MATCHING GRANT FROM LIFESONG!

About a year ago we began the journey of adoption.  When we started this journey we were requesting 1 or 2 children from Ethiopia. We took a few months to get our paperwork compiled, did some fundraising, and submitted our paperwork.  Shortly after our dossier was turned in, the adoption process for Ethiopia slowed down tremendously.

After the slowdown, we both felt God pushing us to do something NOW.  We looked into different areas of helping orphans (foster care, a missions trip, helping others, etc).  We were not expecting God to put a little inkling in our hearts to look into a concurrent adoption (an adoption pursued at the same time as our Ethiopian one).  From the start we knew we’d either adopt siblings or adopt two children at some point…we never considered the fact that could mean another adoption BEFORE our Ethiopian adoption.  But, here we are, following His call and now adopting from the DRC (Congo) too.  

March 15, we received a referral of our sweet baby girl, Addy Rose, who is currently living in an orphanage in the Congo.  Knowing where she is and what brought her there is extremely tough on us…but knowing that we will have the rest of our lives with her as our daughter is completely uplifting!! We are estimating we’ll travel to bring her home in Sep/Oct.

The biggest challenge for us is not opening our hearts and home to more children, but in finding the finances to make this happen. An international adoption for one child costs $25,000-$40,000…which means our two adoptions together are going to cost around $60K.

We believe families need to have the monetary needs to care for another child once they are home; but the cost of adoption is overwhelming and too much for almost any family to bear alone.   Our goal from the start was to break our funds in thirds: 1/3 from our personal funds, 1/3 through grants/loans, and 1/3 through fundraising/family & friends.  Through God’s help we have already spent $33,996 on our two adoptions.  We are expecting to have $11,000 more in expenses to get Addy home (visas, passports, travel fees, etc) and about $15,000 left for our Ethiopian adoption.  

We appreciate you all very much and would like you to pray & consider helping us in our adoption. There are two ways you can help:

1. Prayer – Please pray God would tenderly care for Addy.  We are continually in prayer for her safety, health, and comfort. Also pray for our family as we prepare to bring her home and the changes it will entail for our family.  Pray for us to keep calm hearts while we are trying to be patient for the next five-six months.

2. Financial support - Will you please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us pay the remaining $11,000 in adoption expenses to bring Addy home?  (our family will continue to save each month for our ET child and believe we can pull the funds together on our own when that adoption becomes a reality).

Lifesong (www.lifesongfororphans.org) has graciously given us a Matching Grant of $4,000 to help pay the “ransom” to bring Addy home –how great is that?!?!?! 

If you would like to be a part of bringing Addy home to our family, you can send your tax-deductible gift between now and May 22nd to the address below. Lifesong is a trusted organization administering the funds on Addy’s behalf, and 100% of the funds received for our family will go toward bringing her home (AND will be matched up to $4,000!).

Please make checks payable to Lifesong for Orphans and to indicate Williams/#2637 adoption in the memo section.
Mail check to:
Lifesong for Orphans
Attn: Williams#2637
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744

You may also pay online (through paypal):
1. Click on the Donate button on the right side of our blog (Donate Via Lifesong). 
2. All funds will be matched dollar for dollar ($25 turns ito $50 for us!!!!)

Thank you,
Bobby, Courtney , Eli, Ayla, Owen, Addy, and #7 Williams

Hosea 14:3 In you the orphan finds mercy!