FROM RUSSIA TO AMERICA: THE STORY OF MATTHEW AND ANYA LAFRANCE

The Summer of 2003 was life changing for Cleon and Trina LaFrance.  Through a friend, the South Charlotte area couple learned about the “Welcome Home Program,” hosted by International Christian Adoptions organization. The friend asked Cleon and Trina to consider hosting a brother and sister from an orphanage in Russia for a month.

After the paperwork was complete, the visit began, opening up a new chapter for the LaFrance family.  Despite many communication issues everything went well. Prior to their return to Russia, the siblings communicated to Cleon and Trina via a translator that they were very happy here and wanted to stay.  After many discussions Cleon and Trina decided to apply for adoption of Matthew and Anya. 

Ten months later the children came back to America, this time for good.

Before leaving Moscow a Russian doctor examined Matthew and told the LaFrance’s “this boy is built to be an athlete…. You must get him into sports, YA.”

So that is exactly what Matthew’s new Dad did. Cleon signed him up for recreational soccer and also signed up to be his coach. Matthew soon proved the doctor right. Matthew excelled in soccer. Cleon’s coaching help a little, but he knew Matthew needed a bigger challenge so Matthew tried out for and made the U-11 challenge team for Charlotte United Futbol Club. After two years on the challenge team Matthew needed to move on to another challenge so he tried out and made a classic level team again for Charlotte United. Matthew now 12 has two new challenges in his life. Classic soccer and the sixth grade. He is looking forward to playing on his new team and starting a new year at Marvin Ridge Middle School.

Cleon said about his son, “there are so many things Matthew has enjoyed since becoming an American”. He especially likes the freedom that this country provides, a fact Matthew boldly communicated through a translator to his would be parents when he first visited them in the summer of 2003 as a guest of the “Welcome Home Program” hosted by International Christian Adoptions.

Matthews mother Trina smiles when she says “He has a great sense of humor and that makes me realize how blessed we are to have him as our little boy.

Two years Matthew’s junior is his sister Anya, now age 9. Anya has followed her big brother into soccer and is developing a love of the game. She was taken to all of Matthew’s games for two years and being as competitive as he is, she decided to show him she could be as good as he is. Anya has played one year of recreational soccer and just recently asked her father if she could try out for a challenge team. Cleon said if she has another good year and learns more about the game, she could move on.  Anya has a new goal set for her and her parents believe she will meet the challenge.

“I really love playing soccer,” Anya said.  “My favorite thing is to steal the ball from the other team.”

Both Matthew and Anya have become well versed in English and speak with very little accent.  They are like other Americans, they love to eat at McDonald’s and hang out with their friends. 

“This has been a wonderful experience for us,” said Cleon.  “We are a very close family and with soccer we stay really busy.  Every Friday Night, we have a family night and eat Pizza together.”

As the family looks to the future, soccer will remain a big part of their lives.  Matthew hopes to work his way up to a Premier level and Anya hopes to follow closely behind.

Through the love of Cleon and Trina and the opportunity for Matthew and Anya to become Americans, another South Charlotte Soccer Family was born.  Count on these two wonderful children and athletes to continue to develop both as students and soccer players.