Short Version: In April of 2011, I met a child that touched my heart like never before and now I am pursuing an international adoption. The cost is estimated to be $20,000. I need to raise funds to begin the process. If you would like to help - one way is to click on the PayPal donate button (right column of this blog). Read on below if you'd like to know more of the story :)
My story:
All of my adult life I have wanted to
be married and have a family. Throughout my twenties I was plagued
with insecurities about why I had such a hard time making that
happen. I coped by telling myself that I cannot sit around waiting
and that I should make the time that I have now purposeful so that
when I look back, I will be happy with how I spent my single years.
My attitude of purposeful singleness grew in my thirties. About four
years ago I fasted for forty days and felt the Lord telling me to get
myself in financial shape to be able to leave everything behind when
the call to be a missionary came. I did that and two years later, I
felt the call. Because I had prepared, I was able to go. Now I am returning from two years of mission work - carrying a new mission in my heart.
A little over a year ago, a very
special child arrived at the children's home where I was
volunteering. He is the most special child I have ever met. Over
the months I have developed a very special relationship with him. He
is not hard to love, in fact, he teaches me everyday how to love. I
find him to be a teacher of pure, raw love that isn't scared, wounded
or selfish. He is filled with joy and hope every single day. I have
dedicated a large portion of my time to being his advocate because he
is a child with special needs. He uses canes to help him walk.
After learning more about his family situation, I have decided that I
would like to adopt him.
This decision was hard to come about
because at first I didn't think I could take care of a special needs
child. Then I was saddened by the thought that I would be a single
parent. However, the more time I spent with this child, the more my
confidence built and I suddenly found myself on the verge of tears
thinking about what life would be like without him in it. I prayed
for many months and sought out opinions of trusted friends and family
members. I felt such encouragement and confirmation that there was
no turning back. I claimed Isaiah 58:10 “If you spend yourself
in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then
your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like
the noonday.”
I want to
spend myself
satisfying the needs of this child. I feel that my investment
could completely change his future to one of independence and that he
would be able to live a life in which he can work and have his own
family. I do not believe he would have such a future living in a
developing country that does not have the same resources for special
needs children.
An international adoption is very
complicated, lengthy and expensive. There are agency, immigration,
home study and translation costs involved that usually come to
$20,000. Here is a list of agency program fees and other estimated
costs:
Signed adoption agreement: $2,000
Dossier submission: $7,250
Referral: $3,750
Immigration: $1,200 (estimated)
Travel: $2,000 (estimated)
Medical: $400 (estimated)
Home Study: $1,500 (estimated)
Translations: $2,000-$3,000
(estimated)
I have served as a missionary for two
years without a salary but God has provided for my every need and
then some through faithful financial supporters. I have no doubt
that He will provide for this situation that I am positive He has
placed on my heart to pursue. My prayer is that God would be
glorified through this adoption and that He will use it for His name
in ways that are too awesome for me to fathom!
In Jesus name.
*PayPal is set up to accept donations for this adoption. They deduct a small percentage to manage the money. If you'd like to donate in another way, I am setting up a separate bank account for this purpose. Once the agency has received a certain amount of money they will provide an account to which monies can be directly donated to them. Thanks again for considering supporting this adoption.
