After your eyes are open to the reality of vulnerable families and situations, it’s hard to turn a blind eye. Before moving to Japan as missionaries, I (Janae) had been a licensed foster parent for 4 years, having placements as a single and while dating Josh. Josh became licensed after we were married in 2020. Soon after, we had a year long foster placement together.
Early discussions before we were married included openness to adoption and biological children. And our hearts were not directed otherwise when we were discussing starting a family in 2022. Who are we to decide how God should grow our family? A posture of open hands is what we want for our lives. So, when we decided to start our family, we pursued both adoption and biological children.
We firmly believe that God provides so many opportunities to make His name known through foster care, but we are excited about the permanency that adoption provides. We hope that the experiences we have had transitioning to life in a foreign country, struggling through language barriers and language learning, teaching English as a second language, and missing the familiar can help us be empathetic toward our internationally adopted child/children.
We are so grateful that Lifeline Children’s Services has helped us pursue adoption. Their heart to give children an opportunity to hear the gospel and see grace modeled in the context of families aligns with our purpose for adopting.
Having no preferences towards a specific country and given our circumstances as expats, Lifeline guided us toward adopting from Bulgaria. We are open to adopting a single child or a sibling group. We have no gender preferences and are wanting to adopt a child/children ages 0-6 with minor special needs.
In total, we are estimating adoption fees to be about $38,000. This includes home study fees, agency fees, U.S. and Bulgarian government fees, and travel. We have incurred additional costs (legal consultation, translation, interpreting fees) due to the nature of adopting internationally as expats.
We have been awarded $8,000 in matching grants from JFRH Adoption Fund Fund + Lifesong for Orphans. This means that about 40% of our adoption costs could be covered. We are so thankful to Lifesong for Orphans for this opportunity. Would you consider helping us in this step of becoming a family for a child or children in Bulgaria?
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 “Hofer 10959”, 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.
- *3.5% fee for donations given with an American Express card