Adoption Update III

It’s been awhile since I updated much on the adoption front.  In large part because when it comes to getting our girl, there isn’t really much to update on.

We are still waiting.  Our country has slowed down a bit after opening (as was expected).  They went from averaging about 2 months from dossier to referral (which would have had us traveling already), and now it seems like 6 months is more likely.  Even that is guess work though with governments and money at play.

So we wait.  Some days patiently, savoring comfortable rhythms and predictability, sometimes impatiently as her state of life wears heavy on our hearts, and some days flat out fearful as we grow more accustomed to the familiarity and freedom as a family of 5, and the realization of how much of that we will be giving up.

We live life open endedly, non committal.  Our reality is that we could get a phone call that would have us on a 2 week overseas trip, within 2 weeks of the call.  We could get that call tomorrow, or this fall, or worse.  We don’t know (although August seems to be what our family coordinator is expecting.  I’ll believe it when I see it).

Thankfully in the midst of all this limbo, we have had some good news.

We first became aware of an organization that focuses on helping the orphans in a variety of ways through friends of ours who were adopting.  They received a matching grant from this organization, and continued to partner with them in a variety of ways, mainly focusing on foster care.  After watching their interactions, I was really impressed, and tucked the organization away in my mind.

Fast forward awhile to when we finally had all of our paperwork submitted for our adoption and had a moment to breathe and think a little more about the financial side of adoption.  Per lots of research and recommendations, we were directed towards adoption grants.  Thankfully there are several organizations and churches who are passionate about supporting those who have a heart for orphans, and use grants and other support systems to help do so.

After applying for a couple of grants, we were contacted by the same organization our friends had partnered with, Promise 686, and asked for a sit down interview.  Already knowing about the organization, and the extent of their involvement and heart for orphans, I was excited!  We ended up having the opportunity to meet with the President of the organization and the hour slotted for the interview went well over as we enjoyed talking so much.

As I told a friend later about the interview “you know when you meet people that are just so totally sold out for Jesus, and loving others that they spread that light wherever they go?”  I left the interview encouraged, inspired and determined.  As if those feelings weren’t enough, we got the call the next week that we had been approved for a $4,000 matching grant!  Hooray!

For every $1 we raise, Promise 686 will match it, up to $4000.  Which means, with your help, we can get $8,000 to help toward our adoption expenses!  Such a blessing, and weight off our shoulders!

If you hang around this website much, or have previously donated to our adoption, you will now notice that where there used to be two Pure Charity fundraisers over there —-> there is now just one.  Mainly because, between support and the grant, and our own money, we should have enough to cover all of our agency fees!  Thank you, Jesus!  So now, if people choose to give, we are asking that they do so first to Promise 686, so we can reach the matching $4,000.  After that we are focusing on our travel expenses, which is what our Pure Charity account that is still up —–> is for.

Below is our support letter which we are sending out to friends and family, and posting here for our more techy friends.

If you feel led to give through Promise686, you can either do so online, here, (select the 203 Kelly Adoption Campaign.  Click “more on this campaign”, or “make a donation” both of which have links where you can give online), or go right over there —-> and up a little to the Promise 686 rectangle and you can give directly through this site.  If you would like to give through mail, the address and details are below in the letter.

Our hope is that we can have all $4,000 raised by August, so in case we do get the call with our referral, the remaining agency fees due at that time will have been raised, and we will only be looking ahead at travel fees (you know…only $20,000 or so ;))

We cannot begin to thank those of you that have supported us, encouraged us and prayed for us enough!  What financially and emotionally seemed like an insurmountable mountain has been whittled down to a large hill that looks so much less daunting, and that’s because of you!  Thank you for loving us and our daughter so well!