North Dakota Family Honored in D.C. After Six-Year Journey to Bring Haitian Daughters Home

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After a six-year international adoption journey, Maribeth and Jake Joraanstad of Fargo are in Washington, D.C., this week to be celebrated as 2026 Angels in Adoption honorees. The Joraanstads were nominated by U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) for the honor, recognizing their work to bring their adopted daughters, sisters Mitialove and Mirlanda, home from Haiti. During their visit to Washington, the Joraanstads shared their experience with the adoption in a meeting with Cramer, who followed their efforts over the years. “The Joraanstads have shown incredible perseverance throughout their adoption journey, and they’ve been committed since the very beginning to giving Mitialove and Mirlanda a loving, stable home while keeping them connected to their family and friends in Haiti,” said Cramer, co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. “I had the privilege of welcoming these two new North Dakotans to my office in Washington. It was an honor to nominate the Joraanstads in recognition of their dedication to their daughters. As an adoptive father myself, I know how meaningful adoption can be, and helping a family through this process is one of the most rewarding parts of this job.” The Joraanstads’ adoption story began years earlier. Jake first traveled to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, forming relationships which ultimately helped shape the family’s decision to adopt from the country. After Maribeth and Jake began the adoption process, escalating violence in Haiti closed the international airport and prevented the girls from leaving through the traditional process—even after their adoption had been finalized. With options running out, the family turned to Grey Bull Rescue, a nonprofit specializing in evacuating Americans and allies from some of the world’s most challenging and dangerous environments. Now a family of five, the Joraanstads are raising Mitialove and Mirlanda alongside their son, Amos. They remain committed to preserving the girls’ connection to their Haitian heritage, including their relationships with family and friends in Haiti. Cramer has annually nominated North Dakota families for the Angels in Adoption Award, which is sponsored by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute Program. It was established in 1999 to recognize individuals, couples, families, and organizations whose work has made a meaningful impact on children, youth, and families through adoption and foster care.