Home is where the heart is; African girl finds family in Troy

Florence Laflin is at home in Troy. The stork didn't bring her, but she did come on a big iron bird. She flew on an airplane from Monrovia, Liberia to her new American family in Montana.

Florence is almost three years old. She joins an older sister, Madison, who is six and three brothers: Jackson, 16 months, Levi, who is 3 and 5-year-old Ethan.

Jon and Kelly Laflin felt led by their faith to share their home with a child from the war torn country of Liberia and about the same time Florence's mother realized she could not care for her little girl. She did the most loving thing she could by taking the child to an orphanage in Monrovia. Almost immediately, Kelly and Jon were referred but the paper work took another 10 months.

Expenses for the adoption and the flight to bring Florence home were a major hurdle. They were able to get grants from an adoption agency, donations from church and financial help from family members. Jon has a printing business that he operates out of his home and Kelly makes natural cosmetics and is trying to develop a market for those items, but they have adopted a life of simplicity so that they can parent their children full time.

Purchasing foods in bulk quantity, shopping at thrift shops, and home schooling are just some of the life styles they have choosen.

Jon said, "We prayed a lot and it seemed we were meant to have our new little girl because doors that seemed to be shut just kept opening."

A social worker from the adoption agency in Twin Bridges came to Libby to do the home study and when the Laflins were told they could have Florence, Kelly stayed home with the children and Jon flew to Monrovia.

English is spoken in Liberia, but the dialect is difficult to understand. During the first month Florence communicated her needs in the same way a newborn might. She cried when she was hungry, uncomfortable and tired, but she is beginning to say Momma, Daddy, dog, and a few other toddler words.

The 22-hour flight was extremely hard for Jon because Florence just didn't understand what was going on. When the stewardess brought the food cart down the aisle of the airplane Florence thought it was all for her.

The biggest hardship Florence faced in her home country was hunger. Just recently, when she left food on her plate and was "all done" the family celebrated her trust that there would be more food the next time.

The adjustment at home in Troy has gone well for everyone. Jackson, the baby of the family, was jealous at first and felt displaced, but has accepted his new sister. The others are glad to have another playmate and big sister Madison tries to mother her.

Florence sleeps in her parents' bedroom where she can see them if she wakes during the night and she has not had any nightmares. She has come to accept that water comes from a faucet and the button on the wall turns on the lights.

She plays with battery operated toys and pushes the buttons that control lights and noise just like she was born into the electronic world she now inhabits.

At first, Florence was terrified of the families' big chocolate lab, but now she cuddles up with the dog sometimes.

Florence does not show any signs of malnutrition. She appears to be healthy and bright and she is adjusting well to her new family after only two months.

The Laflins have had no second thoughts about their choice to expand their family through overseas adoption and they would be willing to talk about the process and their personal experiences with any other families that might be called to take a child into their home. They can be reached at Laflinprinting.com or at 295-4391.