In 2006, Jimmy & Carrie Lakey began the process of adopting a little boy (River) from a small Rwandan orphanage. While coming to the USA would be a great blessing for River, they knew that there would be many children left behind in the orphanage.

With this in mind, Jimmy & Carrie made a promise to not forget the needs of the other children that River had spent his early years with. A promise was made that they would do everything possible to assure that River’s friends remaining in the orphanage got to attend school and receive the education they needed.

In 2007, Jimmy & Carrie Lakey went to Rwanda to pick up their son. After numerous trips to government offices, including a court appearance before a Rwandan judge, Jimmy & Carrie were told that the adoption was done. A simple signature from the Minister of Gender in Rwanda was all that was needed to allow River to fly with his adoptive parents to his new home in the USA.

Jimmy & Carrie returned to the USA and continued to wait for over a year on the single signature that would allow River to join them. In Rwanda, the attorneys continued to work with no real explanation as to why the final signature is withheld. Finally, in September 2008, the approval was received and River arrived home to the USA on September 8th!

River has left Rwanda but the promise remains to make sure that the orphans left behind have the opportunity to get the education that they need. Under the umbrella of World Changers International, a 501c3 non-profit organization, Jimmy & Carrie Lakey have launched “RIVER’S PROMISE” to help fund the education for African orphans.