Dear friends and family,
Our family and our picture is missing someone! And so, James, Luke, Hamilton and myself would like to humbly ask you to partner with us as we pursue adopting from Ethiopia. Both James and I have for some time felt called to adopt. Over the last year, we have prayed and have asked God to direct our hearts into His will for our family and to give us wisdom as to what adoption would look like for our family. In exploring different options, we feel that God has lead us to pursue adopting from Ethiopia. There are several reasons for this. Ethiopia has one of the greatest needs for adoption, it is one of the more straight forward countries to adopt from, and the least expensive of international adoptions. In addition to these, it has always been a dream of mine to adopt from Ethiopia. Having grown up in Kenya which is just south of Ethiopia, I (Jenny) developed a love for Ethiopia and got to watch several families adopt from Ethiopia. God is so good to give one a spouse who is like-minded. Even though James has not had the same experiences as I, as I have shared my heart with him, God has drawn his heart to Ethiopia as well.
If you know anything about adoption, it is not a simple process. Honestly, we feel that it requires so much more than if we were to choose to have a child of our own. Every step of the way, we are depending on God. It is a tender and emotional process as one considers all of the motherless and fatherless children worldwide that need the tender love of the Father to embrace them. There is a lot of paper work involved in the process as well as the almost forbidding cost. Fortunately, we have an incredibly awesome God whose heart is for the orphan. His word is full of promises for the orphan and those who depend on Him. Proverbs 23:10 says "Don't stealthily move back the boundary lines or cheat orphans out of their property,
For they have a powerful Advocate who will go to bat for them." (The Message).
As a follower of Christ, God calls each one of us to care for orphans and widows. However, not all of us are called to adopt or to work in an orphanage. So as a family, we are asking you if you would care for our orphan? Would you partner with us as we start on this new adventure? So far, this is one of the greatest leaps of faith we have taken. But again, we have an incredible awesome God who specializes in the impossible! How many times in the Bible, has a situation appeared humanly impossible, and yet our God has shown up and provided beyond human expectations? Our desire is for God to receive all the glory as we watch Him move through you and us in this adoption process. It is so exciting to watch God work and we want you to be a part. Our prayer for you as you partner with us, is that your own faith would increase.
There are several ways that you can partner with us. Most importantly you can PRAY. Included is a bookmark with specific prayer requests, we will try and keep you updated throughout the process through email and our blog so you can see how God answers your prayers and new ways in which you can pray. Second, you can HELP US RAISE FUNDS for our adoption. The total cost of the adoption is estimated to be $20,000-25,000. Now, you can see why this seems humanly impossible! Many of you have been impacted by the challenges of our current economy. Our family is experiencing the same and yet we still feel that God is wanting us to continue to pursue adopting. Like Gideon in the Bible, God sometimes reduces our resources so that only God can receive the glory for what is accomplished. In raising the money, we are finding items in our house that we don't need and are selling them on Craig's List and at garage sales. We have had one garage sale and will be having another one in October. Thank you to those who have already donated items for us to sell both on Craig's List and at the garage sales. A friend of ours who does fund raising with local schools has allowed us to work for her stuffing envelopes to help make money for the adoption. Also, I am using my Mary Kay business profits to go toward the adoption as well. James is mowing our neighbors yards for a minimal charge to serve them but also to make some extra money to go toward the adoption. Is there a way that you can contribute? A sweet friend has committed all of her profit from a business that she has to us from August- December. Small things when put together with a powerful God multiplies and creates big things! We are in the beginning stages of the paper work, doctors visits for physicals, etc. Next is the home study which costs $3,500. After the completion of our home study, there are some options for matching tax deductible donations. You can contribute financially. Would you give a financial gift? Would you consider switching to a Mary Kay product instead of the brand that you currently use, knowing that it is backed by a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee, shipped for free and that the profit is going toward adoption? If you currently use Mary Kay items, would you host a party, share a catalog with some friends or point them to my website, www.marykay.com/JennyBare? Would any of you like a custom shade for your home, whose profits go toward our adoption? Go to shadethatlamp.etsy.com to order one. Do you know anyone who would be moved by our cause and want to give toward giving an orphan a home? We are already overwhelmed by your compassionate and generous hearts. Thank you so much! "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you" (James 1:27). Deuteronomy 24:19 says "If you forget to bring in a stack of harvested grain, don't go back in the field to get it. Leave it for the poor, including foreigners, orphans, and widows, and the LORD will make you successful in everything you do".
Thank you for being the wonderful friends and family that you are. Thank you for joining with us on this very exciting journey. We are so blessed by you.
Blessings to you in abundance,
James, Jenny, Luke, Hamilton and our future baby Bare
*Luke keeps on asking when we are going to get his baby sister....we tell him, in God's time. It is wonderful that he is excited as well!
