The Arrington Family adopted two of their children, Andrew and Maillie, on May 3rd, 2006. A few days ago they sent us an email to let us know how they are doing and share their perspectives on family life since adopting.

During this season of thanks we just wanted to send an Arrington family update and let A Child's Hope Foundation know how thankful we are for our children and for you for making it possible for them to be a part of our family. We adopted Andrew and Maillie a year and a half ago from Haiti. Adoption was a wonderful roller coaster ride and we are so happy that we jumped on for the ride.

Andrew and Maillie are amazing children with so much to share. We always thought that we would be helping children by adopting; little did we know how much they would help us. They have taught us so much, along with everyone they meet. They are so full of love and we are happy to say that their futures will be bright.

Max Laforet worked at the Haiti orphanage until last year as a translator, preschool teacher, and a great friend to all he met. He is now attending college in Utah pursuing a degree in education. He recently wrote us to share some of his memories of working with the children.

Hi, I am Max Laforet, a former preschool teacher in A Child's Hope Foundation's adoption center in Haiti. I had a wonderful teaching experience in company of Mary Nielson, the preschool leader, teaching the orphans when I was back home. Mary and I always welcomed healthy and happy preschoolers in the different classes we used to teach. The kids were so eager to learn academic skills for their first time that some of them didn't feel like leaving the preschool during the whole day.

The adoption center in Haiti is not just a crèche where orphans are held until they are adopted, it is a place where hope and better living conditions are provided to these humble and innocent kids with love, affection, and respect. As a preschool teacher, I used to witness the huge difference that was taking place in many of the orphans' lives a few months after they were brought into the orphanage. Most of the time the kids were ill when they arrived at the adoption center, which required the health care section of the crèche to bring them under intensive medical care to get them healthy.

I had the opportunity to visit Angeline, one of the kids that I used to teach, in Colorado with her adoptive family last summer. I stayed with them for about two weeks and I was impressed to see how healthy, developed and active she was. I was a little surprised at how she has bloomed as I remember her being a very shy kid in Haiti. Her mom, Alecia, is the author of an inspiring photo book called "Visualize Haiti." In the book she shows the Haitian kids' living conditions, shares some of her experiences in Haiti, and how lucky she is to be the mother of Angeline.

I had the opportunity to go to the 2nd Annual Haiti Days celebration last month and I was very impressed to see how happy and healthy the kids that I used to teach are. It was a great occasion for the kids to be together and interact with each other.

To learn more about the book Visualize Haiti click here. Sales of Visualize Haiti directly support feeding programs in Haiti.