Visiting Lalibela

Visiting Lalibela

Monday, April 26, 2010

Homestudy write up almost complete

We are just about to go into warp speed for our next adoption. Our SW just called and said she had the rough draft to our HS completed. She will be in Williston on Weds, so we're hoping to have the kids' file to reveiw by then and can review it with her. Once the HS is finalized, which shouldn't take very long at all, just some tweeking from our agency and Catholic Charities, we can submit itto USCIS, await our fingerprinting appointment and then send in our dossier!!! We are really hoping to have it all sent to Ethiopia by the end of May--need prayers here.

So, this is where the cart and horse meet. We have one month to come up with the financing to complete this next adoption. I want to be really honest and transparent here, adoption is expensive, especially when you just completed one one year ago. The cost is worth it though. Everytime I look at Gavin, I know the cost was worth it. Everytime I realize how much money was used in Ethiopia for other children, I know it was worth it. Everytime I hear my children pray for orphans to find a forever family, I know it was worth it. We spent just over $36,000 to bring Gavin home-That figure includes $13,000 in plane tickets, though, to take all of the other kids with us. If anyone goes besides Mike and me, we will try to take Elli and Janika. They are babysitting like crazy to try and pay for their own plane ticket- they REALLY want to go back and love on kids and meet their new siblings.

Would you join us in praying for God to move in a mighty way this month to meet this need? Usually, families have a long time to save towards adoption expenses. Our process for Gavin took exactly one year. We're hoping, from start to finish will be about 6-9 months.

We have a HUGE garage sale planned May 15, with donations coming in from lots of local friends and church family. It is really humbling to see how generous everyone has been. There will be 3 complete dining sets(tables and chairs), couches, desks, clothes, clothes, clothes, board games, toys, tv's and tools - we even have a brand new front door for a house!! We brought in one of Mike's cargo trailers to hold donations until the sale. Thank you Larsens and Liberty Evangelical Free Church- your support is amazing.

Mike's new business is busier than we expected- PRAISE the LORD!! We have no doubts about supporting these children, once they're here.

Thank you prayer warriors! Our family is so ready to be united with our next four members and really hoping that doesn't happen in the middle of a North Dakota winter-- what a shock it will be- a balmy 80 degrees to -20!!!

1 comment:

  1. We're praying for you all! I added up all our adoption expenses today and the total was $36,000. Travel alone was $10,000. Worth every penny!
    Olivia told us today she had no toys to play with except for a one inch tall plastic toy. No wonder she's addicted to her baby here!

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