Our very first US adoption was finalized on January 24, 2008! It was
Stephon Zoundri McAlister!!
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Stephon's story is rather
typical for orphans here. His mother was very young and not well mentally. She became
pregnant and it was not possible to determine who the father was. Because of strain this
caused in the family and because of the mental state of the mother, she left the family
courtyard and was living here and there, even sometimes on the street of one of the major
cities of Burkina.
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When Stephon was 9 or 10 months old, out of desperation, his mother
abandoned him at Social Action, the social arm of the Burkina government, and he was
placed in our orphanage.
We quickly noticed
that Stephon had a problem with one of his eyes and that he walked with a limp. Through
working with another mission organization, we were able to get Stephon to the States on
November 13, 2003 for a diagnosis and for medical care. Stephon was placed in the home of
Steven and Rosemary McAlister.
The McAlisters had
been talking and praying about international adoption and after having Stephon in their
home, they asked whether he was available for adoption. A home study was done here in
Burkina and the conclusion of the study was that he was available for adoption. A home
study was done for the McAlisters and they were approved as an adoptive family.
On June 9, 2006,
Stephon's case passed through the Burkina courts and he was declared adopted by the
McAlisters. Then, on January 24, 2008, his case passed through the Maine court and the
final phase of the adoption was completed.
For his day in court,
Stephon requested that the family dress in their 'African clothes' which were made for
them in Yako. They sang a song entitled 'Yaa Bamba' in Moore which means 'We're leaning on
Jesus'. The judge said that he had never seen an adoption proceeding quite like this one.
Many family members and friends attended the event and celebrated with the family in this
declaration of adoption.
Stephon still has some
physical and emotional issues that he and his family are dealing with. Without a doubt,
the love of our Father can be seen in the placement of Stephon in the McAlister family. He
is a very special boy and God has placed him in a very special family.
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