don’t hold back

How can we ever thank those of you who supported our auction?  We are SO very grateful!

The Lord has once again been good to us.  We asked Him for $1000 from the auction.

Oh what little faith we have….

He blessed us with $1500!!!
Such a huge blessing.  Thank you so much for your support, friends.
So often people tell us that they would love to adopt a child.  You know the one thing that keeps them from actually doing it?
Finances.
There is no denying that adoption is expensive.  Unfairly so, in my opinion.  It should not be that way.  But it is-and there is nothing we can do to change it.  Rescuing children costs money.  Heaps of it.
The reality of it is that there are few of us who have $25, 000+ lying around.  We sure don’t.  My hubby is a Hospice Chaplain.  We live on one very average income.  If you consider the size of our family versus what we earn, it is a bit crazy.  But we have never seen Anthony’s employment as the source of our provision.  Instead, we choose to look to the ONE who can supply every single one of our needs-and always does.  Faithful and True is His name.  The only Provider who never fails us.  He is our ultimate source of provision in our family.
So, coming back to adoption.  I want to tell those of you who feel that you cannot adopt a child due to the high ransom that needs to be paid, that God is MORE than able to provide.  Yes, He is.  I can tell you because each and every time we step out and bring a child home, I do wonder where in the world the money is going to come from.  I do wonder how God is going to make it come together.  In my flesh, I doubt and wonder.  But in my heart and spirit, I know my God.  The One who has never, ever, not once, let my family go without.
Every time we adopt a child, the Lord does it.  Every single time! 
Hailee and Harper’s adoption has been our most expensive so far, especially with our adopting two children. The Lord has totally amazed us.  He has provided in ways we never imagined. We knew that we would need about $30,000 [which seemed like an enormous about of money when we were just starting out]. The Ukraine is not a cheap adoption-especially when there are two children.
You know the thing that truly blows my mind?  Most of this money has been provided by complete strangers.  People we have never met. Some who even live in different countries.  So amazing.  So God.  He uses whoever He chooses to be the blesser, no matter where in the world they may be.  
Anthony and I are the ones God has called to parent Hailee and Harper.  But, when God calls us to do something, He can’t help but mobilize the glorious Body of Christ to come alongside us.  We are never called to do things alone. When we step out and do the impossible, He surrounds us with His mighty army in the battle [for orphans] and equips us with everything we need to accomplish the task.  And do it well, not lacking a single thing. 

An adoption is not just about the family taking in the orphan.  It’s about community.  It’s about many people playing a part in the child’s story.  And that even applies to paying the exorbitant fees.  God, who sits on His throne in heaven, speaks the word, and His army rushes in to help. It’s just that simple.

It’s the truth.  This is the third time we’re living this out.  Miraculous provision.

Does that mean we just sit back and do absolutely nothing, expecting the Father to just rain down money from heaven?  No way!  We do our part.  We work hard and come up with creative ways to fundraise, and then we trust the Lord to bless the fruit of our labor.  I tell you, He just can’t help but do it.  We serve a God of immense blessing.

Please, dear friends, if you are one of those sitting on the fence, so anxious and eager to adopt a child, but feel like a humongous wall stands between you and your child-PLEASE don’t let the lack of finances hold you back.  It really just begins with a step of obedience.  A stepping out of the boat and saying, “Okay, Lord, I trust you in this.  You are more than able to provide for something YOU have commanded us to do.”  And then just go for it!  I beg you to not let the financial hurdle hold you back.

Many may disagree with what I’m about to say, with is totally fine.  I don’t, for one second, believe that “Adoption Loans” are the way to go.  I just don’t.  Sure, they may serve a purpose for the last little remaining amount one may need to complete an adoption, but I truly do not believe they should ever be a starting point.  Why?  Because God loves, loves, loves to show Himself faithful.  He loves to show His glory for all to see.  And I believe that trusting Him to provide for an adoption is just one of the ways that He can show Himself faithful to the world who watches.  The glory belongs to Him.  I believe that when we rush and take out loans and credit cards to rescue a child, we’re robbing God of His glory.  We’re robbing Him of an opportunity to show the world that He adores orphans, and so desperately desires for us, as Christians, to bring them home, no matter what the cost! I don’t think the creator of the universe expects us to go into debt to to fulfill a COMMAND in His Word (to care for orphans).  That’s just the conviction of my heart.

He is MORE than able to provide.  My goodness, if He can part the sea, surely He can bring in a bit of money?  It’s nothing for Him.

Just do it, friends.  Go and rescue one of God’s children.  He’ll amaze you on the journey.  Your life and your faith will never be the same again. I promise.

Thank you!  From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to each and every one of you who has sown seed into our adoption.  Whether it be $5 or $5000.  Whether it be an item for our auction, or clothes that have been mailed to me for Hailee and Harper.  Whether it be encouraging comments, or heartfelt prayers. We are so very grateful for each and every bit of seed that has been sown.  The Father has blessed it abundantly, as I know you too have been blessed by your giving.

