Adoption has touched our lives significantly. Asha’s mom was a young college student, pregnant, unwed and feeling pressure to end the pregnancy when she was told at the clinic that she was one week too far along for a walk-in procedure. With the support of family and friends, she then made a courageous decision to give life to Asha. Asha’s adopted Dad entered her life when she was 8 years old. Both of us have experienced brokenness in our families and the joy of redemption through relationship, and we’ve both felt a strong desire to grow our family through adoption.
Ten years ago, when we married, we dreamed of the day we would get to adopt a child into our family. Through a lot of prayer and paperwork, we trust that day is drawing near. We have been in a domestic infant waiting pool with Hope’s Promise in CO, Zoe’s House in KS/MO and Christian Family Services in St. Louis for the past few years. We love the way that all three of these agencies care for the expectant families they serve and provide them with a great deal of support throughout the process.
While the wait for us to receive a match has lasted years and at times has felt really hard, we can see that it has been full of purpose. We are seeking to prepare our hearts to welcome this precious child/ren. We have been spending time with other adoptive families, reading books on adoption and attachment, and listening to podcast resources for adoptive families.
Aslan and Braven pray often for their new brother or sister. We are all longing to meet and hold this new member of our family.
We are so grateful to many of you have who have sent in generous donations already which, alongside the matching grant of $6500 that we received from We Care for Orphans Adoption Fund and Lifesong for Orphans, has helped us with our homestudy and agency program fees.
Another path to being matched with expectant parents that we have is through the network of ethical lawyers and agencies that our consultant has a relationship with, but while there have been many more situations than with our local agencies, these situations so far have proven cost prohibitive. Many of them are in the $50-65Ks, as legal fees, medical fees and birth parent expenses are included. We have desired to present to many of these expectant parents, but have not been able to as yet, as we simply don’t have the required funds due at match. So, we’re sending this update here in hopes that we can raise the $20,000 more that we need to be able to say “YES!” when we get a situation for a child that needs a family.
Thank you for praying for us, walking with us, encouraging us, and resourcing us in this journey. We are so blessed by your friendship and will keep you updated!
With love,
Gregory and Asha
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 “Johnsen 10146”, 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.
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