Provision

I know this process will be arduous, but I wasn't anticipating problems this early! I received a call from our adoption agency, as they wanted to review some of our information. I think I have given myself an ulcer worrying about what the only problem standing in our way is....money.

Our plan all along was to take out a loan to cover the $30,000 this adoption will cost. I figured, it would be similar to a car payment, and take approximately 5 years to pay off. I am now finding out that it is important to show you have a certain percentage of positive net-worth for the Ethiopian government to accept you as an adoptive parent. Sure the banks will give us a loan, but it would not allow us to have enough of a positive net-worth to continue on with this process.

The only reason this is even an issue is because we have just purchased a beautiful new house! A place where we are so excited to raise a family. Even so, had we known our finances would be exhausted from infertility treatments, or had the calling to adopt before we made the decision to purchase a home, we never would have moved.

So, this is a hard pill for me to swallow. I am trying to not get discouraged, and I have faith that this will all work out. I am willing to put in the work to fund raise until I'm blue-in-the-face, coupon clip, penny-pinch, or have yard sales every weekend. But the truth of the matter is that we need help.

Being on the receiving end is not easy. It is hard for us to ask for help, especially since we have been so blessed in life. Believe me when I say I would much rather be on the giving end.

It is my hope that I can reach 600 people to donate $50 dollars. This would cover the entire cost of our adoption and bring our baby home from Ethiopia! It is essential that I find $10,000 in the next 90 days, or I will lose the money we have put down towards our application process.

Yes, the thought of this task is overwhelming because I don't know 600 people, nor do I have $10,000! But I know 300 people, and maybe through word of mouth we can reach other people who have been touched by adoption and want to help.

I realize that all of this will happen in God's timing. He is the center of our lives and I believe it is through Him that our needs will be met.

Don't waste your life in doubts and fears: spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours or ages that follow it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson