God has used this adoption journey to bring to light quite a number of my sins: self sufficiency, lack of faith, selfishness, and jealousy to name a few. As we began planning and preparing for our benefit meal and auction, my prayer was that God would increase my faith. Over and over I have seen God provide for me financially with mission trips, school bills, travel, and many other areas. But with this adoption, I’ve really struggled with trusting God to provide. Maybe it is because it is by far the largest sum I’ve needed from Him at one time. Maybe it is because we do have good jobs, some money saved, and decent credit that would allow us to get a loan if we wanted to. Maybe it is just that I haven’t been faithful to exercise my faith as I ought. Maybe it is all of those.
But praise God, He wants me to trust Him, and wants to help me to trust Him, and never tires of proving Himself faithful! We held our auction fundraiser last night, and saw around 130 of our friends, family, and church family gather to support us, and show their love for our children. We auctioned off around 60 items, all donated for the cause, and were overwhelmed with the response. Bids totaled $6,868!
I had not really thought about what it would be like to sit back and watch God move in people’s hearts to give generously in order to bring our boys home. It was incredible! So, so humbling. What a testimony of God’s grace, and a picture of His body loving orphans as He loves orphans.
The night was full of fun moments, but I think the best part was the live auction. Jon, Larry, and Tom did such a good job! I felt like I was back in 4-H at the sale! What fun!
At the end of the night, Jesse and I went home exhausted but encouraged. We went ahead and opened the donation boxes, and were completely floored at the outcome. God provided through the generosity of His people $10, 393! In addition, over $5,000 of that total was in checks made out to LifeSong for Orphans to be used for the $2,500 matching grant they awarded us. So, when all is said and done, in one night God raised $12,893 to bring our boys home! Praise be to God!
This coming week we will see what we need to do to get the money where it needs to go so that our dossier can be sent to Ethiopia. Thanks to all who came, prayed, gave, planned and served to make this fundraiser a success for the glory of our children’s True Father.
Where in Scripture did God ever tell someone to do something and not provide all that was needed to accomplish what was commanded? You are acting in obedience to the command to care for orphans in a way that is tougher than sending a check each month, and God will provide! Remember that there are two orphan boys that God is caring for right now and He is working out the details and timing to bring them into your home, Mom and Dad. When you get discouraged remember that He is above all red tape and bureaucrats. He controls all rulers and governments. God is Sovereign, yesterday, today and forever!
Praising God with you!!!! We were at KSBC from 1991-95 and again from 2001-2002
God has done amazing things to give us our children from Korea and we are so excited to see what He is doing through your family! God bless you on the journey and we praise Him for being the Father to the fatherless! Let us know if we can help or encourage you in the rest of your process!