Since our last blog post, we have been working on the homestudy process...slowly plodding away at paperwork, online classes, more paperwork, homestudy interviews and more paperwork. Currently we are finishing up some online training which is the last step in our homestudy and then we begin the immigration process! This process takes 8-12 weeks. Then we start our dossier paperwork which is another 8-12 weeks. After that we wait for our referral. Right now, our agency says the wait time is between 1-2 years.
On the fundraising end, we are praising God that so far we have just over ¼ of the total funds we will need. We need to raise a total of $40,000-$44,000. We have been overwhelmed by God’s provision and the way He has used our community to provide. We are so grateful for friends, family and people we don’t even know, who see the vision of partnering with us in this adoption to care for the orphan. As believers, we are not all called to adopt, but we are called to care for the orphan (James 1:27). We can’t think of a better way to care for the orphan than to bring them into a loving family.
The Lord has taught us so much in this beautiful journey of adoption. Recently, as we read Isaiah 50:3, we were struck by these words:
“For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; JOY and GLADNESS will be found in her, THANKSGIVING and the voice of song.”
We were reminded of the fact that sometimes our infertility feels like a wilderness, a waste place of sorts. We sensed the Lord reminding us that in this seemingly fruitless place in our lives physically, He is actually making a fruitful garden for His glory. Thus far, He is doing it through this beautiful avenue of adoption. We have truly found ourselves in a place of joy, gladness and thanksgiving! God continues to fan the flame of our desire to parent more children. By His grace, He already has given us many children, in a spiritual sense. He has surrounded us with young people to pour into and parent in the Lord. We continue to trust Him to also do this in a physical sense...that our home may be full with the children He brings to us...whether it be through adoption, biologically, or both- that part is up to Him! But we are trusting our Father to establish the Whelpley family for His glory!
Minus One Adoption Benefit AUGUST 20th:
We are so excited about our upcoming benefit night on August 20th (details below)! Please join us for this fun family event! We are so thankful for our friends who have rallied together to organize this evening. There will be live music, food, crafts and face-painting for the kiddos, custom-made t-shirts, and a silent auction with an awesome variety of items being auctioned (themed baskets, sports tickets, jewelry, beach and cabin rentals just to name a FEW)! "Grab bags" will be available at the auction tables for the kids to purchase! We need your help to make this night a success by inviting your friends and family! Please feel free to share and invite them. All are welcome!!
If you cannot attend but would like to make a tax deductible donation, you can donate securely to our adoption fund online by clicking here.
