Common Questions

by Steve

Why do we want to adopt?

We want to adopt for several reasons, but the main reason is simple: we want to adopt because God has adopted us. We want to love because God has loved us. We want to reach out to the needy because God has reached out to us when we were most destitute in sin and pulled us to Himself.

God’s love and joy is a boundless and overflowing wonder. Before time began, in His perfect Triune self, each Person had abounding, overflowing love and joy toward the other persons within the Trinity: the Father loving the Son and the Spirit; the Son overflowing with love for the Father and Spirit; and the Spirit overflowing in love for the Father and the Son. This love and joy overflowed into time and space as God poured it out into creation. It flowed through history and into our very hearts and lives. Our desire to adopt is a continuation of that overflowing of God’s love -flowing out from us to a needy orphan.

Why there?

Why international?

When we look at orphans in general, there is such a disparity between the standard of living of domestic orphans and those of 3rd world countries. They are all in desperate need of love and care! How can we see this and do nothing?

Why Ethiopia?

There is no super-spiritual reason for Ethiopia really. Right now it just seems to be the most straight forward for the price. Russia is easier and much quicker, but it is also very expensive. We do not have the finances to do that (...at least this time).

Why now?

Evie has had a burden for some time. I have been more hesitant. I struggled to try to come to grips with the massive problem of the millions of children who need parental care. I still do not know how to process this problem that has no solution. We live in a fallen world that groans, longing to be set right.

I have been dragging my feet. At the start I said that we need to get other things in order before we move forward in adoption. I came to see that my “being responsible” was actually motivated by desires to advance my own little kingdom. It was a lack of faith because in my heart I was depending upon myself and my ability to get my life in my own perception of orderly. My hesitance was hard on Evie, who is very burdened for orphans. She was never a nag, but she did pray much.

Another reason for adopting now, is that we want to bring our child home before our boys get too old so that they can be closer in age. This adoption will take a very long time (2 plus years). So we want to get going on it so that the boys will still be children when we bring our new son home.

How are we going to pay for this?

This is really the area that I wanted to have all our ducks in a row before we started on the journey. You know, not that I wanted all the money in the bank -I know God can provide, but I wanted to make it as easy as I could for God. But God does not want my help, He wants my humble worship. God will provide.

We plan to:
Cash-flow: I will be working more overtime at work as I am able. Side jobs often come up as well. All these moneys will go toward the adoption.
Fundraisers: We have some links to some fundraising organizations. Also, I’m sure we will be having Garage sales and the like!
Grants: There are many grants available for adoption. We will apply to as many as we can.

As we start this journey, we really just want the adoption process to be over already so that we can bring our little one home.
We are deeply grateful to our pastor/friends Jason and Steph Webb for going before us and sharing their journey with us.