Many of you know that we are deep in the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia. This story has been a long time in the development stage. Mark and I began talking about adoption before we were even married. Adoption has always been part of our family plan, but it was never clear when or from where. Over the years we investigated various options from foster care to domestic adoptions to international adoptions. Because of the lack of clarity we were content to wait until God brought everything more into focus.
In January of 2010 the country of Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake, bringing to light the plight of orphans there – both those who were orphaned as a result of the earthquake and those who were orphaned before. It seemed that our desire to adopt was now matched with a very real need. We began investigating adopting from Haiti, but those doors were shut. Mark and I, though, decided that God was prompting us to realize that it was time to stop talking about adopting and start taking steps in that direction. We decided to pursue adoption until or unless God stopped the process.
We attended a Bethany meeting where we first heard about Ethiopia as an adopting country. We then met with a couple that had just brought two children home from Ethiopia. We also read a book that taught us about the Ethiopian culture, the hardships they have endured due to AIDS and other extreme conditions. We learned about the many orphans in that country. It seemed that God was bringing His plan more into focus.
We officially began the adoption process in late spring of 2010 with a phone call to Becky Burns with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) Ethiopia adoption outreach. Since then we have completed a lot of paperwork, spent hours training via online workshops, and read books about adoption. Mark, Julianna, and Elizabeth went on a mission trip to Ethiopia where, among other things, they experienced life in Ethiopia.
One question we get asked the most is, “What is your time frame?” This is the part where you come in. We need to raise around $30,000 to complete this process. We will be working hard on our end to try to earn/raise this money. The quicker we raise the money the quicker we can bring our new family member home. The mountain at times seems too high, but we know that it is not too high for God.
We also truly need prayer. We do not see this as a secondary “gift”, but primary. Specific prayer needs:
God’s direction on what specific child/children He would have for us.
Fundraising (big event on October 21st)
Bonding with our new family member(s).
Peace in the midst of so much uncertainty (when we will go/one child or two).
Adjustment to a new culture, family, everything for the child/children.
Thank you for your time and prayer on this matter. We know that all children are a blessing from God. We know we will be blessed with our new family member(s). We hope and pray and believe that we will be a blessing to him as well. We have always thought it was a “no-brainer”…we are a family that loves kids and there are kids that would love to be in a family…let’s just match us up.
No comments:
Post a Comment