We have exciting news!!!! Our family of 7 is growing by one! We are so excited to be in the process of adopting!
Our story of adoption began years ago. For me (Karissa) I had a desire to adopt from a very young age. I begged my parents to please adopt a baby when I was young! I deeply desired to care for orphans. When I was 20, I was able to spend two separate occasions volunteering at Children of The Promise in Cap Haitien, Haiti. On my second trip to Haiti I realized that my heart’s desire was to return full time to the orphanage as a nurse. I returned to the states and began nursing school. During that time, Ben and I began dating, got married, I finished school, and we began building our family. Over the next ten years many changes occurred in our little family. We had five kids, started 2 small businesses, and were just plain busy. Although my desire to adopt was still near and dear to my heart, it just wasn’t the time.
In the spring of 2019 my husband came into our house and had been listening to the Christian radio station. There had been a program on about adoption. He walked into our home and announced, “I think we are supposed to adopt.” I was elated!!!!! I began looking that instant at agencies, country rules, etc. However, my husband is a bit more cautious and thoughtful than me 😉 He said, “I don’t think this is going to look like what you think. We might be adopting a 7 year old boy!” That stopped me in my tracks. He knew that my desire was for an infant from Haiti.
In the following year God was at work in both of our hearts. He was opening my heart to this being something that was COMPLETELY different than I had always envisioned and dreamed. In January of 2020 my husband was leading a study in our church on David Platt’s book, “Something Needs to Change.” Once again, God very specifically laid on my husbands heart that we were adopt while reading this book. This time I was a little more cautious in moving forward. Over the next few months we had many conversations about what this would look like for our family and the best way to move forward. I was able to lay aside my expectations and desires. We were both able to see that God’s plan is oftentimes very different from ours. He DOES give us the desires of our hearts. But, He is also able to change our desires to line up with the plans He has for us! He already knows our child.
After starting with a list of about 35 countries, we were able to rule out the majority of them- for many countries we have too many biological children, for some we would be required to live in country for some time, for some we felt the distance was too far with my husbands businesses and our 5 kids at home. We considered foster care to adoption. After looking into that- foster care was a closed door. In May 2020 we signed our contract with All God’s Children to adopt from Haiti!!!!!! It was a moment of obedience and faith. We knew that there would be many hurdles. We knew that Haiti was one of the most expensive countries. We knew that we live in a rural area where everything is “just a little harder.” We knew that our social worker would live 4 1/2 hours away. But, we knew that in all these things- God already knew too. And He has gone before us.
On August 31, 2020, we got our completed Home Study!!!! On November 11 we were approved for adoption with the Department of Homeland Security!!! Our dossier (piles and piles of paperwork....) is now on its way to be translated and submitted to IBESR in Haiti! We have seen God provide financially through a very busy work season for my husband. Through God’s grace and provision we have personally been able to pay $24,000.00 towards initial costs out of the gate for our adoption. We received a $2200.00 grant to cover our entire home study fee! And we have now RECEIVED A $6,000.00 MATCHING GRANT THROUGH LIFESONG! It has been amazing to see God’s provision and faithfulness through each step of this journey.
Number one priority- We want to start by asking you to pray for our family- our marriage, our children, and our child in Haiti. We knew that the moment we stepped out in obedience the enemy would begin attacking. He desires nothing more than for us to be discouraged, for our marriage to weaken, for our plans to be thwarted. But, by knowing his intent to destroy family- we are able to fight against him in prayer- and we ask you to join us in that.
Number two- Thank you for considering giving to our adoption. We have been so generously provided a $6,000.00 matching grant through Lifesong!!!!! Because of the matching grant we were provided- for every $1 you donate, Lifesong will match that dollar for dollar up to $6,000.00. We were so encouraged to be chosen for this grant and know that God has been in every single detail of our journey up to this point. He has so faithfully provided. And we are excited to tell the story of His continued provision. Thank you for being a part of our journey through your prayers and possible financial support. The average price for a Haitian adoption is $35,000.00-$45,000.00. By the time it is all said and done it appears that it will be closer to the $45,000.00 mark. However, God does not call us to something… and leave us hanging! We believe He has provided to this point and will continue. We would be honored if you would help us in our journey and be a part of the answer to our prayers! Thank you!
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 “Springer 9299”, 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.