A Bargain Hunter story in 2006 featured the trials of Rita, who began adoption proceedings in Sierra Leone in May 2003 for her daughter, Cinda, then a resident of the All as One orphanage.
Cinda was six at the time and had lived at the orphanage for about one year. Records showed she was born in a camp for displaced persons (like a refugee camp) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The West African country had been ravaged by the effects of a horrific civil war that ended in 2002.
It took seven long years, but the red tape finally cleared leaving the new Tuscarawas County resident, who arrived in the United States in May, settling into her new family and ready to celebrate the Christmas season.
After Cindas adoption was denied in 2005, the situation in Sierra Leone changed in June of 2008 when Rita received the phone call she had been waiting for. Steven, the orphanage director, had talked to the judge who said if I could get there quickly it would be approved, said Rita. She changed everything on her schedule and was on a plane to Sierra Leone within days of receiving the news.
A U.S. State Department field investigation of the adoption is then conducted and usually takes three to six months, after which Cinda would be issued a visa to come to the U.S. One of the people the U.S. hired to do the investigation took the money and disappeared. This put the investigation behind another nine months, Rita said.
Finally almost two years after the adoption was approved in Sierra Leone, Steven flew with Cinda to New York City so Rita did not have to make another trip overseas. I was scared about riding on the plane but when we arrived safely, I was so happy, said Cinda.
Cinda, 13, is adapting to her new life quite well. She got involved in things right away, said Rita. Its asking a lot when a kid turns 13 to ask them to go half way around the world and start a new life.
Theres one thing Cinda doesnt like though. Its coming now – cold weather, she said. The temperatures in Sierra Leone rarely dipped below seventy.
Though she has her own bedroom now, she doesnt sleep there. After sharing a room with eight other girls in Sierra Leone, Cinda is more comfortable sleeping in one of the bunk beds in the room of her new little sisters, Lizzie, 8, and Kristina, 6.
Both Lizzie and Kristina said they like having a big sister because they like having someone else to play with.
Cinda sometimes has a little difficulty with English, although English was the official language of Sierra Leone it was usually only spoken in school. Outside of school they spoke a language called Krio, said Rita.
The studies between the schools here and the ones in Sierra Leone were similar but varied. They covered different things like malaria in their health classes, but we wouldnt cover that here, said Rita.
I like to sing and the subjects I like best are religion and spelling, said Cinda. She took religion classes in school in Sierra Leone. She dreams big and would like to be a singer and a doctor when she grows up.
I miss my friends and the people (referred to as aunties and uncles) that worked at the center, said Cinda.
It would be hard not to miss them; she was over there so long. There are a lot of good people there, said Rita. Cinda has cell phone numbers of some of the aunties; she occasionally calls them but the rates can be costly.
After enjoying Thanksgiving with her new family including numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, Cinda is looking forward to the Christmas season. I like it when the family gets together, said Cinda, who especially enjoys playing games including her favorite - volleyball.
In Sierra Leone, the orphanage decorated for the season with a Christmas tree, but presents were scarce. We didnt have any presents except those sent by people overseas, said Cinda.
Cinda and her sisters are excited about decorating their home together this Christmas.
Im proud of how brave Cinda has been and of the way Lizzie and Kristina have welcomed her into our family, said Rita who added that the sisters get along very normally. They get along well sometimes and sometimes they have spats, but overall they do very well.
Numerous stars aligned to form this unique family and getting Cinda home was the last piece in the puzzle. It feels right. Were all finally home and we can work through whatever we need to work through together with love, said Rita.
