Fundraiser #1



Many people are intimidated by adoption, specifically international adoptions. One main reason is financially, they are unsure how they'll be able to afford it.  However, there are numerous resources available, ideas, organizations, etc. that have made adoption a reality for many families.  (I plan to post in one of the links or devote a blog post on this topic later.)  Adopting internationally isn't cheap, & definitely not the type of money one has handy.  However, it is more affordable than many other countries.  But folks, there are children longing to be in a family member's arms in your county, state, country, and in other countries.  You do not have to have thousands of dollars in your checking account or be wealthy to adopt.  If everyone waited until they were financially stable to have children, how many of you would have ever given birth to a child or opened up your home for foster children, or to adopt one? Yeah, that's what I thought.  But when you have the love for a child, you will do whatever it takes to provide for them.  And that may include making payments for hospital/delivery bills, other medical bills, etc. for months and years until you see a "paid in full" on your account. Or it may be sacrificing & finding ways in your budget to save the money as well. My point is, being worried about how to pay for an adoption or a child in general isn't a good enough reason to not make room for them in your heart and your home! There are ways to make it happen!

Personally, up until now we haven't asked for donations or "handouts" as some of you may call it. (You may find this blog post interesting http://morekids4me.blogspot.com/2011/05/fundraising-under-fire.html.) The Lord has provided for us in numerous ways that we weren't expecting.  Thus, funding the majority of our adoption.  However, we have had many people ask how they can support us in ways beyond praying for us.  I have had to humble myself and follow what I feel we are to do.  The last part that we will have to pay for is our travel to pick him up & bring him home.  We just returned from a very costly overnight trip to Haiti to complete some immigration paperwork.  The following fundraiser, as well as another one starting in a matter of days will all go towards our final travel expenses.  We aren't looking to profit off of anyone feeling as though they would like to support us. Not all of you are called to bring a child into your home, but we are all called to support adoption in some way. James 1:27 calls us to "look after the widows and the orphans." Again, if your way of looking after them is by continually praying for us during this process, encouraging us, spreading the word to others, or even considering finding room in your home for a child, financially giving, etc. then do what you feel your calling is in the fight of finding homes for these orphans. So many of us have empty rooms in our homes that we use for recreation, storage, guests that we never invite, & empty chairs or spaces around our dinner tables (or couches for those of us you who don't eat at a table) where we could squeeze em' in!  There's someone reading this that needs to answer the call to make room for one of the 147 MILLION orphans in the world. The rest of you, do as you feel led. We love you & appreciate the role the Lord has called you to in our lives.


 PUZZLE FUNDRAISER:
I know most of y'all are just chomping at the bit to see a pic of our cute little man! Sooooo, I'll make a game out of it! I have turned one of his pictures into puzzle pieces.  Anyone who feels led to donate towards our travel expenses will have their name put on the back of the puzzle piece(s).  When completed, the puzzle will be put in a double sided, clear, glass frame.  This will be hung in his room and will be a reminder of the folks who financially helped bring our kiddo home! (I will also add something later for folks to write something or sign that we can keep so that we know a list of many people who also prayed and encouraged us in the process, regardless if they financially helped or not.)

• Cost of 1 puzzle piece = $5 or 2 for $10 ;)
• there are 500 (very tiny) pieces in the puzzle
• Pics will be posted as puzzle is being put together & after the last piece completes it, a picture will be for you to Oooooh & Ahhhhh over! =)
• You may choose to purchase a single piece, or if you want to donate a larger amount, you may purchase as many pieces as you desire.

How To Donate:

• Click on the Donate button on the right sidebar and pay securely through PayPal (just know that they do take a small % of the donated funds...many of you are out of town so if that works best for you, we are okay with that if you are) =)
• Mail a check to us (email me at hebrews11.8@aol.com for our address)

A complete list of donors will be posted here unless you ask to be mentioned anonymously at the end of this fundraiser.

Habbakkuk 1:5 "Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."

“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” ~Isaac Newton

I thank you with everything I have for the encouragement, prayers, kind words, etc. that you have given us so far in our journey. We covet them as we continue to finish the rest of this race over the next few months. And I thank you for even considering giving any part of yourself to help bring out little man home (your time, prayers, words, finances, love, support, friendship, etc).  They do not go unnoticed.  Thank you for being giants in our lives!

UPDATE:  COMPLETED (UPDATED May 1st, 2013