God's provision: Many free clothes from a pawn shop in town, three animals were given to us to butcher, Our dear parents provided money to buy educational and inspirational books and media for our children for Christmas. They sent money to buy a very sturdy jogger stroller for Nehemiah and Naphtali. We were able to get it for ($40) from Craigslist.
Leon and I went to Spokane yesterday and got our second set of fingerprints done for immigrations. Mine didn't take so I have to put the children in the car and go back the first week in January. I'm sure God will make it a good time.
I can hardly believe that we have come so far in the process. It's taken longer than I thought it would to do all the paperwork but, not because the paperwork in difficult. Sometimes we had to wait for money. Sometimes something would come up in life that would cause us to put the paperwork on the shelf. Among these things were several trips and receiving from the Lord our newest baby, Nehemiah.
Each thing I have had to accomplish about the adoption has been so light and free and happy. God has made things joyful and peaceful that would normally be a drudgery.
Last weekend we went with the Croteau's to Montana to visit ; the Balks (who we love), and our old friends Dave and Collette Taylor and family. We also went to visit the Ranch For Kids again. It is a ranch for children who were adopted into the United States (mostly from Russia) and then relinquished. 1/3 of them go back to their adoptive homes, 1/3 of them get readopted by a new family and 1/3 never find families and leave for job corps when they turn 18. We wondered again whether God would lead us to adopt one of these children. He didn't lead us in this way so we just loved them and sang with them and plan on coming back this summer.
Our new children: Simeon (he is the one in the dark photo) and Patrick are 6 and 8 years old. The 8 year old is 6 months younger than Asaph and the 6 year old is about the same age as Zuriel. So, when we do the line up it will be Ephraim (13), Havilah (10), Asaph (8), Patrick (8), Simeon (6), Zuriel (6), Naphtali (3), Nehemiah (6months). Their mama died a couple months ago and their
father is too sick to care for them. They live with their aunt who can not even provide for their basic needs (at Liberian standards).
We know they are malnourished and probably suffering from parasites, lice etc. We lay in our dry comfortable beds and think of the dear children living all over the world without even the relief of a good night sleep.
As soon as we are able to provide the first payment of $2,000 Angels Haven Outreach will be able to begin the adoption process for them.
We've completed the home study, Dossier, and the I600a. We are in the process of applying to Global Orphan Outreach. They will apply to 12 or so grants that are applicable to our family. It costs $200 to apply but, we should get at least that much in grants so, there's nothing to lose. They come highly recommended by a friend that I trust so I trust them.
Here is the summary of costs for this adoption:
$800 ; Home study-- paid for
$830 ; I600a-- paid for
$500 ; Application to Angels Haven Outreach--paid for
$200 ; Application to Global Orphan Outreach (applying to grants) --paid for
$? ; medical exams for Leon and I, miscellaneous certified copies, mailings etc. -- paid for
$15,110 ; Amount yet to be paid on adoption including: agency fees, children's medical exams, foreign program fee, overseas fees, travel costs, visas and embassy fees, escort fees, passports and birth certificates.
This includes the $2,000 that we need to begin the adoption process for the boys. We will need to re-adopt the children here in the U.S but, that will be fairly inexpensive and easy.
There will naturally be additional costs once the children are home for any medical needs.
Needs:
Of course the biggest need right now next to prayer is money. The children are just as valuable as the ones we already have and yet we cannot get to them. We cannot care for their needs. We cannot comfort them in their grief. We cannot parent them and show them Abba father until they are here with us.
We would also put to good use any cotton fabric, grammar workbooks, paper, pencils, shoes, two pairs of snow pants and boots, wool blankets, and two more mattresses.
Below is a PayPal button so that anyone who wants to will be able to donate money to the orphans.
I also have an idea to offer for sale the dresses and bloomers that I make. I'm not sure how much to ask for them. It would be a minimum donation so hopefully some people would be thankful to offer more.
Leon has sold much of his gear to pay off a credit card debt that we incurred. We have a little more to sell as the Lord leads.
