Savannah-Hope's Adoption -Quick Review

Here is a quick review of sweet Savannah-Hope and her adoption miracle.

Savannah-Hope was found on September 1, 2007. She was just 4 days short of 4 months old. Savannah-Hope was living with her mother who was gravely ill. She weighed only 4 pounds. She was wrapped in rags and in a very fragile medical state.










On September 4, 2007 Savannah-Hope was relinquished by her birth family and.....

...was brought to the Good Samaritan Children's Home in Maponga Malawi.
The Children's Home is run by Baptist Missionary Gardiner Gentry.

The Children's Home is directed by a Malawian woman named Thandie. Thandie personally oversaw the care of Savannah-Hope. Savannah-Hope also had a full time nanny named Violet who lived next door to Thandie in the staff quarters.

Meanwhile on the other side of the Earth, we started the immigration process to bring Savannah-Hope home. It was a much longer and bumpier journey than we had originally thought. Both in the U.S. and in Malawi. I won't go into it here, but the adoption process was a complete leap of faith. I have no doubt that Savannah-Hope's adoption was orchestrated by God.






On November 11, 2007, Savannah-Hope's mother died. We were saddened by the loss, but rejoiced that she made a profession of faith and had accepted Jesus as her personal savior.

On March 4, 2008 exactly 6 months to the day Savannah-Hope was found, we received approval from the United States Homeland Security to adopt her.

On March 17, 2008, I kissed my husband and 4 other children good-bye and headed off for what I thought was a 19 day trip to pick up our sweet Savannah-Hope.

Gotcha! On March 18, 2008 I was able to finally scoop my sweet Savannah-Hope into my arms.

Adoption Day! Savannah-Hope officially became a Johnson on March 20, 2008. I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside the Court room, but this picture was taken just after the hearing.

On March 24, 2008 I went to Savannah-Hope's home village. I was able to see the house that she lived in with her mother and maternal grandmother. I was able to meet her twin sisters Sidala and Tamandani and her brother Jameson. In the picture above, Savannah's paternal uncle is holding Tamandani. I am holding Sidala, Thandie is holding Savannah-Hope and Jameson is standing in front of Thandie. This was an extremely emotional visit. To read more about it click here.


On April 3rd, I received word that our U.S. Immigration paperwork was logged-in at the National Vista Center in the U.S.. Waiting for this to take place is what delayed my trip beyond the scheduled 19 days. Once this took place, the National Visa Center sent the approval to U.S. Embassy in Malawi. Then more waiting.....






Here is a picture of the U.S. Embassy in Malawi. Our paperwork arrived there on April 14th, but we weren't granted an appointment/interview until April 22nd. The interviews went well and we were issued Savannah-Hope's adoption visa the next day.



After 40 long days.....yes FORTY DAYS!!!....my amazing travel partner Mrs. Miller, Savannah-Hope and I boarded a plane headed to America.

FOREVER FAMILY DAY- April 26th, 2008

Thank you Lord for our sweet Savannah-Hope! We are truly blessed!