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Piece of the Puzzle Fundraiser

Faith and Finance

As Erica and I prayed through our adoption decision, my biggest hesitation in jumping in and moving forward was finances. How would we pay for international travel, attorney fees, home studies, translations, government agency fees, and countless other unknowns?

We started setting aside funds from selling produce from our backyard garden nearly 2 years ago and even had a small garage sale and misc. craft sale to try to get us started. When we filled out and submitted our first application package we had only about $1,400 set aside out of nearly $45,000 in anticipated expenses. How would it all work out? Turns out that God knows what He is doing.
Turns out that God knows what He is doing.
Our application fee with our Adoption Service Provider (ASP) was $300. Then there was a $400 application fee to the Home Study Agency and then a $500 cost for IAAME costs (Intercountry Adoption Accreditation and Maintenance Entity, Inc.) . Suddenly, we were approved with both an ASP certified internationally with Brazil and with a Home Study Agency here in New Mexico. Everything was fitting together nicely and we were $1,300 in to our $1,400 start-up fund!

On the one hand; every piece was fitting together, and on the other hand, what to do next?

The Process

I mentioned a moment ago that we estimate our adoption costs at about $45,000. Perhaps I should step back and walk through the process, because the adoption costs are not as daunting as they seem when broken down throughout the process. It kind of looks like this:

  • Application - $1,300
  • Home Study - $5,000
  • Government Fees - $4,000
  • Dossier - $7,500
  • Referral - $7,200
  • Travel - $15,000
  • Finalization - $5,000
  • TOTAL ESTIMATE - $45,000
Not everything can be done simultaneously and there are likely some months of waiting during the Dossier and Referral periods. Since we have completed our initial applications and been accepted as clients with an Adoption Service Provider and Home Study Agency, the next big step is completing the Home Study.

The Home Study involves background checks, personal interviews, home visits, and other information about our family in order to determine that we have a safe environment and the ability to accept more children into our family.

Evaluating how to finance this process led us to multiple options:
  • Personal Savings - $1,400 started with, and adding more monthly
  • Tax Credit - $13,570 (per child, NOT received until after adoption is finalized)
  • Grants - $????? (most are not eligible until the Home Study is finished)
  • Fundraising - $5,000 (this is our first goal, as it will pay for the Home Study!)
There are dozens of Christian adoption support agencies who provide Grant funding to families in need during their adoption process. We look forward to applying for them and seeing what God will provide through those options, but the Home Study has to be completed first.

Erica and I really don't want to borrow any money in this process. We have been reading a book by Julie Gumm entitled "You Can ADOPT Without DEBT" which has been insightful and interesting at the same time. While we do not have a vacation home to sell or a country club membership to cancel, we do have a plethora of family and friends who have asked repeatedly "how can we help?" So ... we decided to embark on a creative fundraiser.

How can You Help?

Our first fundraiser is called "A Piece of the Puzzle" and you can help by donating to our adoption fund. For every $5.00 that you donate, your name will be written on the back of a puzzle piece. We are putting a 1,000 piece puzzle together to frame and give as a gift to our future adopted children. The back will be filled out with information about the people who supported us (and them) along the way.

Even better, between now and Christmas, all of your gifts will be matched by a generous anonymous donor.

All Gifts between now and Christmas will be matched!
Please consider giving to our adoption fund. Any amount is appreciate and will be applied to getting our Home Study completed as soon as possible so that we can put the next pieces into our adoption puzzle.

Thank you in advance for your prayers and your contributions.

Click Here to Donate

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