Promise of Things to Come

God had this pretty little bud waiting for me this morning, and it gave me hope. I was so glad to see it, because it was just what I needed.

Like most of the adoptive families that we know, the single biggest challenge we face with each adoption is pulling together the funds to complete it. In our efforts to bring this little girl home from Ethiopia, we've been incredibly blessed to receive gifts from dear friends and family to help build up our adoption account. We're also being pretty creative in earning and saving and squeezing the family budget. In an effort to come up with the rest of the funds required, we've submitted lengthy applications to several grant organizations that help families pay the adoption fees to bring a child home. We are now waiting to hear from those groups and are praying the Lord will use them to help us get the last bit of funding we need for this adoption.

We've been plugged into the adoption world for so long that I sometimes forget how much the rest of the world doesn't know~ if you haven't adopted a child, you may not realize that adoption expenses are usually $20,000 or more. When most people hear that number, their jaws drop in disbelief. I know mine certainly did when I first called an adoption agency more than 10 years ago. 

Many people assume that agencies are ripping off adoptive families with those high fees. Or they assume that it all goes to lawyers. But from our experience with agencies that we love and trust, neither of those is true. We are confident that the money we pay during the adoption process is used carefully by reputable agencies who really care about vulnerable children. 

I use this comparison to explain adoption fees to people. Imagine that you had to put your child in daycare for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The daycare would meet all her basic needs every day all day: meals, clothing, sleeping quarters and supervision. They would also provide medical care when she was ill, hospitalization when required, and check-ups when they could manage it. Suppose that your child needed this kind of care for weeks, or months, or even years. When you came to pick her up after all that care every day and every night, can you imagine what your bill would be? 

Orphanages run by caring people all over the world struggle to provide all these things and more to the children in their care. One of the ways that adoption agencies fund those orphanages and childrens' services in other countries is through fees paid by adoptive parents. 

But just because the money goes to a worthy cause doesn't mean it's easy for a family to fund an adoption. In fact, it gets exhausting and daunting and downright depressing trying to figure where it will all come from. But we know how to work hard, and God does provide. Over the years He has directed us toward new ways to earn and save for adoption expenses. Other times, He has met the need through generous friends and family who contribute to our adoption fees, because they know the very best way to change a child's life forever is to wrap that child in her forever family. We thank God they understand and share our heart for children in need. 

We are told in Psalm 68 verses 5 and 6 that "God sets the lonely in families." It is His desire that all children have families to love and teach them. We know from experience that He will provide if we will step out in faith and walk in His will. 

So now we continue to pray~ with great hope in the promise of things to come.