There have been a lot of pieces to our journey that have led us to adoption. When we were first married, we volunteered in the high school group at our church. It was there that we met a boy named Keith who was in and out of foster care. He became a very important part of our lives as Pat mentored him, and together we helped him in whatever way we could. Through Keith and his friends, we saw first-hand the struggles that foster kids face. We continued to walk along side of him and help him through high school and trade school. He now lives with us, attends church, and (before the pandemic) had a great job as a chef at a high-end restaurant. It was because of him and his friends that we began talking about fostering or adopting. Then after many complications with our twins, we began to realize that our family wasn’t going to look exactly like we had imagined it and part of that could possibly be adding a child to our clan who was adopted. After much prayer, we decided to start the process of fostering with the ultimate goal of adopting. We felt like financially this would be much less of a burden than a straight adoption. But after some wise counsel and much prayer, we decided that fostering was not the best thing for our stage of life. We were at a bit of a loss because financially it felt impossible to pay for an adoption. However, we were encouraged by many that if we stepped out in faith, the Lord would provide. So we decided to do just that and our international adoption journey began in August of 2020.
When we first met with the various country coordinators through the adoption agency, we learned about a unique need in the country of Bulgaria to adopt Romani children with Down Syndrome. The dehumanization and marginalization of the Roma people across Europe is tragic, and further saddening to think that so many lesser abled Roma children are being institutionalized at such a high rate. Specifically, Romani make up less than 5% of the population in Bulgaria yet the majority of children needing to be adopted come from this minority group who face deep and longstanding discrimination and prejudice. Due to poverty and limited resources such as health care, public transportation and sanitation, Romani children are abandoned at disproportionately high rates and are unlikely to ever be adopted domestically by Bulgarian families.
Since Bulgaria began deinstitutionalizing or shutting down the 24 institutions from the communist era, since 2010 a very small percentage of disabled children have been adopted. Additionally, it is still common for Bulgarian children with disabilities to be abandoned at birth with low chances of being adopted. Altogether there is a tremendous need to adopt Romani children with special needs, specifically Down Syndrome. These are children who are unwanted and rejected by the world. Yet we know that each one is made in God’s image and seen by Him. Even though we are all unwanted, flawed people, Christ adopts us into His family. We have always felt called to live out the gospel to our kids and we know that adopting a child who is unwanted by anyone else is one of the most tangible ways to show our kids how Christ adopts us into his eternal family. We are incredibly grateful that you all are on the journey with us.
Through Lifesong for Orphans, we have been giving an $8,000 matching grant. Everything you give through this website is tax-deductible and goes directly to our adoption.
You can also support our adoption by buying coffee! Follow this link to learn more about Gobena Coffee: https://my.gobena.org/stories/horan-adoption-fundraiser/
STRIPE charges an online processing fee (2.2% +.30 USD per transaction). Your donations will be decreased by this amount. You may also send a check payable to “Lifesong for Orphans”. In the memo line please write “Horan 09543”, to ensure it is credited to our account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 9, Gridley, IL 61744.
Lifesong has been blessed with partners who underwrite all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.
- In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to Lifesong for Orphans. This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.
- Lifesong is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Individual donations of $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request.