Thigpen Adoption Round 2!

Joseph and Laura Thigpen
Joseph and Laura Thigpen Tallahassee, Florida

“Motivated by theology, not biology.”

It’s a line we’ve heard many times and now often use ourselves because it really does describe how we view adoption. Adoption was on our hearts even before we were married.

Even then, we saw the Lord intimately involved in the care of orphans in the Scriptures, and we understood that we are now children of God, adopted into His family.

Adoption has turned out to be one of the firmest resolves we’ve ever held. And, I say resolve purposefully here, because we had no idea just how important resolve would be in the adoption process.

OUR FIRST ADOPTION JOURNEY

After falling headlong into deep sorrow over the loss of a baby in miscarriage three years into our marriage, we began to wrestle with the “why nots” of pursuing adoption. We were young, not making much money, still in school, busy helping and serving in our church which was only 2 years old – the odds seemed against us at the time. But, with the encouragement of our church family, our family and our friends, we felt confident that the Lord would provide for us and sustain us in the process.

4 years, 2 months, 19 days…

2 adoption agencies

3 home-study updates

2x the original estimated cost

A ban on intercountry adoption

& the assistance of the United States Congress

…that’s what it took to bring our daughter home from Ethiopia in December 2017. We were resolved to pray and seek the Lord’s help, and we were resolved to bring our daughter home.

Through much fundraising and the generous giving of so many, we were able to cover the cost of her adoption. Through the faithful support of our church family, friend and family, we were able to link arms with the other families caught in the ban to advocate to our Congress for intervention. And, through the faithful prayers of our faith family we saw the Lord melt mountains like wax before our eyes – what seemed utterly impossible not only became possible, but completed.

ADOPTING AGAIN!

So, here we are again; round 2! We have been in the process to adopt a little boy from Colombia for about a year now, and it’s not at all been surprising to us that in the middle of our second international adoption we’re facing a global pandemic, which has affected so much of our process.

Already, we’ve experienced delays in getting paperwork done and increased costs. We’ve faced unusual circumstances, to say the least, and it’s become our posture to assume something will inevitably veer of course. We’re already asking big things of the Lord.

Nevertheless, we can confidently say we are walking this journey with an assurance unlike what we had before – the Lord held us, sustained us, and provided everything we needed in our first adoption, and so we we’re resolved to move forward in faithful obedience with a profound knowledge and understanding of the Lord’s kindness and faithfulness to us.

We are so grateful for all those who have, are, and will support us through prayer and financial giving.

It is truly a gift of grace!

FUNDRAISING

We are waiting to receive our referral any day now and hoping to raise the funds needed to complete our adoption.

We are so grateful for Lifesong for Orphan’s ministry! Through their ministry and the generosity of First Baptist Orlando, we’ve received a MATCHING GRANT OF $4000! That means, every dollar raised up to $4000 will be doubled!

By God’s grace, we’ve been able to cover the initial $20K in fees up to this point through small fundraisers on our own and our personal adoption savings. Now, we’re hoping to fundraise the entire remaining costs for our adoption, but we can’t do that alone.

THANK YOU for supporting us! Your generosity is making an eternal impact!

Gratefully,

Joseph, Laura, & Eliza

(Thigpen Party of 4, coming soon!)

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

John 14:18


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 “Thigpen 09324”, 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.
Read more
Raised to date by 18 people
 of  $20,000
Campaign Ended

My Story

“Motivated by theology, not biology.”

It’s a line we’ve heard many times and now often use ourselves because it really does describe how we view adoption. Adoption was on our hearts even before we were married.

Even then, we saw the Lord intimately involved in the care of orphans in the Scriptures, and we understood that we are now children of God, adopted into His family.

Adoption has turned out to be one of the firmest resolves we’ve ever held. And, I say resolve purposefully here, because we had no idea just how important resolve would be in the adoption process.

OUR FIRST ADOPTION JOURNEY

After falling headlong into deep sorrow over the loss of a baby in miscarriage three years into our marriage, we began to wrestle with the “why nots” of pursuing adoption. We were young, not making much money, still in school, busy helping and serving in our church which was only 2 years old – the odds seemed against us at the time. But, with the encouragement of our church family, our family and our friends, we felt confident that the Lord would provide for us and sustain us in the process.

