Hello Family and Friends,
The Prescott family is growing! We’re excited to announce that we’re adopting from the country of Hungary!!! We hope to adopt siblings (Chelsea is praying for twins so they can be the same age) in the age range from 2 to 8 years old.
Adoption has been on both of our hearts for a while, even before we were married we had said how we would be interested in possibly adopting one day. We love how adoption beautifully pictures how God has adopted us into His family through faith in Jesus. That’s why 1 John 3:1 has been our theme verse in this adoption journey - “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!” Originally, our plan was to pursue pregnancy first and then adopt so that we could get some parenting experience prior to adopting. However, this changed once we learned that it would be highly unlikely for us to have a natural pregnancy due to infertility issues. We believe that God works in every thing, even our infertility, and so it was at this time that we determined to immediately pursue adoption.
Why Hungary? Well, at first our plan was to adopt from Poland since Stephen’s grandmother is 100% Polish; however, we experienced a detour on the Poland track when this country decided to shut-down their international adoption program. We know that God works in these detours though and,
with the help of our adoption agency, we switched to Hungary since this country is also located in Eastern Europe and would allow us to adopt siblings. And, who knows, we may still get to adopt children with Polish roots from Hungary since Hungary really isn’t that far from Poland.
As for where we’re at in the adoption process, we’ve finished our home study (this is when a social worker completes a report on our family) and our adoption agency, Lifeline Children’s Services, mailed this report and some additional documents to the Hungarian government back in June. As most of you know, Stephen is currently deployed with the US Army (another detour!), and so we’ll start to receive referrals near the end of his deployment so we can be matched with some children. When Stephen returns, we’ll hopefully first have some time together to reconnect and then we’ll travel to Hungary for the required six-weeks to meet the children God has for us and go through the local court system before bringing them home.
The adoption process involves lots of paperwork, training, and as most of you know lots of payments as well. Unfortunately, the cost of adoption can often prevent a family from adopting, which we wish wasn’t the case. That’s because there are lots of children in this world who need a family and we need more people to adopt, not less. Stephen and I have been doing our best to get rid of debt, budget, and save; however, with $42,000 being the approximate total cost for the adoption we wanted to give our family and friends the opportunity to be part of this with us since this is what will give a couple of children both a home and two parents who love them, take care of them, and show them Jesus. At this point, Stephen and I have been able to pay nearly half of the total cost (Praise God!) and have even received some grants (which have been a blessing!) and at this point still have $15,000 left to pay for the adoption.
So, please know that there are two ways for you to be involved at this time as our family and friends…
-
Bless us and the children God has for us through prayer. Please pray for...
-
The Lord to direct us to the children that we’re the right fit for as parents and that are also the right fit for Stephen and I.
-
Our children to come to know and love Jesus at a young age.
-
The Lord to help Stephen and I with this big transition called parenting.
-
Our children to adjust well as they transition from Hungary to the United States and into our family - please pray for God to work in them to bond with Stephen and I.
-
Provide the remaining financial support we need.
AND/OR
-
Bless these children with a forever family with your generosity. If 100 of our family and friends each provided $50 for these children, that would cover the cost listed above! Thankfully, we’ve even received a $4,000 matching grant from Lifesong for Orphans which is a non-profit Christian ministry dedicated to help meet the needs of orphan children around the world. Our goal date for this grant is February 29th, 2020, but please know that donations can still be received until the adoption is complete.
*** 100% of all funds donated through Lifesong for Orphans will go directly to cover adoption costs and all gifts are tax-deductible. Any additional donations above $4,000 will not be matched but will still go to our adoption fund.
In all of this, we thank God that He’s adopted us into His family and that we get to share this gift of adoption with two precious children. We also thank God for you - our family and friends! Thank you for reading this letter and also for your love, prayers, and support!
With love in Christ,
Stephen and Chelsea Prescott
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 “Prescott #8445”, to ensure it is credited to our account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, 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.