Some amazing friends of ours with huge hearts for adoption have decided to match all donations in this account UP TO $1000!!!
Here is our adoption story so far:
Travis and I have discussed adoption throughout our marriage. There have been two opportunities where we were in contact with young girls that had become pregnant and were contemplating abortion. We told them we would adopt their child or help them find someone who would. Both girls did decide to parent their babies themselves.
As we have had three biological children of our own, and in marriage, we had kind of thought four may be the number of kiddos we can be faithful with (but we are open to God changing that) the question of adoption became more forefront. One friend I talked with in June, 2016, had adopted through CCAI and shared their journey and also the need for people to adopt in China. My heart connected to China then, but knew God needed to move both Travis and I to a clear leading.
In August of 2016, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease, so adoption talk was put on hold as I fought for my health. As I felt better and adoption became a topic of conversation and prayer again, we also decided it would be wise to move to a bigger house before we got too far along in the adoption process. After Travis gave his blessing for CCAI, I contacted them in June 2017, and learned we could begin the process of the application before we moved. That evening, Travis and I filled out the adoption health checklist. In China only children with special needs are adopted. I remember telling Travis I wasn’t sure about deafness, but he thought we could do it, so it was one of the needs we accepted. The next night we filled out our application and waited in expectation.
We did not hear anything for a few months, but in those months we moved, which kept us busy. In September of 2017 we actually heard we had been matched with a little girl before we our application had even been accepted. This news shocked us and even though it was hard, we both had a peace saying no to this little girl. Our agency did apologize for the delay and we did receive our acceptance letter shortly thereafter. Around this time, I began more specific prayers for our future child.
On October 4, 2017, I received another call saying we had been matched again; this time with a 13 month old little boy with undeveloped ears. We read his history, looked at his picture, prayed together and separately for God to lead us, asked questions of our agency which they graciously answered, and talked together. As my heart was down the road a little farther, on October 10, Travis left a note on our mirror saying, “He’s our Boy!!” That morning I also wrote down the verse from my quiet time: “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation…Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel-he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!” (Psalm 68: 5 and 35). In this passage, God reminded me of his heart for the fatherless but also that I would not be doing this on my own strength but on the strength and power He gives His people through His Spirit
His Chinese name cannot be shared online at this time and his American is not decided (we’re taking input 😉 ).
Since we were matched quickly, we have been working on paperwork furiously to make sure we can do all that is in our power to bring our son home with us as quickly as possible. There are many unknowns regarding his bilateral ear malformation and wondering if he will be able to hear with intervention (the doctors who looked at his file did think this was a good possibility.) but again, I am reminded we must walk by faith not by sight and trust God He has led us to this little boy and will continue to lead us each step of the way.
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 “Neidert 7590”, 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.