Fund raising has been a huge part of this adoption. It was something we hadn't done before and honestly we'd never really considered it. However, we knew if we adopted again we'd have to. There just was no other way around it. Its been hard. Very very hard. A lot of work. Did I say ALOT of work? Our faith has been challenged and it has grown. I laugh when people have an issue with fund raising, its as if they think we sit back waiting for it to rain money or just hanging out expecting others to "pay for our child".
So. Not. The. Case.
We have cut every corner possible in our own budget, we scrimp and save every little bit we can. I'm going to put it out there and say that this is the case for most fund raising families. Some families I know didn't have anything else to cut! We have worked our hineys off with yard sales, T-shirt sales, packaging, shipping, etc. This is way harder then it was paying for an adoption "on our own". (I say that loosely, while we didn't fund raise or borrow money from anyone the first time we still firmly believe God provided all of the funds to bring Silas home, we give Him ALL the glory) I find this adoption journey so much more humbling, so much deeper then I did the first time. There's a reason for that. The friendships we've made and some we already had have deepened as we've walked this journey in faith. This isn't just about bringing our daughter home, this is about an entire community. A community that loves deeply, fights fiercely, cares endlessly, rallies together, and above all gives ALL glory to our King of Kings. NONE of this would be possible without Jesus Christ. None of it. Coming together in community is the way God designed it. We are reminded of that in Ecclesiastes 4:12 - Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
That's Unity.
Keeping it real.
Through this process there has been lots of weeping. Weeping because of being weary, weeping because of feeling over whelmed, weeping because of the unknown, but most of the weeping has been from the incredible outpouring of support we've felt from our friends, family, and strangers. It is humbling to be in this place. Humbling to see how many people love us, our family, and especially our daughter. To be able to share with her someday just how much she was loved. How many people came together to bring her into our family is incredible. Such an amazing picture of how much our Father in Heaven loves us. He loves us so much He was willing to sacrifice His son. For us. We will do whatever it takes to bring our daughter home. Ultimately this is Gods daughter and He has already done it. We just get to wait and see how He will finish it out. For the sake of one. One little girl we get to call our daughter.
I've heard so many times from people that they'd adopt if they had the money. I always always always have the same reply; "Don't put God in a box, He funds what He favors, we're a walking example of that". Gods heart is for the orphan. ( “Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.” —Psalm 82:3) The down trodden. He places the lonely in families. (For in You the orphan finds mercy. -- Hosea 14:2c) That translates to us. We get to do this. Some will adopt. Some will foster. Some will support those adopting. All are equally important. We can all make a difference.
It breaks my heart when people discourage and down right mock fund raising families. Its judgmental and frankly its rude to decide the heart of people based on what you "think" you know. As a fund raising family we've been there. We choose to respond to those that mock in grace, the same grace God has extended to us. In keeping it real you might lose friends in this journey but if you do, you have to ask yourself if they were true friends to begin with. The bottom line is if God has called you to adopt HE will provide the funds. He has simply asked us to obey and care for His children.
Faith isn't built on what we currently see but what we cannot see.
So. Not. The. Case.
We have cut every corner possible in our own budget, we scrimp and save every little bit we can. I'm going to put it out there and say that this is the case for most fund raising families. Some families I know didn't have anything else to cut! We have worked our hineys off with yard sales, T-shirt sales, packaging, shipping, etc. This is way harder then it was paying for an adoption "on our own". (I say that loosely, while we didn't fund raise or borrow money from anyone the first time we still firmly believe God provided all of the funds to bring Silas home, we give Him ALL the glory) I find this adoption journey so much more humbling, so much deeper then I did the first time. There's a reason for that. The friendships we've made and some we already had have deepened as we've walked this journey in faith. This isn't just about bringing our daughter home, this is about an entire community. A community that loves deeply, fights fiercely, cares endlessly, rallies together, and above all gives ALL glory to our King of Kings. NONE of this would be possible without Jesus Christ. None of it. Coming together in community is the way God designed it. We are reminded of that in Ecclesiastes 4:12 - Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
That's Unity.
Keeping it real.
