Family Friday (on Monday!): Tom and Tiffini

Tom and Tiffini adopted two brothers from Ethiopia, Lukas and Yakob. (look at those smiles!)

Here, Tiffini shares a little of their story:

I had been praying about adopting for 3 years.  However, my husband was not feeling the same call from the Lord.  So, I waited and prayed.  In November of 2009 God moved my husband's heart at a church men's retreat.  He made it clear to us both that now was the time to adopt... siblings!

We started the process immediately, but when we found out how high the cost of adopting siblings was, I admit that I experienced some fear and panic.  But even though we did not have the money we knew that God had called us to this.  So we moved forward, trusting that God would provide.

When I found out about Lifesong and Both Hands I was so excited.  This idea was straight from God!  My husband and I were both sure that this was God's answer and His way of providing for us.  We told family and friends and applied to Lifesong to begin a Both Hands project.

Totally unexpectedly, on February 22nd, the same day I sent in our applcation to Lifesong, we received a referral of two precious little brothers... only two weeks after getting our paperwork done!  Wow.  We were overwhelmed and so amazed of God's plan.

But wait.  Now we had to come up with a huge chunk of money much sooner than we'd expected.  I contacted Lifesong and told them our story.  We no longer had time to complete a Both Hands project.  Our need was immediate.  On March 4th I was contacted by Lifesong to tell me that an anonymous donor had promised a $4,000 matching grant to our family!

We immediately began sending out fundraising letters and within 3 weeks the Lord had provided the entire $4,000 in donations!  Not only that, but donations continued to come, and in the end almost half of our adoption expenses were covered as a result!

Lifesong was extremely instrumental in making our adoption a possibility.  We cannot express our gratitude.  Looking back on this experience, we saw God's hand move in miraculous ways over and over again.  May He get all the glory!

Thanks Tom and Tiffini!  Lifesong is blessed to be a part of your story!

You can read more on their blog HERE!

Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Will Provide

No, it's not Friday...but we always love sharing some of our adoption stories with you--no matter the day of the week!

Meet the Ruggards: The Ruggard family brought home little Tripp this past April from Ethiopia.  Lifesong was able to provide them with a matching grant and also assisted in their fundraising efforts. 

What a huge blessing it was to partner with your ministry in our adoption journey.  Lifesong not only provided a $2,500 gift, but also the encouragement to send adoption support letters to our family and friends.  Without this encouragement we may never have allowed God to provide through our family and friends the funds needed to finance our adoption.  --Ruggards

Thanks Ruggard family for sharing your heart and your journey with us.  It's amazing for us to be able to see our God, the Ultimate Provider work in your lives!!

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Thank you...

We couldn't help but share this heart felt thank you we recently received from the Couch family. Your donations make stories like this possible!

Dear Lifesong for Orphans,

We write you this note to express to you our deepest thanks for the matching grant to bring our newest little one home from Ethiopia. Our family has experienced the gospel lived out through the adoption of our two youngest and we are refreshed again through the process of our new adoption.

Thank you for your part in fulfilling God's plan for our family. May God continue to bless you for your important work in something so dear to HIS heart!

Thank you,

Montie and Sally Couch & family

To learn more about adoption grants and interest free loans, click here. 

Galesburg, IL family featured in local newspaper

James and Melanie Kochersperger know the joy of adoption first hand! This past September, they welcomed their son BJ into their home and can't imagine life without him!

They write,

Dear Lifesong for Orphans,

We have completed the journey and are now home with our precious 21 month old son named B.J.! We lov ehim dearly and can't imagine life without him. Your organization played a huge role in our adoption and we can't thank you enough! You brought our friends, family, and church family together in a way that created a miracle for us! We can honestly say that our adoption was only successful because of how God worked through your organization! God is using you in a big way and we are truly blessed to have been a part of it!

Thank you and God Bless You!

The Kochersperger Family (James, Melanie, and BJ)

Check out the newspaper article here.

We want to take this opportunity to thank our donors who make stories like this possible each day! Take a look at that smile and praise God for His faithfulness in bringing children into their forever families!

God was orchestrating a plan...

As Joshua and Bethany Taylor were in the midst of the adoption process, she writes,

While I complained about not having “children of my own,” God was orchestrating a plan to bring two precious children into our lives.  While I grieved and whined out prayers to God, unaware that He had already sovereignly answered, He was shaping a heart in me to not just be a biological mother, but a spiritual mother.  I’m growing even more now to understand who a mother really is, and that being a mother is so much more than biological DNA."

After much anticipation, Joshua and Bethany flew to Ethiopia in January of 2009 to bring their precious kiddos (Fekadu and Tigist) home!

 Lifesong for Orphans was blessed to have helped this family by providing them with a matching grant.