We are pursuing a little one from Colombia! Some of you have asked how we chose to adopt from Colombia, so here's a nutshell of our process thus far.
Before we had finalized our first adoption of our daughter from Ethiopia we had hoped to adopt from Ethiopia again. However, 24 days after arriving home from Ethiopia with our precious daughter, Ethiopia's Parliament voted to ban inter-country adoptions. The country is now closed to inter-country adoptions - we were one of the final families to complete an adoption, which just seems so wild to us. We were heartbroken about not being able to adopt another Ethiopian child, and we're continuing to pray that Ethiopia will one day soon open inter-country adoption again.
In early 2019, we started praying more seriously about adopting again seeing how well our daughter was adjusting, and knowing the next adoption could take just as long as the first, we didn't want to wait too long to begin again.
Honestly, we were very seriously considering adopting from China or India. Colombia wasn't really on our radar. We have friends who have adopted from China and India, and we also have friends who are doing amazing work in these countries caring for the abused, oppressed, and neglected, so we were already familiar with both countries and the orphan crisis each are experiencing.
But, we didn't have a resolute feeling one way or the other - China? or India? This was a constant question for several weeks and months even. We talked with close friends, we prayed and sought direction from the Lord, all the while sensing it was time to start the process. So, we decided to move forward with China, expecting that if this were not the program we should be with the Lord would redirect our steps.
The day we went to complete our agency's China application we were drawn to the Colombia program (through a series of events I will share at a later point and time). It became very clear as we made a plan to follow in obedience, the Lord was ordering our steps.
And so, we're hoping to have a little one from Colombia home in about a year's time - Lord willing. This isn't our first rodeo - we know and are expecting hurdles and hiccups (we've already experienced several thus far).
Eliza is SO excited to have a brother/sister, though we know she doesn't quite know what all that entails yet, we think she's going to be an amazing big sister!
Where We Are in The Process
We are currently finishing our home study. We actually began the process in October. Everything was going pretty smoothly, and quickly, until we hit a small hiccup. We're waiting to complete one more item on the checklist before our home study can be completed, but once that's done, we'll be working on our dossier (which may take a couple of months to complete as well). As soon as our dossier is complete, we'll be ready to receive our referral.We've already paid some pretty substantial fees for the process, and will have another large fee due at the completion of our home study. So, we're also starting the fundraising process, too. :)
How You Can Help
Pray
Please pray for us regularly. We can testify that prayer was the single greatest influence and factor in our first adoption. Without so many of you praying with us and for us, constantly and regularly, so much could not have happened.More than anything, we need prayer to the Father who has called us to walk in faithful obedience to give us all that we need to endure.
Fundraisers
Yes, we'll be raising funds again. The average adoption costs around $39K - our first adoption ended up costing significantly more than we had ever planned, but the Lord provided every cent we needed to complete her adoption and her re-adoption in the States (that's a blog post for another day!). So many of you were SO generous over the 4 years it took to complete her adoption, and we still give thanks to God for all of you.I have often revisited my spreadsheet with every name who gave and every dollar given to help us bring our baby girl home, and it overwhelms me with gratitude and joy. To see how our church, friends, and family supported us financially, emotionally (with all of the ups and downs), and prayerfully... we echo Paul when he says to the church in Ephesus, "I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers" (Eph. 1:16).
And so, we're starting with a T-shirt fundraiser through bonfire -- we did one before and it was such a fun fundraiser and it's still exciting to see people wearing their shirts! This time, we'll do a series of shirts instead of just one.
But, here's our first design: The ABBA Shirt
As Christians, we believe we have been adopted by God through the saving work of Jesus Christ, and we can now cry out to God as His children, calling Him "Abba! Father!"
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:14-17
This is why we chose to do The ABBA Shirt campaign.
This is the heart behind our adoption - our theological beliefs about our great God and heavenly Father have motivated us to reflect who He is through adoption.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
To purchase a shirt (long sleeve or short sleeve), sweatshirt, or a kid's shirt ;) go to this link:
https://www.bonfire.com/the-abba-shirt/
Order now and receive your shirt by VALENTINE'S DAY! :)
Thank you for your generous support!
-Joseph, Laura, & big sis Eliza :)
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