Malo e lelei from Tonga!

We are the Lauti Family. We are Erica Elizabeth Smith (Lauti) and Sione Tonata Lauti (Nata). We have four children and are now in the process of adopting our fifth. Our home is beautiful, crazy, and so much fun with all of our babies. Kulisi, our oldest boy, is 4 years old. Our daughter Tahi is 3. Our second son, Zealand, is 2 years old. Our second daughter, Koloa, is 5 months old. And our baby boy, our third son, Manatu, who we are working to adopt, is now 2 months old. 

Manatu was born on March 15, 2026 in the Kingdom of Tonga. Three years prior, we were in Tonga adopting our daughter Tahi, who is Manatu’s biological sister. And as fate would have it, we are again back in Tonga to adopt our miracle baby boy. 

It was a day that we will never forget. Erica was only 2 months pregnant with Koloa when we received the call that has now forever changed our lives. It was Tahi’s biological mother, she was pregnant. She explained that she could not keep the baby, and that she felt the baby did not belong to her. She said, “Erica and Nata, this is your baby, do you want the baby?” 

We stared at each other with shock not knowing what to say. What was even more shocking was that neither of us felt that we could say no. For the next weeks and months we prayed and fasted about what to do. We had so many questions. And with our previous experience of adopting from Tonga we wondered if the adoption was even possible. Some close family and friends struggled to understand our decision, which was disheartening, but our hearts knew this was God’s calling. We thought about our 4 babies? How would this affect them? Financially we were already barely scraping by. Despite the doubts and unanswered questions, saying no was never an option — our hearts already knew this child was ours. . 

On February 17, 2026 we packed up our life in Utah and made the move to Tonga, and never looked back. About a month later our son was born. The moment he was born all questions, fear and doubt vanished. Manatu is our son. We are his mom and dad and he is the younger brother to our 4 children. He is loved. This is God's plan and design. 

Manatu is a healthy and strong baby boy. He has a sweet and kind spirit about him. His older brothers and sisters absolutely adore him and they constantly fight over who gets to hold him or gets to cuddle with him when we go to bed. We could not imagine our life without him. He has been an answer to our prayers. 

After experiencing infertility issues and losing 3 babies and then transitioning to 5 babies under 4 years old, 2 of which are international adoptions, has been a major shift in our lives and our family dynamics. Yes, we are constantly tired and exhausted but we have never felt so close and so together as husband and wife and as a family. Together as a family we pray that the path is made clear for us to be able to bring Manatu home to Utah. One of the hurdles that we battle constantly each day is the financial burden of living in Tonga and the cost of adoption. We are seeking financial assistance to help us make bringing Manatu home possible. 

Living in Tonga is extremely difficult on many levels. Emotionally it is challenging to be away from our close family and friends. Financially, everything in Tonga is very expensive and the quality of choices for food, clothes, housing, and education are limited. Poor health care is also a huge concern for us as if ever we would need medical attention it could be days before we could catch a flight to the next country that could provide the proper treatment and health care.

We still have a long way to go with the adoption and with all the paperwork and travel that still lies ahead we are not too sure how much longer we will be in Tonga, how long the adoption will take or how much more the cost. Financial assistance would lift the heavy burden we carry, allowing us to focus fully on loving and raising our children rather than worrying about survival. 

We humbly ask for your support in helping us bring Manatu home. Your generosity will not only change our lives, but will give a precious child the chance to grow up surrounded by love, faith, and family.