Pre-Adoption Fundraising Update!

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. -Romans 11:29 (ESV)

Wow, wow, wow! Big news today guys! WE JUST BROKE OUR FIRST $1,000 FOR OUR ADOPTION FUNDRAISING!!!! To your right, you'll find our Adoption Fund o' Meter has been updated to include all of our most recent donations, payment for services/products I make (listed below), and our super-tight budget savings. So often these days I get overwhelmed by the big picture. I can feel like I'm not doing enough to raise the funds for the grand total of $40,000. It's in my mind every waking hour. I even find myself dreaming about fundraising--searching for anything I may be overlooking or missing completely. But no matter how many times I get in a rut of doubt over whether or not we'll even get to just our preliminary goal of $4,000, God continually and consistently shows me His unfailing love, understanding, mercy, and provision. And I'm humbled over and over again by the venues and vessels He chooses to show it. From my parents to complete strangers, God knows how to make His will happen. And wow, do I love the reminder that Jared and I are indeed pursuing God's will by adopting.

Speaking of reminders... 

Here is one below! It's the breakdown of what we are currently trying to raise funds for. So far, we are a quarter of the way there!!! That is so exciting! We need just under $3,000 to begin the adoption process---AHHHH! Would you consider helping us on our journey?

WHAT DOES THIS $4,000 COVER?

• Our $50 pre-application Fee. - PAID!
• The $300 Adoptive Family Profile Fee (the official application) - PAID!
• The $1,600 Home Study Fee upon approval of our Profile (Home Study includes months of interviews, home checks, safety checks, paperwork, etc, and is expected to be paid upon approval of our Profile.)
• The $150 International Parent Education Workshop (Where adoptive families will take a minimum of 10hrs of training and education required before bringing home their child.)
• The $2,400 Post Placement Fee (This fee covers additional Home Studies required by both our agency and South Korea for months AFTER our child has been brought home, and is expected to be paid along with our Home Study Fee.)

As you can see, the total for these fees exceeds $4,000. But we're setting this goal to get us started. We firmly believe the Lord wants us to adopt from South Korea, and wants us to do it without going into debt. Trusting in both His call to adopt and His providence over our journey, we know He will bring our child home!

SO HOW CAN YOU HELP?

There are a number of ways you can help us out as we raise the needed funds for adoption:

• PRAY for us! We covet those prayers, guys! Any and all prayers for our sanity, hearts, provisions, faith, and that baby boy or girl far, far away, will always be the most precious and needed thing for our family on this journey.
• VOLUNTEER your time/services! You can offer to help us out with one of our upcoming fundraisers! Just let us know you're interested and we'll be happy to add you to our volunteer list when we've got something going on. We've got something for everyone!
• BUY from my online shops! All proceeds go directly to our adoption fund and get added to that there meter-thingy! You can shop my Zibbet store here or visit my Etsy shop here.
• HIRE my voice over or voice lesson services! Drop me a line and we'll discuss! View my voice over profile here.
• WATCH for some amazing fundraising opportunities to contribute to!
• DONATE directly to our cause! Everything gets transferred/deposited straight into our adoption savings account and your contribution will be added to our meter! How do you donate? You can write out a check to us in person or send it by mail, or you can click on that fancy "DONATE" button just under our Fund o' Meter on the right side of this page. You don't even need a PayPal account to use it! (Just know that, although it is of no extra cost to you, any PayPal donations are subject to donation/transaction fees for us. They will take 2.2% and an additional $0.30 from a donation. For example: that's approximately $2.50 on one $100 donation. We would receive $97.50.)
• PRAY some more!!!

And as always, thank you to those who have already contributed to help permanently and radically change the life of a baby in need of a family. Our gratefulness is indescribable!!!

-Melinda