4 years, 2 months, 19 days…

2 adoption agencies

3 home-study updates

2x the original estimated cost

A ban on intercountry adoption

& the assistance of the United States Congress

…that’s what it took to bring our daughter home from Ethiopia in December 2017. We were resolved to pray and seek the Lord’s help, and we were resolved to bring our daughter home.

Through much fundraising and the generous giving of so many, we were able to cover the cost of her adoption. Through the faithful support of our church family, friend and family, we were able to link arms with the other families caught in the ban to advocate to our Congress for intervention. And, through the faithful prayers of our faith family we saw the Lord melt mountains like wax before our eyes – what seemed utterly impossible not only became possible, but completed.

ADOPTING AGAIN!

So, here we are again; round 2! We have been in the process to adopt a little boy from Colombia for about a year now, and it’s not at all been surprising to us that in the middle of our second international adoption we’re facing a global pandemic, which has affected so much of our process.

Already, we’ve experienced delays in getting paperwork done and increased costs. We’ve faced unusual circumstances, to say the least, and it’s become our posture to assume something will inevitably veer of course. We’re already asking big things of the Lord.

Nevertheless, we can confidently say we are walking this journey with an assurance unlike what we had before – the Lord held us, sustained us, and provided everything we needed in our first adoption, and so we we’re resolved to move forward in faithful obedience with a profound knowledge and understanding of the Lord’s kindness and faithfulness to us.

We are so grateful for all those who have, are, and will support us through prayer and financial giving.

It is truly a gift of grace!

FUNDRAISING

We are waiting to receive our referral any day now and hoping to raise the funds needed to complete our adoption.

We are so grateful for Lifesong for Orphan’s ministry! Through their ministry and the generosity of First Baptist Orlando, we’ve received a MATCHING GRANT OF $4000! That means, every dollar raised up to $4000 will be doubled!

By God’s grace, we’ve been able to cover the initial $20K in fees up to this point through small fundraisers on our own and our personal adoption savings. Now, we’re hoping to fundraise the entire remaining costs for our adoption, but we can’t do that alone.

THANK YOU for supporting us! Your generosity is making an eternal impact!

Gratefully,

Joseph, Laura, & Eliza

(Thigpen Party of 4, coming soon!)

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

John 14:18


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 “Thigpen 09324”, 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.
Read more

Received Our Matching Grant !

April 19, 2021

Fundraising Update

We are so excited to share that we raised enough money so far to receive the $4000 matching grant! Thank you to so many of you who have supported us along the way so far!

We are still fundraising, though, as you can see. We aren’t sure just yet how much travel will cost, especially given the ever-changing variables concerning the pandemic. Once we receive our referral we’ll have a better idea of what those expenses will be. Speaking of referral…

 

Process Update

A quick update on where we are in the process — we are still waiting to receive our referral. That’s right. Our dossier has remained “in review” for six months now. We’ve had a few setbacks, rounds of updating certain documents, and getting clarification on some things, but hopefully we’re past that and ready to move out of “review” and on to receive our referral. 

The waiting is hard, but we remain hopeful! Would you pray with us that we receive news soon of our dossier being accepted very soon? 

 

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Comments

$1,000

DONOVAN

Dec 31, 2021

$64

John

Sep 1, 2021

$44

JOHN

Aug 2, 2021

$200

Lance

Jul 15, 2021

$76

JOHN

Jul 4, 2021

$40

John

Jun 1, 2021

$50

Janice

May 28, 2021

“Love to the three of you!”

$40

John

May 3, 2021

$36

John

Apr 2, 2021

$100

Amy

Mar 12, 2021

“Best wishes”

$100

John

Feb 2, 2021

$400

Offline Donation

Dec 31, 2020

$4,000

Offline Donation

Dec 31, 2020

$500

Charlotte & Danny

Dec 21, 2020

“We l♥️VE Y’all”

$70

Rina

Dec 10, 2020

$3,500

Offline Donation

Dec 7, 2020

$200

Geoffrey

Nov 12, 2020

$75

Matthew

Nov 9, 2020