"Just Get a Grant"

After having three people ask me this exact same question over the last week I thought I would address it here. The question they were asking was "Why bother with all this fundraising? Just apply for/get one of those adoption grants."

It seems as if the impression most people have is that there are millions of dollars available in adoption grants and all you have to do is apply and you will have all the money you need for your adoption. This could not be further from the truth. We applied for a total of five grants. We were turned down for two of them, and the other three we still have not heard back from even after many months. We still have three application packages that we are working on, which each take about 10 hours to complete.

To put things in perspective consider this information that was shared by one of the groups we applied to:
-- They had a total of 12 grants to give for a total of just under $40,000
-- They had 1,300 applications
-- Giving the requested grant to each of these families would have required over $500,000

The bottom line is that the need for adoption grants greatly exceeds the amount of funds that are available. So if you have been holding back from supporting an adopting family because you believe they can/will "just get a grant" please reconsider. Adopting families need the support of their churches, families, and friends to carry out God's plan to care for the orphan.

Garage Sale for Orphans

Sigh...

This is the update that we got from our coordinator at the stateside agency today:
"There is currently 4 weeks worth of files waiting on the Minister to approve for families to travel. Your file is in "the pile". I have no idea how long it will take to hear something. The Minister is being SO slow and unpredictable right now. As soon as we hear anything, I will let you know!"

Heavy sigh....

And a few tears....

Please pray for A.J. to be safe and healthy as we continue to wait to bring him home. Also please pray for his heart and mind to be ready to become part of a family. He has waited so long already and he is growing older and older as we wait for beuracracy to move.

Whispers

I don't even know where to start in describing this to you, so you will just have to go here to read Amy Block's post about their work in Guatemala. The fact that these people are forced to live like this while I sit here in my comfortable home watching baseball and enjoying the company of my family has shaken me to the core. I am praying that God will use that post to grab your attention like it has mine.

The Block family has been led to start Village of Hope Guatemala to help meet the needs of orphans in this impverished country. You can read about that here.

Recently I have been so overwhelmed by the needs in our world that I just have not even known where to start with my prayers or my actions. We have been supporting the Block family with (very small) donations over the last year, and we have stepped out in faith to adopt but recently I hear God whispering in my ear that there is something more that we are supposed to be doing. 

Are you hearing any whispers from God?

Still Waiting

We are still waiting for our travel dates. The MOJ requested an addendum to our home study so it would specifically state that we were approved to adopt a child with A.J.s diagnoses. That document arrived in his country on June 5th. Accounting for a few days to get the translation done we thought we would hear something from our facilitator this week, but the week is almost over. :-(

I think I have said it before, but the closer we get to meeting him the harder the waiting becomes. Even a brief update and maybe an updated picture would be an amazing blessing to my momma's heart. I just want to know that he is O.K.

Eric was teasing me yesterday, saying that when I get a message from the facilitator y'all will probably find out before he does. :-). I am just so anxious to be able to share wonderful news with you guys! I promise that I will post an update as soon as we hear anything. Right after I call Eric. :-)

Please pray not only for A.J., but for all of the orphans who continue to wait for their families. While I am rejoicing that God has chosen us to be A.J.'s family, my heart breaks for those who have not yet been chosen.

Kona Inspired

Ironman (yes, the Ironman) is holding a contest called Kona Inspired. They have given the general public the opportunity to submit a 90 second video based on the idea "Anything is Possible". The winner of the contest wins a spot to race in the Ironaman World Championship in October! This person will be racing as a media athlete and will have the chance to share his or her story with the world. How cool is that?

And the best part is one of the contestants is the founder of RODS Racing and a huge supporter of Reece's Rainbow where we found our little man! Can you imagine how many people would learn about special needs adoption, the plight of the orphan, and ways we can be involved in caring for the least of these if he won?

Do you have a minute and a half to spare? Click here to view his video and then vote!