Thoughts on Funding Adoption

Anyone who is familiar with international adoption knows that the process can be incredibly expensive.  In fact, the cost of adoption was a huge factor that made us feel that it was beyond our reach.  If you take a look at the page which lists out our costs to adopt from China you will see just how overwhelming this can be from a financial standpoint.  Despite those costs, God had given us a desire to grow our family through international adoption.  He had put a great love in our hearts for the little girls of China who were waiting for families.  Then He touched our hearts with the beautiful face of a precious little girl named Xinran.  We haven't looked back since.  We continue to be amazed at the way in which God has provided everything we have needed at just the right time.  From the application fees to the home study fees to the courier fees and every other expense, God has provided.  God has overwhelmed the overwhelming financial need we faced at the outset of this adoption journey.  He has overwhelmed us by the generosity of our family and friends.  He has overwhelmed us by the generosity of our church family and the grants we have received from a number of adoption organizations.  Needless to say, our hearts rejoice in the faithfulness of our God.  Whoever said, "Where God guides, He always provides" was exactly right.  While the journey is not yet complete, I am certain that God is in control and that He will lead us all the way. 

Dossier to China

Today marks the culmination of months of labor.  All of the paperwork and documentation that has been gathered, notarized, authenticated and reviewed--our dossier--has now been submitted to China.  According to our adoption agency, we should have a letter of acceptance from China within 50-70 days.  So we are one gigantic step closer to having Rebekah home with us, but we're not there yet.  Thanks to everyone who has helped get us this far through your encouragement, support, donations, and prayers.  We couldn't do it without you. 

Let the Journey Begin

In October 2013, our family set out on the journey of adoption.  We are adopting a little girl who currently lives in Bao’an Social Welfare Institute in Shenzhen City, China.  She is four years old and her Chinese name is Bao Xinran (pronounced Bow Sheen Zhan).  We will be calling her Rebekah.   

When we were first matched with Rebekah, she had just turned four and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.  She was learning to walk and was speaking very little.  In March, we were blessed with an update of pictures and a video from our agency who had visited with her in China.  She was not only walking, but running!  We could hear her giggles in the video and the agency reported that she is talking!  She appears to be a friendly, happy little girl.

When we began this journey, we knew that we did not have the financial means to complete the adoption.  However, we believed that God was calling us and that He had chosen Rebekah to be our daughter.  Stepping out in faith, we began the process.  We have claimed His promise in Ephesians 3:20-21 that He is able “…to do exceeding, abundantly beyond all that we ask or think…”  He has and continues to do so much more than we could have imagined.  We have been blessed by the prayers and gifts of so many people.  Some we do not even know, they have just heard our story, have a heart for God’s call to care for orphans and have given.

We have completed all of our paperwork and it is currently being processed for China.  From here, we just wait for the official acceptance from the Chinese government.  Then we will prepare for travel.  It is our prayer that Rebekah will be home this summer.