Dearest Friends and Family,
We can’t thank you enough for all the love, support, and prayers that you have shown and given to us already as we have pursued growing our family through adoption! And for those of you who don’t know yet, we’re adopting! 😊 We would like to share with you a little bit about how the Lord has led us here and where we are currently at.
How we got here:
“Blessed…blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” 1 Peter 1:3. This is the verse that came to our mind when we lost our first baby. We recently heard a friend say that God not only allows trials, but He designs them. We did not see this design coming, nor God’s design of losing another baby the next year. Although this has been a hard road of infertility and loss, we fully trust that this is the road that God has used to lead us to grow our family through adoption.
Our heart for adoption started over eight years ago when our precious niece was brought into this world. By walking with our sister during her pregnancy and multiple years of being a single mom, the Lord laid it on our hearts to perhaps pursue adoption someday. We wondered if we might walk with a birth mom as she faces one of the hardest decisions of her life.
Although we did not see this timeline or circumstances coming, we are so thankful to God for leading us here. By God’s grace we now wouldn’t have it any other way, and we are so excited to see what He has in store! He is our blessed Father, and we are so incredibly blessed in Him. We pray that this journey will bring Him all the glory and honor.
Where we are currently:
We recently passed our home study, and we are now in the waiting phase! While we wait, our aim is to raise $50,000-$65,000 through Lifesong, which helps cover birth parent expenses, agency fees, legal services, medical costs, travel expenses and other things that pop up on this journey! Although this can seem like such a big number, it has humbly reminded us of the highest of costs that Jesus Christ paid on the cross to adopt us into His family: His very life.
We currently have a matching grant with Lifesong for $6,000 (becoming $12,000) as we work our way towards our goal. We’re so grateful for this ministry in helping us! A really cool thing to know about Lifesong, as well, is that if we do not need all the support we raise, it gets to go toward another family’s financial needs in adoption.
If the Lord lays it on your heart, we would be so humbled to receive your prayers (which we desperately need!) or join us financially in raising these funds. We can’t thank you enough and are humbled to our depths for every person joining us on this journey.
May you be blessed and to God be the glory,
Nate and Derah
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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 “Schellenberg 11823”, 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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<li>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.</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>*3.5% fee for donations given with an American Express card</li>
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