Modern Day Miracles

Our adoption journey has been full of amazing twists and turns.  There have been many long hours pouring over paperwork, grant applications, fund raising work, conversations, and much more.  To be sure, there have been times of frustration and unrest.  We have learned that adoption is not for the faint of heart.  As many of you know, adoption is costly.  We have invested our savings, sold jewelry and many other personal items to raise funds. We have had small and some not so small donations along the way.  Our homestudy, dossier, and I-800A are all filed.  To date we had been able to meet all our financial obligations for the adoption.  And if you missed the last post, we are officially on the waiting list. :)

When we said yes to adopt, we knew this would be an act of God to provide financially.  Last week, on Sept 20 to be exact, we received our second decline (read rejection) in the grant process.  I was really upset by this news and cried out to the Lord.  I asked the Lord if I had misunderstood what He wanted for us and to reveal Himself to me.  I also prayed if He really did want us to adopt, to allow money to start coming to us.   Yes, I was doubting and afraid and fully acknowledge I looked like an Israelite.

Later that day Jamie shared with me that a pastor friend had called and his church would be taking up a love offering for us.  "That's great." I replied.  Did I remember what I had prayed?  Then that night I received  a phone call from a friend stating that her and her husband would be sending us $500!  I immediately stopped and shared my prayer with her.  My prayer had been answered (doubly) the very day I prayed.  How kind of God to confirm His plan to me before I went to bed.

Now this is where the story gets REALLY exciting.  The picture below is from 1997 at Camp Patmos when I was a camp counselor.  Before I had met Jamie, before I had ever thought about adoption, God was at work writing this story of adoption.  My path crossed Stephanie's who was also on staff.  We recently reconnected on Facebook, and she too is a pastor's wife and has a heart for the orphan.   Six days after my prayer, Stephanie called and shared her church would be giving us $10, 000!  Look at all those zeros!!  Now here's what is really, really incredible-the church is 75 members strong and in the last year and a half they have given $58, 300 dollars to adoption!!!!

We are overwhelmed by God's grace and glorious provision in our pursuit of our little girl.  We are so thankful that a small church in CT and an old friend from student camp (15 years ago) have a heart for the orphan.  All of this has collided in our life in an miraculous way! It has been 2 days since receiving the news and we are absolutely floored and praising the One who has adopted us in Christ.

With a cooperative effort from so many (our church family, a small church in CT, and many friends) the thermometer continues to rise!  Check it out!  The remaining amount just seems like change... To God alone be the Glory!

We are so thankful a huge mountain has been moved. The next group of referrals will be in December. We are moving up on the wait list- we're currently

We are excited to tell our little girl one day 

all the marvelous stories of her homecoming!