The costs associated with the adoption process are broken out and are applied and different stages. Our goal for the first fund raiser in June was to raise enough money for our home study - God provided enough for the home study, our passports and our Hague training. The next large payment was due when we sent our Dossier to the agency last week - over the summer we began focusing on the money needed to submit our Dossier to China - through fundraisers and personal savings we were able to send that out as soon as the paperwork was ready last week! The next payment needed is when we accept our referral (when we receive our daughter's paperwork and file our Letter of Intent to adopt her to China). After this we focus on our travel and in-country expenses.
We initally planned the timing of the Race to coincide with our Dossier submission, but with the additional yard sale, some generous personal donations, and our pinching of some pennies at home, we did not need to use any funds raised from the Race to submit the Dossier.
So...
What does that mean??
Along this journey we have prayed that God would provide everything we need when we need it - He has been faithful to us and blessed us at every stage. In our human nature, though, we have prayed that God would just maybe provide some in advance... that is just what HE did! Over the past three weeks in addition to the sponsorships and donations received from the race, we have received gifts from friends and family - - all together HE has provided just enough to cover all the fees for our referral (our referral that we have yet to receive!). What an encouragement to us - He is preparing the path to our Makenna!
It's time to raise the thermometer - are you ready???
The total raised through "Race for Makenna" (drumroll...)
$2,667!
We are currently 55% funded!
I hope there is a smile on your face!
It is so exciting for us to see God providing, to see our friends and family willing to journey with us so that there will be one less orphan in the world!
But... can I be honest?
I
STILL
DISLIKE
FUNDRAISING!!!
I said it from the very beginning - it's not comfortable to ask for help. We don't like relying on others to bring our daughter home - it feels weird...
Then there's a big BUT...
we couldn't do this without all of YOU!
We started this journey - a journey we were CALLED to walk. We walk in obedience and trust - trust that God will continue to provide everything we need. As uncomfortable as we are NEEDING your help, we know that this is where God wants us - we aren't called to be comfortable. We are called to care for widows and orphans - that means different callings for different people. For us... we are called to adoption. God doesn't call the equipped, HE equips the called. For us... that means providing the money we need to bring Makenna home.
We have prayed about each fundraiser we have approached, and we believe that each has been an opportunity for us to share our love for adoption and to raise awareness of the orphan. The past six months have been busy - busy with preparing our dossier and busy with raising the funds needed to get us where we are today. As we prepare the next phase of this journey, Jason & I feel like it's time to take a break, time to be still and focus on our attention on praying for our daughter and preparing our family for her homecoming. God has used many wonderful fundraising opportunities to get us HERE - and we trust that he will provide everything we need to get us THERE. For now, we are going to take a break - wait on the Lord for His leading. We still have a way to go - there's another 45% of that thermometer to fill - we need to see how HE wants to get it filled! We are excited to see what God has planned for us over the next several months, and we are so glad that you have chosen to journey with us!
With a very grateful heart,
Jessica
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