Adoption journey

Over the past year, the Lord has been growing, teaching, and challenging our family in so many ways! We are responding to the Lord's leading and are expanding our family through the adoption of a precious baby!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Our new adoption journey!


Over the last few months God has placed on our hearts the desire to adopt a child from Ethiopia. We are so thankful for God choosing us and adopting us as His children through Jesus Christ. God’s gracious love for us is overwhelming and we have a desire to show God’s love to the nations.

In Ethiopia, one of the world's poorest countries, more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Millions of people in Ethiopia face unceasing food and water shortages, and much of the population lacks access to clean water, health care, and education. The country is about twice the size of Texas and has an estimated 4.3 million orphans. The children are primarily orphaned due to poverty, and live in both government-run and privately established orphanages.

We are blessed to be the parents of two amazing boys, Evan and Benjamin! We are delighted to trust the Lord, as we expand our family through adoption. One of the scriptures that God has used to direct our journey is James 1:27; “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” We have entered into the process of international adoption and we cannot do it alone. We are asking for your support and encouragement through this exciting journey, and your prayers as this process could last over a year and will require significant financial resources.

The financial burden of this process, approximately $30,000, is a little overwhelming. However, we are trusting that God, who is calling us into this journey, will provide for all of our needs. Would you join us on this journey by praying, helping through fundraising, giving financial contributions, and encouragement?  Some of our fundraising ideas include a benefit dinner, garage sale, cooking/bake sale, or other fundraisers. We would greatly appreciate any of your wisdom and help through this process of bringing our child home.

Please pray for:
(1)   Our family as we go through the long process of adoption
(2)   That God will provide all the funds to bring our child home to his new family
(3)   Evan and Benjamin through this transitional and exciting time in their life of getting a new little brother or sister; and for the time they will be away from mommy and daddy while we are in Ethiopia
(4)    The child that God has for our family.
(5)   That God would be given praise and glory through every step of our journey!

Thank you for all your love and support! 

Josh, Kelly, Evan and Ben

2 comments:

  1. Very exciting stuff, Kelly. I know a couple of families who have adopted from Ethiopia and have had wonderful experiences. My wife and I have been in prayer about adoption for some time and the door just has been open for us yet, though we were able to start a ministry in our former church for orphans and foster children. We will be praying for you as you continue to seek God's leading in this wonderful journey!

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  2. Kelly, this is SO exciting! What a wonderful, wonderful thing. If I can help in anyway at all, please let me know.-Melissa Pate

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