Four years ago, in early 2017, Brian and I saw a photo of a little boy we couldn’t forget. He was with a foster care organization in China we had recently connected with, so we began seeing updates about him every few months. And every time we saw him, we prayed again that a family would come. Though we didn’t know it yet on that day in early 2017, we were just a few weeks away from seeing our Giddy’s face for the very first time. We would travel to Korea, bring our son home, and be absolutely smitten by our little boy’s big joy as we learned to be a family! And another few years would pass, years spent praying every chance we got that God would raise up a family for this other little boy we couldn’t forget.
In late September 2020, days after I turned 30, Brian and I both felt God stirring us to begin the adoption process one more time. We talked about returning to Korea, an easy choice for our family because it was a program we already loved. But every time we started down that path, it just didn’t feel right. One night, as we prayed once again for this precious little boy in China, still somehow waiting for a family, we suddenly looked at each other and said, “Are we the family we’ve been praying for all these years?”
And over the last 8 months of home study visits, paperwork, and unexpected conversations, God has made it abundantly clear that we are. It was us. It was always him. He is our sweet Sam! We have received his referral, and now we face a very unknown process and timeline. Our hope and prayer is to have our boy in our arms by the end of this year, though we know it could be much longer than that. After almost four years of praying for this precious little boy, we will (hopefully) soon get to call him our SON. And we just can’t wait.
Our adoption expenses for this adoption are estimated to be about $45,000 but could be higher pending quarantine and travel restrictions when we are able to travel to our Sam. We are so grateful and humbled to share that we have been awarded a $5,000 matching grant through Lifesong and a $5,000 matching grant through the Tim Tebow Foundation. That means that every dollar given to help bring our sweet boy home - up to $10,000 - will be matched dollar for dollar. $10,000 becomes $20,000...which would get us to almost half of the total adoption!
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 “Troyer 09656”, 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.