- April 28, 2024
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Shayla and Mark Gerling in Africa, on an outing with Laidi. Courtesy photo
Adia, 3, is held by her mom, Shayla Gerling. Adia had her hair done for the event. Photo by Jacque Estes
Mark Gerling holds up a T-shirt for the event. Photo by Jacque Estes
Shayla Gerling checks the table of items made in Africa for guests to buy at their fundraising party on Monday night. Photo by Jacque Estes
There was a party with a purpose, at the Hammock Community Center, on Monday, June 20. The purpose was to bring Laidi, an 8-year-old boy in Tanzania, to his new home in Flagler County.
Mark and Shayla Gerling, owners of Gerling Travel, have traveled to Africa multiple times, but when Shayla Gerling learned Tanzania had instituted a pilot program, waiving the three-year, live-in country requirement to adopt a child, their trip had a definite goal – to adopt a boy between 5 and 10 years old.
“We talked it over with our children (Adia, 3, and Brady, 6), and our son said he wanted an older brother,” Shayla Gerling said.
The couple started the adoption process in July 2015.
“We were told the adoption process would be six to 12 months,” Shayla Gerling said. “With our
business being in Tanzania, we could adopt this child, educate him, and keep him involved in his culture, and hopefully he would get to go back.”
The couple's African-based travel company is headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania. The orphanage is in the same town.
“The first orphanage had a 4-year-old boy picked out, but we couldn't get in to see him,” Shayla Gerling said. “They always had a reason we couldn't come, and I was only there for a week.”
Their lawyer introduced them to a Canadian woman who was running another orphanage, with 56 children.
“We met with her and she said, 'I would love for all of my kids to have forever families. Come by after the kids are out of school and you can meet all 56 if you want,'” Shayla Gerling said.
The Gerlings heard the stories, and learned the backgrounds of the children, something Shayla Gerling described as, “very emotional and overwhelming, with no idea how to pick one.”
But when they said they were interested in adopting a boy between 5 and 10 years old, Laidi was sent out to meet them.
“We talked about school and everything going on,” Shayla Gerling said. “He had an upbeat and spunky personality and I thought, 'This is a kid who could handle the transition, and all that's going to change in his lifestyle.'”
They told him they were from America. Other than geographical location, all Laidi knew was, America was a place that was great.
“This is where they all want to come, even though they have never seen it, or know anything about it. It's what they've been told,” Shayla Gerling said “A lot of the kids were telling him, 'you're the chosen one, the lucky one.' He is the only one, and the first one to leave, to be adopted, out of the orphanage.”
Last month the Gerlings traveled back to Tanzania for an adoption court hearing. They were able to take Laidi out and let him experience things, like a shower, that to most Americans isn't a big deal.
“He had no clue that he was to stand under the water,” Shayla Gerling said.
Mark Gerling said the couple is preparing for a time of transition for Laidi, who has lived in the orphanage since he was 2 years old.
“When he is here we will get counseling and therapy for him, if he needs it,” Mark Gerling said. “These are things you don't consider, the detachment. Just because they are coming to America with all this fun, goofy stuff, doesn't mean the child isn't going to have some sort of problem in transition."
Laidi has been going to an English school in Tanzania, and is a good student. The Gerlings had hoped everything would be finalized so Laidi would start the school year on time, but the adoption is expected to take another three to six months.
“We plan on putting him in school, but that depends on him,” Shayla Gerling said. “I want to make that decision with him. I am open to homeschooling to get him prepared.”
More than 100 people attended the event on Monday night, and approximatley $4,500 was raised, bringing Laidi one step closer to his U.S. home.
“We Skype with him about once a week,” Mark Gerling said. “There's about an eight-hour difference, and he is getting ready for bed when we call.”
There was a party with a purpose, at the Hammock Community Center, on Monday, June 20. The purpose was to bring Laidi, an 8-year-old boy in Tanzania, to his new home in Flagler County.
Mark and Shayla Gerling, owners of Gerling Travel, have traveled to Africa multiple times, but when Shayla Gerling learned Tanzania had instituted a pilot program, waiving the three-year live-in country requirement to adopt a child, their trip had a definite goal – to adopt a boy between 5 and 10 years old.
“We talked it over with our children (Adia, 3, and Brady, 6), and our son said he wanted an older brother,” Shayla Gerling said.
The couple started the adoption process in July 2015.
“We were told the adoption process would be six to 12 months,” ShaylaGerling said. “With our business being in Tanzania, we could adopt this child, educate him, and keep him involved in his culture, and hopefully he would get to go back.”
The couple's African-based travel company is headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania. The orphanage is in the same town.
“The orphanage had a 4-year-old boy picked out, but we never could get in to see him,” Shayla Gerling said. “They always had a reason we couldn't come, and I was only there for a week.”
Their lawyer introduced them to a Canadian woman who was running another orphanage, with 56 children.
“We met with her and she said, 'I would love for all of my kids to have forever families, come by after the kids are out of school and you can meet all 56 if you want,'” Shayla Gerling said.
The Gerlings heard the stories, and learned the backgrounds of the children, something Shayla Gerling described as, “very emotional and overwhelming, with no idea how to pick one.”
But when they said they were interested in adopting a boy between 5 and 10 years old, Laidi was sent out to meet them.
“We talked about school and everything going on,” Shayla Gerling said. “He had an upbeat and spunky personality and I thought, 'This is a kid who could handle the transition, and all that's going to change in his lifestyle.'”
They told him they were from America. Other than geographical location, all Laidi knew was, American was a place that was great.
“This is where they all want to come, even though they have never seen it, or know anything about it. It's what they've been told,” Shayla Gerling said “A lot of the kids were telling him, 'you're the chosen one, the lucky one.' He is the only one, and the first one to leave, to be adopted out of the orphanage.”
Last month the Gerlings traveled back to Tanzania for an adoption court hearing. They were able to take Laidi out and let him experience things, like a shower, that to most Americans isn't a big deal.
“He had no clue that he was to stand under the water,” Shayla Gerling said.
Mark Gerling said the couple is preparing for a time of transition for Laidi, who has lived in the orphanage since he was 2 years old.
“When he is here we will get counseling and therapy for him, if he needs it,” Mark Gerling said. “These are things you don't consider, the detachment. Just because they are coming to America with all this fun, goofy stuff, doesn't mean the child isn't going to have some sort of problem in transition."
Laidi has been going to an English school in Tanzania, and is a good student. The Gerlings had hoped everything would be finalized so Laidi would start the school year on time, but the adoption is expected to take another three to six months.
“We plan on putting him in school, but that depends on him,” Shayla Gerling said. “I want to make that decision with him. I am open to homeschooling to get him prepared.”
More than 100 people attended the event on Monday night, and approximatley $4,500 was raised, bringing Laidi one step closer to the U.S.
“We Skype with him about once a week,” Mark Gerling said. “There's about an eight-hour difference, and he is getting ready for bed when we call.”
