In 2023 we welcomed our son Dev home from India through international adoption. We have been utterly amazed at how the Lord has worked in our lives over the past 6 years (we began our first adoption process in 2020).
He has been faithful to us in every stage and season.
He’s reminded us again and again of His great love for us — and our son.
He’s given us wisdom and patience, when we were stretched beyond ourselves.
He’s given us more joy than we thought possible
We are honored and excited to pursue another adoption from India!
Background on Our Story
God began calling us to adoption long before we married. When I (Chelsea) was 18, I was diagnosed with a somewhat rare medical condition that prevents me from bearing babies biologically. At the time, all I could see was loss. But with time, the Lord heals wounds, restores, and redeems. A scar is left, but it serves as a way for the glory of God to shine even brighter in our lives.
A big reason why our family cares so deeply about these issues is because I (Chelsea_ was adopted from Romania as an infant. I grew up with five siblings who were adopted internationally.. I look at my own adoption story and see both the brokenness and the beauty. The reality is, there’s always loss involved in any adoption story. While I was adopted at birth, that doesn’t change the fact that there’s a break in my story. Anytime there’s a fracture in the natural family, loss is involved.
But in the loss, the Lord brought restoration and built something new. While there will certainly be parts of my children’s stories that are unique to them and their backgrounds, the way they enter our family is the same as the way I entered my family—through adoption.
Michael never considered adoption before falling in love with Chelsea. Now, I (Michael) cannot imagine our lives without it. Just as God chose us, we have the distinct blessing of choosing our family and acting out the gospel story through family formation.
We always tell Dev that adoption means he is loved and chosen. We remind our dear son the story of how the Lord adopts us into his family, calls us his very own children, and invites us to call him “Father.” We will soon have the privilege of telling this story to our second dear child.
It Takes a Village
They say “it takes a village” to raise a child, but for adoptive families, it often takes a village to bring them home too. We can’t do the adoption process alone—we don’t have all the physical, mental, or emotional resources we need.
Hundreds of people were involved, in some capacity in bringing our son home, and we’re already looking forward with anticipation to how the Lord will write our family’s story for our second adoption.
From the bottom of our hearts — thank you. We are eternally grateful for the people who chose to enter into our story through financial generosity!
– Michael and Chelsea
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 “Sobolik 12000”, 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