News : Haefner family adds new member

First official act as a Haefner is to see where Grandpa works

Attorney Ray Lough, Kevin and Julie Haefner and Attorney John Mossman present their case

The Haefner family adds new member to the family

Adoption proceedings are lengthy and sometimes adoptees would rather take pictures

Most Tuesday mornings are routine for me as I enter the courthouse. I lug my computer and camera up to the second floor to record the Supervisor's meeting. But last week something special was about to happen that I had no clue was going to happen.

A special little girl was officially adopted.

Thanks to advertising by the American World Adoption Agency and a Steven Curtis Chapman concert, a little girl that lived in an orphanage in Haiti now has a new family in Iowa.

Kevin and Julie Haefner, added another little girl to their family last Tuesday morning. After 6 years of filling out paperwork, having home studies, going to Des Moines to be fingerprinted, updating paperwork and multiple trips to Haiti, the couple finally were allowed to finalize the adoption of their daughter Guerlandie.

Julie shared with the court, that the couple submitted their application in January of 2013, then spent the next 10 months building their dossier which then had to be translated so that it could be read in Haiti.

The couple had heard that it was harder for older children to find homes, so the couple requested a child that was from ages 2-5 years old.

They were finally matched with a child in October of 2017, so in November Kevin and Julie took a trip to Haiti to spend some time with their future daughter in what they call the "bonding trip." The couple stayed on the grounds of the orphanage in what is called a "crèche" or a guesthouse. The couple was able to spend the day with their future daughter and then she'd return to her room at about 2:30 to remain there until the next morning when they would again see her.

In August of 2018, the complete Haefner family spent 6 days at the orphanage with G as they refer to their daughter so that all of the children could see where G came from and could understand how she lived.

While the family waited on the application, and other paperwork to be approved, they had sent videos to Haiti for G to see and listen to. The family made sure that she also had pictures of her future family, and were pleased to see that they were placed beside her bed.

In May G's visa was finally issued, and two days later the couple flew down to be with her while things were finished on that end. On this trip, she could finally stay in the crèche with the couple, as their daughter. There was a going-away party for G at the orphanage, followed by an early morning flight out of Haiti the next day.

As G has adjusted to living in the United States, one of the hardest things for her has been sleeping alone in her room. She has been used to rooming with 15 others in her room as well as a nanny. One of the things that she does to comfort herself was to repeat the words in the videoes that the family had sent down for her to listen to.

As Kevin took his turn to testify before the judge, he became emotional as he spoke of bonding with the new addition to their family.

The couple was represented by Attorney John Mossman, and representing Guerlandie was Attorney Ray Lough both Vinton lawyers who agreed that this adoption would be best for the little girl.

After about half an hour into the hearing, the judge asked the older siblings if they agreed that this was acceptable and then turned to the grandparents, Rick and Pam Primmer to ask if they approved also, and as they agreed as well, and the Haeffner's adopted their little girl.

As the new family posed for pictures little G made sure to tell everyone to smile for the cameras.

Julie said that the culture shock for little G has been unbelievable but that she has been adapting well. Several of the adoptive families reunite the children in a sort of reunion. Sometimes the children remember one another and as Julie said, "other times they just know in their heart they were once a family together."

While Haiti is a lovely country, and G was happy there, she will be blessed in America with an education which many Haitians can't afford. "Having Guerlandie home has opened my eyes to how blessed we are and the things we take for granted! I am thankful for electricity, fresh water, and food because many Haitians don't have those three life-sustaining elements available" said Julie.

Being the proud grandpa, Benton County Supervisor Rick Primmer took the family next door where the other Supervisors decided to wait to conduct their meeting having no time-sensitive matters to discuss. The Supervisors and Auditor were present to welcome the little girl as an official Benton County resident.