We began our adoption journey 7 years ago, but the timing was not right and the Lord put a pause on our process. Fast forward to last November 2022, the Lord clearly called us to begin the process again as a response to James 1:27, which was being preached.
We knew we wanted to team up with Lifeline Children's Services due to their heart for the Gospel and their honorable reputation. We saw an Instagram post of an older sibling set of three children from Brazil being advocated for. We reached out to Lifeline regarding them, and once we saw their pictures and files, we knew they would be the children we would adopt.
We are grateful that the Lord paused our adoption process 7 years ago because He has something much better prepared for us. Ross is retired from the military, so we have stability, we have a supportive Gospel church community who have hearts for vulnerable children, and our biological children are older, so we were open to adopting an older and larger sibling set.
Our process has moved at a very rapid pace and the Lord has been so faithful each step of the way. We are matched with S, S, and S and are currently awaiting I800 immigration approval from the United States for the children to become US citizens. As soon as they are approved, their visa processes will begin and we will be traveling just a few weeks later to bring them home.
Brazil does have a mandatory 30-day bonding period in the country before the adoption is finalized. This gives us a chance to bond with the kids and get to know and appreciate their culture. We will be in Brazil for about 6 weeks in total before we can bring them home. As soon as their feet touch US soil, they will be US citizens!
Our community has been so generous in helping us fund our agency fees. We still have some unmet financial needs in regards to travel being more expensive than originally anticipated as well as in-country fees and mandatory post-adoption home visits for the first two years they are home.
We are so grateful to the Tim Tebow Foundation for giving us a $7,000 matching grant and Lifesong for Orphans for giving us a $3,000 matching grant. This means that these organizations will match up to $10,000 raised!
Thank you for any amount you are able to give to help with our travel and post-adoption expenses to help bring S, S, and S into our family.
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 “Jackson 10633”, 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