I appreciate you all so much.

Counting the days until I can finally hold my daughters. So close!

Comments

  1. says

    Nothing has amazed me more than watching people raise the money for their adoptions, often more than one in a year. It’s incredible!

  2. says

    All I can say is Amen to that. Our adoption of Laurel through RR was so much more than just an adoption. It was about deepening our faith, our families faith and our body of CHrist coming together to rescue this child. When we had to go, we still needed $10,000. We had to run out and get a loan to cover this to get our baby. However, when we got home, our tiny church (70 people) had paid off our $10,000 loan. Tell me we weren’t excited! What a great God we serve.

  3. says

    WONDERFUL post!

    When we set out to adopt, we already had 10 children and my husband was a school teacher. We didn’t have much of a savings account, and we weren’t about to go into debt.

    A month after saying “YES” to bringing 3 children home from Ghana, without ANY idea of how the Lord was going to pay for it … we met a couple who wrote a check for $15,000 for our adoption. Wow!

    Then … the Lord provided “extra jobs” for my husband, to raise the additional $10,000 that we needed.

    I agree … step out in FAITH … TRUST the LORD that HE will provide … DO NOT take out debt, but allow the Lord to show His faithfulness even if it is in “the 11th hour”. GOD is faithful … He WILL provide when we step out in FAITH and walk in HIS ways!!!

    Laurel :)

  4. says

    I so agree Adeye!

    Ask and you shall receive! The Lord wants families to adopt and he wants us to trust him and he wants us to see how he can provide!

    His blessings are so great! It has been a joy to see you move closer and closer to your precious daughters! I can hardly wait until they are in your arms!

  5. says

    Amen sister. Speaking with boldness in love, you’ve got it! We have seen the Lord bless us amazingly each and every time we have brought a child home. As missionaries, who live 100% by faith (we have been asked by the Lord to never ask for a penny), our family is a testimony of how God truly cares for His children. If one was to look at our yearly income compared to our family size (12) it looks absolutely crazy, but we have seen the miraculous as God provides for all of our needs. And yes, I agree, loans are limiting the Lord. HE is more than able to “move mountains.”

  6. says

    Honestly, I think you could write a book about God’s provisions during adoption. He has been nothing short of amazing in this. Over $30,000? That’s a HUGE amount of money.
    We just rec’d a check for $1,000. from friends who work very hard for what they have, but felt the Lord leading them to give to our adoption. Another friend is helping us organize our rummage sale/silent auction/carwash for April 17th. People really do come out to help when we ask! I love seeing the body of Christ serving.

  7. says

    Thanks for writing this! This post really spoke to me, we are just starting our 2nd adoption and the financial part is scary, we are starting with very little. I truly feel God has called us to adopt again and I also have faith he will provide for us. Would you mind emailing me at [email protected]

    xoxo
    Lynn

  8. says

    amen! i try to shout out this message often, too!

    we have seen God provide FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS for our kyrgyzstan adoption, and now we are trusting him for $18k more while we pursue a domestic adoption during the delays.

    we literally started with ZERO, and no excess to put toward it ourselves, because we live off 1 income. it’s enough to provide for our family (very tightly!), but definitely not enough to provide extra to put toward adoptions which are tens of thousands of dollars.

    Oh how He loves to see His precious ones not remain orphans!!!

  9. says

    This is awesome!! I wish I could have bought a ton of stuff, but am quite happy with winning my hat as I think it will come in quite handy in Africa where my trusty flat-iron cannot go! :o)

    I cannot wait to see you home with the girls. I am just sure that the testimonies you will have to share will be incredible, just like this one about the finances. I will hold onto these truths as we are coming down the home stretch ourselves & have a benefit concert coming up. Thanks for the encouragement!!

  10. says

    Praise The Lord for His provisions! He is the Father to the fatherless. Can’t wait to see those little beauties in your arms!

  11. says

    Yes! The same thing here. Our adoption cost about 20,000. The first half, ever time we needed money to cover something, we always just had it in the bank. God totally provided and provided and provided. But then all of a sudden there was no more in the bank. I couldn’t understand why God stopped providing. But my hubby wasn’t concerned. He said, “But God can still provide.” I thought it wouldn’t be the same if we had to put the rest on a crdit card. (No interest.) But then, we found out how much we are getting back in taxes. The rest of the money we put on that credit card plus 2,000 extra because of some different things the tax guy found. Amazing! He truly did provide for all of our adoption. He is so faithful!!!

  12. Shelley says

    I am loving following your adoption journey, and can’t wait til you are there! Here’s another side to the adoption affordability issue: We DO have the money “just sitting there”, due to inheritance, but do not have what is considered adequate income, or private health insurance, so are prevented just as much from adopting. Again, God can overcome any barrier, and I have let him know I am willing, so in the meantime I pray for orphans, help financially where I can.
    Bless you and your family!
    Shelley

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