God's Amazing Grace!

Taylor is usually in "charge" of the adoption blog and does a wonderful job, at that!  However, I wanted to write this particular blog because I, myself, need to brag on the Lord.  As many of you can well imagine, adopting one child is very expensive; adopting two children (at one time) is "crazy" expensive.  Craig is a full-time missionary evangelist (who heads a ministry which is faith-based) and I am a stay-at-home mom.  Having a faith-based ministry means that our family income comes from individuals, churches, and corporations who financially support our ministry, each month.  I say all of that to say that obviously, we are not wealthy (monetarily speaking).  However, those of us who know Jesus, are wealthy beyond measure, because we have a home in Glory! 

Since feeling led to adopt the boys, Craig and I have struggled with the logistics of the finances for the adoption.  We know that the Bible speaks against debt.  "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." (Proverbs 22:7)  But, how do you come up with $85,000?!  Yes, that's what is needed for our family to go to Russia and get these two little boys.  We, quickly, came to the conclusion that, indeed, WE couldn't come up with the money.  So, we decided to put it back on the Lord.  We knew if He had called us to this endeavor, He must have a plan to bring us the money.  So, we exhasuted what bit of savings we had and then waited.  Our initial savings was enough to complete the Home Study.  We had to have the Home Study finalized to proceed with the Dossier (formal paper work for Russia).  The first form for the Dossie requires a copy of the finalized Home Study to be sent along with it.  In addition, the cost for this one form is almost $1000.  This we did not have. 

This past week, we received the finalized Home Study in the mail.  I could, now, send the first Dossier form.  But, no, we had no money to send with the document.  Today, we received (from a precious young couple) a significant monetary gift that will allow us to not only send the document, but take us through the remainder of the Dossier and provide for half of our first trip to Russia!  (Russia requires you to make two trips-one to see the boys for an initial visit in the orphanage and another to bring them home.)  Do you see what the Lord has done?  He not only provided the money, but He was right on time!  He sent the money at the very same time the Home Study was finalized.  Monday, we will send off the first document with a money order.

Many of you probably think the couple who gave us the money is "well-off."  Well, they are not.  They are much younger than Craig and I and the precious lady stays at home with her young children.  They are not even related to us!  Why?  Why would they do such a thing?  They could have used the money for their own needs or, if they had extra, given it to their relatives.  Why give money to go toward our adoption?  Because, this couple values life and children.  They live in a modest home and are hoping the Lord will bless them with many more children.  At some point, in the near future, they will probably need a bigger home.  This special, young wife even told her husband, "I will live in this house forever, if it means Craig and Kim can adopt those two boys."   That doesn't even sound like a comment you would here in this "me" culture, today.  They are sacrificing for the lives of two children they don't even know.

Yes, I am bragging on this couple, but ultimately, I am bragging on the Lord.  He is the One who has done such a great work in the lives of this dear husband and wife and their love for Him is evident in their actions.  So, we praise the Lord for His amazing grace!  He is forever faithful.

No, we don't know where the rest of the money will come from for the remaining adoption expenses.  There is still a long way to go.  But, we stand on God's Word.  "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." (Romans 4:21)  He is able and we will trust Him...after all, the Lord is always right on time!  "The people therefore was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record."  (John 12:17)

Your prayers are appreciated!

Much love and blessings,
Kim and Family