Baby Michael was adopted by Bill & Pam Rapier, a family from North Carolina and are missionaries working in South Africa. 

They write: “We have not met but we are very grateful to you for your love and concern for abandoned children in South Africa. Because of Acres of Love, we were able to adopt Michael into our family.

Let me take a moment to introduce us.  We are Bill and Pam Rapier and are missionaries working in Southern Africa, living in Pretoria.  About 14 months ago we became a place of safety for an abandoned baby boy from Johannesburg.  At that time we had a 23-year-old son in the US Navy, a daughter 21 with us in SA and another daughter in her final year at school.  We felt that God placed Andrew into our family, despite the fact that we were more ready for grandchildren than to 'start over' with another baby.  After just a few weeks it became evident that we must adopt Andrew because we had grown to love him so.  At this time he was also HIV positive, and thus unadoptable.  We have since had the viral test done at 7 months and he is HIV negative, for which we praise our God.

We began to realize that Andrew would be raised as an only child, and of another race; so we were impressed with the need to have a sibling for Andrew, and thus also be a help to another of the thousands of babies abandoned each month.  That is how we came in contact with Acres of Love.  The social worker we had used in Pretoria heard about Michael at Acres of Love and contacted us.  The people at Acres of Love were so helpful, and we were so pleased to see a lovely, clean, cheery home and all the wonderful volunteers caring for the children.  We applaud you for all you have done.  Someone from our church in Pretoria, who had taken care of Andrew for us while we were away, was impressed to adopt also.  (They eventually adopted a two-year-old child from Acres of Love).  Both our families have been blessed beyond words.  We consider it such a privilege to be able to raise these little guys.

Our youngest daughter, Katie, is currently at her first year at Biola University there in LA, Mirada.  Katie has the longer hair, and Michael has the BIG eyes. Both our girls have given of themselves completely to help care for these babies.  Again, our sincere thanks for all you have done to make our adoptions possible.