i have admittedly lacked faith in this adoption process, specifically in the area of finances. in an effort to be wise, it was my decision to delay the start of the adoption process until our car payment was complete, but even since that has been taken care of i still struggle with the faith that God is going to provide in this area. i shared that very thing with our small group when we announced we would be adopting.
since we announced we paid $300 for the application and before we could move on the the "home study" needed 2,000 dollars on hand. after our first meeting they explained we could start the home study process this week assuming we had all our paper work completed and the 2,000 dollars in hand.
christe and i both got a bonus for christmas which went straight into our adoption savings account, two very generous individuals sent us $100 to help with the process. one of christe's co-workers is in an asian sorority and they threw a bake sale at u of a and raised $100. our friend josh with jb photography did a photo shoot day for us that raised $200 and christe literally went around starbucks to starbucks collecting used co2 cartridges for weeks to add $18 to our adoption fund, we sold concession at academy basketball games...all that left us 600 dollars short.
i thought i was justified in my lack of faith, it was going to take us years to raise 10 grand, by that time the 2011 tax credit would be expired and we will have to come up with another 13k. this was until a friend from church handed us a check for 600 dollars last week, now we can continue on as scheduled.
if that weren't enough, i took a coaching job over the winter to help supplement adoption costs. i received my first check on sunday. the director handed me an envelope and said, "we decided to pay you more". the check almost doubled what i was contracted for.
oh, ye of little faith.
4 comments:
Dave, thank you for sharing this. It's a risky thing to be in a position that forces the realization that God really wants us to know him as our provider, but it's so worth it! Thanks for letting us follow this adoption journey with you guys.
Hey Andrea!
Thanks so much, just read your staff (and personal) update, very exciting!
You should have said, "Oh, me of little faith." OK, I should say it too from time to time--well, lots of times. One thing I've noticed over the years--I got through every single crisis I've ever had, and God was there each time. Looking to the past, remembering, being grateful--that's what often helps me. And sometimes when things are especially bad, I have to almost force myself to look at those ways God has been there in the past, as a spiritual discipline.
Well, really, I'm not preaching here. I'm just reflecting on my own journey.
Love you guys.
I'm working on a book with the working title of "Creative Fundraising for Adoption". I want to showcase real life families who've done fundraisers to help with their adoption expenses.
I've also been invited to present a breakout session on the topic at the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit conference in May so I'm really excited.
I'd love to ask you some questions about your photography fundraiser as well as some of the other things your doing to help with the costs if you wouldn't mind emailing me.
You can read more about the book here: http://juliegumm.com/wordpress/?p=2579
Julie
P.S. I'm a Dave Ramsey fanatic - debt free (including the house) as of 2008 - instrumental in our adoption :-)
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