Through this process there has been lots of weeping. Weeping because of being weary, weeping because of feeling over whelmed, weeping because of the unknown, but most of the weeping has been from the incredible outpouring of support we've felt from our friends, family, and strangers. It is humbling to be in this place. Humbling to see how many people love us, our family, and especially our daughter. To be able to share with her someday just how much she was loved. How many people came together to bring her into our family is incredible. Such an amazing picture of how much our Father in Heaven loves us. He loves us so much He was willing to sacrifice His son. For us. We will do whatever it takes to bring our daughter home. Ultimately this is Gods daughter and He has already done it. We just get to wait and see how He will finish it out. For the sake of one. One little girl we get to call our daughter.
For those on the fence.
I've heard so many times from people that they'd adopt if they had the money. I always always always have the same reply; "Don't put God in a box, He funds what He favors, we're a walking example of that". Gods heart is for the orphan. ( “Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.” —Psalm 82:3) The down trodden. He places the lonely in families. (For in You the orphan finds mercy. -- Hosea 14:2c) That translates to us. We get to do this. Some will adopt. Some will foster. Some will support those adopting. All are equally important. We can all make a difference.
It breaks my heart when people discourage and down right mock fund raising families. Its judgmental and frankly its rude to decide the heart of people based on what you "think" you know. As a fund raising family we've been there. We choose to respond to those that mock in grace, the same grace God has extended to us. In keeping it real you might lose friends in this journey but if you do, you have to ask yourself if they were true friends to begin with. The bottom line is if God has called you to adopt HE will provide the funds. He has simply asked us to obey and care for His children.
Faith isn't built on what we currently see but what we cannot see.
17 comments:
Thank you for sharing! Beautifully said! Prayers for you adn teh your Princess will be home soon!
That would be and that your sweet Princess.. :o)
AMEN!!!!!
Erica,
Thanks very much for posting this. We can sooo relate. We've had to funraise for the entire adoption, along with saving, using Christmas bonuses, etc. And we have found that some people don't "get it" The look on some faces is, "if you can't afford it, you shouldn't be doing it." Sad, so sad.
God has been faithful all along this path though. We have found that if He's calling you to adopt, He WILL provide the funds needed.
Thanks for being bold enough to address the issue.
Blessings!
Well stated. Couldn't agree more. Thanks for having the courage to say it out loud!
Beautifully said, Amen!
You just shared my heart in a much better way than I ever could!!! I have the same feelings when it comes to our adoption journey and the fundraising we are doing. Thank you for sharing this!!! ~Pam
I love this post Erica. Thank you for sticking up for all of us fundraising families!
GREAT POST! You are such a beautiful example of how obedience and creativity combine in such a God-way! You are being a wonderful Real Life example of how God provides when we are in His will! Keep up the awesome fundraising. It hurts my heart to think that someone would have a negative attitude toward fundraising. I say, keep responding in grace. THEY are the ones who are SOOOO missing out by not "getting it!" Keep showing all of us how God shows up when we are persistent and believe! Blessings to you and your family!
Love this post! God has taught us so much through our fundraising, and He has completely blown us away by His provision! Amazing!
Beautifully written my friend!!!
Erica, I've followed your blog for a while and love what you're doing. The words you've written here are SO true. We used all our savings for our adoption. God provided and that was how He chose to. Now, I feel Him pulling on my heart to say "yes" to another adoption. I'm tired emotionally and physically and I was spiritually tired too. And yet, in His mercy, He has renewed me. But do you know what scares me the most about adopting again? Not the stupid, long paper chase (well that does a little!) not the waiting, the medical issues all of that......it's the thought of raising money. It's fear of man. So, thank you for what you said today. Blessings~
Thanks for sticking up for us fundraising families! :)
YES - so glad that you wrote this!
Thank you for writing this! It was just what I needed to hear. We are having to fundraise for our adoption too, and it's absolutely exhausting... especially when most of the people in our lives just don't get it. But I know that it will be SO worth it, and that God will provide a way. :)
Hi Erica,
May I copy some of this post? (And link back to your blog and give you full credit of course?) As we have begun fundraising, I have received more than one snide comment and raised eyebrow. You say what I want to more eloquently... and, as you have already gone through the process, your words hold more wait. Let me know... Blessings to you and yours either way!
Karly
Amen!!
What complicates matters for me is that my agency is very anti-fundraising! This is my third adoption and first time fundraising. I have lost friends during the process...not one family member has supported my fundraising efforts nor have many of my friends...none of those I considered to be "close" friends. It's hard. I'm so glad others out there "get it!"
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