Dear Family and Friends,
We are the recipients of a $3,000 matching grant from Lifesong for Orphans. Every dollar donated will be matched dollar for dollar. 100% of the funds will go directly to help cover our adoption expenses.
"A father of the fatherless...God setteth the solitary in families... " Psalms 68:5-6
Most of you know the desire that we feel God put into our hearts for building our family through adoption. We have been incredibly blessed already with Emily and we cannot wait to grow our family again. We are adopting two little girls from Ethiopia, we have accepted their referral and hope to travel this summer before the court closures in August. The girls are ages 7 and 4. As a family we've been excitedly praying for them and getting our home ready.
Did you know it is estimated less than 10% of all orphan children are adopted into evangelical Christian families? According to current estimates, if only 10% more Christians in America would adopt, it would be equivalent to providing homes for all the orphans in Eastern Europe (1.5 million), Latin America (400,000) and the US foster care system (150,000).
Some of you are probably wondering what has prompted us to adopt. Well, primarily, we've felt so clearly directed by God to adopt that we want to obey Him, and we also desire to give our soon to be orphaned daughters a family. God desires for orphans of all nations to be loved, cared for and adopted into Christian families - ultimately so they can become saved, and be adopted into His eternal family through Jesus Christ! There are so many things God has used to prick our hearts and move us to adopt, here are a few:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will - Ephesians 1:5
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this,, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction... James 1:27
A mission trip to Guatemala in 2007 where the Lord spoke into Ricks heart about going to Africa
The biggest challenge for us is not opening our hearts and home to more children, but it is the funding of finances to make this happen. We estimate our total cost for adoption fees, document preparation, home study, airfare, travel, etc to be $ $25, 000-$30,000 - that's certainly money we don't have, but we know God is faithful and is leading us to trust Him. By Gods grace we've been able to pay the initial $6,500.
Honestly, it's a little difficult (because of our pride) to make our needs known to the Body of Christ around us, but we also know it's very Biblical to do so. We appreciate your friendship very much and would like you to pray and consider helping us in our adoption. There are two ways you can help:
1. Prayer - Please pray God would tenderly care for our girls in Ethiopia until we are able to bring them home, that God would prepare Emily for the upcoming changes to our family, and that God will give us wisdom, discernment, and insight as we raise our girls to know Jesus Christ. Please join us in praying for our girls birth moms salvation as she is not expected to live much longer.
2. Financial support - Will you please consider making a tax deductible donation to help us pay for the remaining $16,000 in adoption expenses, to bring our daughters home?
If you would like to be a part of God bringing our girls to Himself through our family, you can send your tax deductible gift between now and May 21st to the address below. Lifesong is a trusted organization administering the funds on our girls behalf, and will pay adoption expenses out of the funds received.
1. Please make checks payable to: Lifesong. In the memo section of your check please notate Davis #2725 (*Note: In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to Lifesong which retains full discretion and control over its use.)
2. Mail checks to:
Lifesong for Orphans
Att: Davis/2725
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744
Thank you for investing in the Kingdom through prayer and finances - it will be an investment with an eternal reward! ( Matt 6:20) We'll give you an update with a picture and details as we receive them. Please pray this entire process will glorify God and fulfill His purposes!
In Christ,
Rick, Connie and Emily
