Sure a trip to the city is nice every now and then- but only every now and then. I remember a time when it would be 3 months without me traveling to Freetown- Now I have been here a good majority of the last month. I spent only Friday-Sunday in Bo over the past two weeks and will still be here in Freetown until at least tomorrow. It is more than just part of the job this time however and it is very worth the noise, constant people, sitting in traffic and the unique smells.
As of my last post you know that our adoption case with Jerry was post poned until this past Wednesday. However what I did not share was that after our last court date our lawyer wrote a letter to the Chief Justice (head judge), the President of Sierra Leone, The president of the Bar Association, Minister of Social Welfare, Coordinator of Jonathan's Child Care Ministries (me- on such a list) and one or two other people stating that the almost 4 year ban on adoptions is not actually legal. (with my busy schedule I honestly do not remember what I have posted in the past nor do I have the time now to read through it so if this is old news just scroll ahead a bit). Here in Salone the adoption process includes going through Social Welfare who does an investigation into the child's situation and then either gives their approval or does n0t- without their approval you cannot go forward with the adoption. Makes sense. So a few years back the then Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children's Affairs initiated the ban on adoption after a good number of fraudulent adoptions. At this point this should have gone through parilament and to the President and then be ratified in order to be a true ban on adoptions- however this was never done. Still the Chief Justice sent a circular to all judges stating that they should NOT hear adoption cases. At this time because of the adoption cases that were not proper the Bar Association remained quiet on the subject and waited to see what Social Welfare would do- however after this much time they are no longer willing to stay silent.
In order to shorten this a little that is what Mr. Margai was fighting after last Wednesday in his letter. I came to Freetown on Monday morning to go to the airport to meet our visitor, Talitha who will be staying with us for three weeks and Jerry came to Freetown Tuesday afternoon after a test at school. Just after he arrived I was called to Mr. Margai's office. His secretary and junior lawyer told me that after meetings all week the Chief Justice had sent out another circular to all judges stating that they shoulc BEGIN HEARING ADOPTION cases. We were all very excited and celebrated together. We all had a hand in this and even when I told Jerry he got a big smile on his face and did his short high pitched laugh. He was a part of opening the door for all other children. You know how many times God asks for our patience and how many times he rewards us with things much greater than we could have hoped for. This is a big deal. It has been a very long time and a long battle to have an adoption case heard and the next day we were getting out chance free and clear- not having to go around any previous order from the Cheif Justice.
Wednesday morning we met at Mr. Margai's office and he again congratulated us on that victory and we all thanked each other for the part played. It was great to see Jerry speaking to a man in such a position here in Sierra Leone and feeling like they had worked together to accomplish an act that would help many other children. Jerry is proud and was well spoken. These two men so far apart in age but from the same part of the country have something even more to connect them together. Each time we go to Bo Jerry proudly talks to his friends about Mr. Margai- puffs out his chest a little and tips his head back and tells all who will listen (and debate with him) how great this man is. So for Mr. Margai to congratulate and thank Jerry on Tuesday... it meant a great deal to him and I know he will carry that with him for a long time to come.
Shortly after we headed to the court house and met Mommy Benya (Jerry's grandmother), Boi Benya- (Jerry's biological mother) and Joe Benya (Jerry's uncle) already there. Joe told us how they prayed at church on Sunday- they prayed when Mommy and Boi arrived from the village Tuesday, and they prayed before leaving that morning. What an encouragement. They all felt strongly that this would be the day.
We waited in the corridor together until we were called into the Judge's Chambers. It was not a large court room but her office. We were in there with our lawyers- 3 of them, and 2 other lawyers along with Boi, Jerry and I. Mr. Margai presented our case and spoke for about 10-15 minutes or so and then the judge's legal assistant who spoke Mende asked Boi if she understood what was happening and if she agreed with it. She spoke very clearly and said that she has not been caring for jerry since he was 2 1/2 years old and is not able to care for him now. She wants him to have the chance to have a family with Mommy Brenda and Hindalo (Jerry's father's Mende name) and she wants it to be forever. She understands what this adoption means and she wants it to happen. Wow- what a special thing to say. After this the judge just continued to write on her piece of paper. The same exact type of paper that the denial for Jerry's adoption was written on last time. I remained calm and just prayed- this would be different.
We were told it could be a week or two before we received a decision. However the longer she sat there just writing I had a feeling we would be hearing her answer today. With all the doors that God had opened for us to get to this point, with all the hurdles we had jumped and with all the prayers that had gone up and the confident, peaceful feeling he had given so many of us I just had to believe that her decision would be favorable. But still I held my breath and prayed. After at least 15 minutes of just writing and silence (yes 15 sounds short but try waiting for something, watching someone, sitting in silence for a full 15 minutes- it is not short), Justice Showers spoke. She spoke directly to CF Margai and said that "In light of this application and the special circumstances of the juvenile, in light of the mother's condition, in light of... " so many things- now as soon as she started saying 'in light of' and laid out the conditions she did- I knew it had to be a yes but as always I had a slight smile and still held my breath- I mean after 4 years of not getting the answer we desired there was always a chance...
Finally she said the words we so wanted to hear "The application is granted" She then went on to read a few conditions and we could all smile and say thank you. Jerry stood up in front of her to say thanks and even Boi who doesn't understand English must have understood the side squeeze I gave her as the judge was talking as she said thank you as well. It was a quick rush out of the room so after my thanks on the way out that was the end of it all. We met back at Mr. Margai's office and he started preparing the official court order. He asked me to wait in Freetown until the next day to collect it so I quickly got Talitha, Jerry, and Kate ready to head back to Bo so Jerry could finish his school exams and Talitha could start work at the hospital and then I stayed in Freetown yet again.
How excited was I the next morning when I held the signed court order in my hands. It is finished- Jerry Benya Lowe's adoption is FINAL. While he and I were walking on the street I said that to him- "Jerry you are finally a Lowe"- he responded to me, "I have been a Lowe for a long time." He is so right. In their hearts- all of them- Jerry has been a part of the Lowe family for years- it is just that we have a piece of paper that can now start the process of bringing him home to his family.
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