"Lord, help us to be faithful with what you give us"
Leon and I went to Spokane yesterday and got our second set of fingerprints done for immigrations. Mine didn't take so I have to put the children in the car and go back the first week in January. I'm sure God will make it a good time.
I can hardly believe that we have come so far in the process. It's taken longer than I thought it would to do all the paperwork but, not because the paperwork in difficult. Sometimes we had to wait for money. Sometimes something would come up in life that would cause us to put the paperwork on the shelf. Among these things were several trips and receiving from the Lord our newest baby, Nehemiah.
Each thing I have had to accomplish about the adoption has been so light and free and happy. God has made things joyful and peaceful that would normally be a drudgery.
Last weekend we went with the Croteau's to Montana to visit ; the Balks (who we love), and our old friends Dave and Collette Taylor and family. We also went to visit the Ranch For Kids again. It is a ranch for children who were adopted into the United States (mostly from Russia) and then relinquished. 1/3 of them go back to their adoptive homes, 1/3 of them get readopted by a new family and 1/3 never find families and leave for job corps when they turn 18. We wondered again whether God would lead us to adopt one of these children. He didn't lead us in this way so we just loved them and sang with them and plan on coming back this summer.
Our new children: Simeon (he is the one in the dark photo) and Patrick are 6 and 8 years old. The 8 year old is 6 months younger than Asaph and the 6 year old is about the same age as Zuriel. So, when we do the line up it will be Ephraim (13), Havilah (10), Asaph (8), Patrick (8), Simeon (6), Zuriel (6), Naphtali (3), Nehemiah (6months). Their mama died a couple months ago and their
father is too sick to care for them. They live with their aunt who can not even provide for their basic needs (at Liberian standards).We know they are malnourished and probably suffering from parasites, lice etc. We lay in our dry comfortable beds and think of the dear children living all over the world without even the relief of a good night sleep.
As soon as we are able to provide the first payment of $2,000 Angels Haven Outreach will be able to begin the adoption process for them.
We've completed the home study, Dossier, and the I600a. We are in the process of applying to Global Orphan Outreach. They will apply to 12 or so grants that are applicable to our family. It costs $200 to apply but, we should get at least that much in grants so, there's nothing to lose. They come highly recommended by a friend that I trust so I trust them.
Here is the summary of costs for this adoption:
$800 ; Home study-- paid for
$830 ; I600a-- paid for
$500 ; Application to Angels Haven Outreach--paid for
$200 ; Application to Global Orphan Outreach (applying to grants) --paid for
$? ; medical exams for Leon and I, miscellaneous certified copies, mailings etc. -- paid for
$15,110 ; Amount yet to be paid on adoption including: agency fees, children's medical exams, foreign program fee, overseas fees, travel costs, visas and embassy fees, escort fees, passports and birth certificates.
This includes the $2,000 that we need to begin the adoption process for the boys. We will need to re-adopt the children here in the U.S but, that will be fairly inexpensive and easy.
There will naturally be additional costs once the children are home for any medical needs.
Needs:
Of course the biggest need right now next to prayer is money. The children are just as valuable as the ones we already have and yet we cannot get to them. We cannot care for their needs. We cannot comfort them in their grief. We cannot parent them and show them Abba father until they are here with us.
We would also put to good use any cotton fabric, grammar workbooks, paper, pencils, shoes, two pairs of snow pants and boots, wool blankets, and two more mattresses.
Below is a PayPal button so that anyone who wants to will be able to donate money to the orphans.
I also have an idea to offer for sale the dresses and bloomers that I make. I'm not sure how much to ask for them. It would be a minimum donation so hopefully some people would be thankful to offer more.
Leon has sold much of his gear to pay off a credit card debt that we incurred. We have a little more to sell as the Lord leads.
"Lord, help us to be faithful with what you give us"
1 comment:
Jennifer, it is so good to hear from you. We are starting our 3rd month in Costa Rica, learning Spanish and living in a new culture without our familiar conveniences! I am thrilled to hear about your coming adoption. I enjoy looking at your blog. You may also view ours at www.eightsummers.blogspot.com or email me at kipplyn@hotmail.com this is a different address
Merry Christmas! Hugs to all those kiddos!
In Christ
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