Family Friday: "...my heart was so full."

 

Please enjoy another Family Friday feauturing Evan, Carla and their new son, Ephrem, who they brought home into their FOREVER FAMILY this summer...

We were humbled and blessed to receive adoption support from Lifesong. Our adoption was quick because we were adopting a special needs child, which was amazing and also exhausting. We found the encouragement from Lifesong and Both Hands to be unexpected, but very welcomed support in our process. 

We began our adoption with $1,000 in the bank and a promise to ourselves to avoid going into more debt to finish our adoption. We didn’t know how we would do this, but we trusted in our God to provide. Only six weeks into the process, we received our referral for our son. Our agency said that they would expedite the process to get him home and into medical treatment. This was wonderful…and terrifying because it meant that we would have to pay the fees on a quicker timeline. Nevertheless, we trusted God to provide.

The financial support we were able to get from Lifesong/Both Hands was essential to bringing our son home. It provided for the travel costs (airfare, lodging) as well as some agency fees toward the end of the process. Without this support, we wouldn’t have gotten our son home in May/June without going into debt. When Ephrem and I walked out of security and got to hug Evan as a family of three for the very first time, my heart was so full. 

--Evan & Carla

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." Psalm 68:5

Family Friday: Robert & Tammy

Robert and Tammy had been discussing the idea adoption since they were first married.  In fact, early on they started saving, preparing for the cost of adoption. 

After having two daughters biologically, Robert and Tammy started researching and looking into the specifics of adoption.  God was obviously at work in their hearts as he moved their eyes and ears to the cry of the orphan in our own country of America. 

As they stepped deeper into their adoption journey, they were surprised by the high costs involved in adoption. Realizing they hadn't saved near enough, they began to sell some of their belongings, hosted yard sales, and picked up odd jobs to offset their deficit.  They also partnered with us at Lifesong for Orphans and set up a fundraising account for their friends and family to give in a way that was safe and tax-deductible. 

Through several twists and unexpected turns, they were finally matched with a little girl, Gabriella Faith. 

It is such an honor to be chosen to be her family. Adoption, for us, was a glimpse into the ultimate love…God’s love. It wasn’t easy, but we would do it ten times over to get our Gabby.

I hold our little girl, and I am so thankful that Gabriella is a part of our family. She so easily could be an orphan cared for in foster care. She so easily could have been an abortion statistic. Instead, she is our precious baby girl that adored. Her two big sisters love her so much. None of us can imagine our family without her. It amazes us all how God put our family together so perfectly. 

-Robert & Tammy

Family Friday: Cory & Jamie

Here we are for Family Friday again!

Three months ago, Cory and Jamie brought home Zion and Isaiah into their forever family from the Democratic Republic of Congo.  We Care for Orphans Adoption Fund (in partnership with Lifesong) were able to come alongside this family and offer an interest-free loan as well as fundraising support to help overcome some of their fananical costs.    

Listen in as Cory and Jamie share what God taught them through this journey and the unepected ways He provided for them!

God used this adoption journey to open our eyes to His heart for the least of these – orphans – in this world.  He placed in us a love and purpose – to care for, adopt, and give Life to orphans.  We see Him building this Life within us daily, to then give His Life to our children – both our biological children and our precious sons through adoption.

God worked each detail out exactly. Right before our boys came home, we needed to buy car seats and much more.  Our total cost was $500.  We were going to take it out of our family’s grocery budget, which was not going to work so well, especially in December when we tend to spend more on food.  

My husband and I hung up from a discussion about it, followed by a prayer.  Seconds later, we received an unsolicited email from a friend who said God had put it on their hearts to set aside $500 for us at this point in the adoption (most other adoption bills had been paid at this point).  It showed us how God provides EVERYTHING, down to the last detail of car seats and high chairs, cribs and clothes and diapers.  He is completely faithful and a good Father.

-Cory & Jamie

Family Friday: Jonathan & Christy

 I love Fridays! I love sharing stories of hope and love and family.  I'd like to introduce to you Jonathan and Christy, who Lifesong served through fundraising support in their adoption of sweet little Jadon.  Listen in as Jonathan & Christy share their hearts...

After we had raised much, but not all the funds needed for a domestic adoption, Lifesong graciously partnered with us to help raise 100% of the funds needed. Not only were the Lifesong representatives we interacted helpful, they were especially encouraging to us in our adoption journey. Having Lifesong’s partnership enabled us to offer tax-deductible giving, and the remaining funds needed were contributed in short order. Lifesong helped us adopt in a timely manner, and bring baby Jadon home.

God's timing in using Lifesong in our adoption was amazing. The day after Lifesong informed us that the remaining funds needed for adoption had been contributed, we received a phone call from the adoption agency that a birth mother wanted to meet with us. Our partnership with Lifesong for Orphans enabled us to have all the funds needed the day before we got the phone call about the baby boy who is now our son. We will forever be grateful to Lifesong for helping us be ready to bring our son home!

-Jonathan & Christy

And becuase this little guy is too cute to post only one picture...

Jonathan, Christy & Jadon--We pray God's richest blessing on your family knowing that GOD--above all--is your protector and providor.  Thanks for letting us partner with you in the exciting journey of adoption!

Family Friday: Steve & Kim

 

We have been blessed to partner in fundraising with Steve & Kim as they brought home their precious daughter Charis from Zambia. Listen in as they share some of their journey...

As we walked through the adoption process, we were grateful for the people who approached us asking if they could help. Lifesong became an invaluable partner for us, establishing an avenue for our friends and family to surrounded and support us in our mission to bring home our wonderful daughter. 

We were impressed by the responsiveness and the flexibility Lifesong offered. Once we got the clearance to travel, things moved quickly. Lifesong responding by dispersing monies very quickly. Zambia is not like adopting from other countries. The staff at Lifesong were great to work with because they were willing to adapt procedures to match the uniqueness of the process.

Adopting Charis was the most amazingly wonderful and painful experience all wrapped up into one. The process was a mess. Yet, through it, we constantly saw God’s timing and perfect plan from lodging to “just happening” to meet the one person who could get a document processed quickly.

We praise God for his protection and provision.

Thank you Steve & Kim for partnering with Lifesong--it was our JOY to be just a small part of this incredible journey that God led you on. We commit you and your family to God in prayer...that He would continue to show Himself to each of your hearts and that your family could be a picture of the gospel to those you meet.