Home in the evenings.
It was there that we met Barnabas - our oldest child. With the help of Brooke, we adopted him when he was 2 and a half years old. He is a loving, kind and clever little boy and is top in his class at the International School. We soon decided to start the adoption process for our second child. We adopted Tia when she was 7 months old from Cradle of Love Baby Home in Arusha. She was living with Davona and Max Church in their home and was much loved by them.
Tia is now 3 years old and a real joy. She is head strong, argumentative and independant - and truly beautiful! Since then, we have opened Forever Angels - a Baby Home for Orphaned, Abandoned and HIV positive babies and toddlers. We currently care for 12 infants and our main aim is to reunify them with their biological families, or to help to facilitate their adoptions. We fell in love with 6 month old Molly, one of the first babies to arrive at Forever Angels, and we are now pursuing her adoption too. We now have a family of 3 wonderful children and have never felt more happy or fulfilled."
Testimonial by Peter Cardiello and Soyeon Kim
"Peter and I talked about adoption as a way to build a family from our first conversation. Nine years later we decided to pursue it and contacted Brooke Montgomery. Brooke knew the Tanzanian system inside and out and held our hands through the entire process of talking to social workers, orphanage directors, and of cancelled and rescheduled court appearances, and immigration in Tanzania and the U.S. Rebecca came to us 8.5 months old, extremely healthy, and happy and we all bonded immediately. After many court appearances we are now delighted to say we are now legally a family."
In January 2004, I began caring forabandoned and orphaned infants into my own home. Before long we had 12 little ones occupying our house! By then I needed some help during the day with their care, and soon after we moved them into a guest house that had just been built on our compound. Then we had round the clock care for these babies! However, there was one baby that came during the time they were in our house, that did not move with the others! She was 8 months old and only weighed 8 lbs! Totally skin and bone! I didn't think she would survive. Not only did she survive, but she thrived, and "wormed" her way into my heart.
My husband was clear to me that he did not want to raise any more children (we had six), so I nodded that I understood him, and then began to pray! Within a few months, he said to me, "Well, we had better ask her birthfather if we can adopt her!" The birthfather was very open to the idea, as he knew we had saved her life and he wanted her to continue to be in our home. He signed the paperwork, and is always welcome to visit. Last January (2006) we had our first scheduled court date. It was postponed. That happened six times during the year and we were quite disappointed. However, we know that God's timing is right and that He knows what is best. We have found out that that particular judge has been moved and there is a new one presiding over adoptions now. That could have been the reason! At any rate, we are still waiting for a court date and it is now February 2007! The important thing is, that we have our darling daughter living with us, and she has already made two trips to the States with us.