GEEZ!
Ok let's see, first of all.......
OUR HOME STUDY IS COMPLETE!!!!!!!!!
N.E.X.T!
The next goal is our agency fee of $6,000.00.
Once this has been paid we can move forward to our Dossier (Doss-c-a).
As of today, we have $1,600 saved towards that fee!
I wanted to share a few things with you.
Recently when someone asks where we are I excitedly say: "Our HS is complete!!" and then follow it up with, "we are saving towards our $6,000 agency fee."
The response is typically a shake of the head and a "GOSH! Why is this so expensive!?!"
This process is expensive. But it's worth every dime.
Here is a break down of the cost.
Application fee:
Homestudy fee:
Agency fee: $
Document Procurement: $500
Dossier Translation & Registration: $2,400
CIS: $720
FBI Prints: $170
Foreign fee: $8,000
Exit Documents: $800
Travel (Approx): $6,000
Post Adoption Reports: $1,200
Total:
{UPDATE} PAID IN FULL 5-9-2012!!!!
Whew. When you break it out, it looks a little better. Well, sort of. Ok, not really.
I have permission to share with you a testimony of someone who just gave towards our agency fee.
Giving does not come easy to this person.
She is a single woman who makes just enough money each pay check to tithe, cover the bills had has a little left over.
She began asking the Lord what she could do to help us bring Lily home. If it was a financial donation or what.
She is currently doing a Bible Study on Nehemiah. She came to the part of the story where Nehemiah choose not to accept pay for his position as governor. He didn't accept the pay for 2 reasons: 1-by accepting this salary it would increase tax on the already burdened people & 2- He did not need more than he already had. {Neh 5:14-19}
He did not need more than he already had.
This was the word the Lord spoke to this woman.
You have enough. You don't need more than you already have. Give them $500.
And with that she wrote the check and gave it away.
Can I tell you, this has little to do with us getting a check for $500.
This has A LOT to do with what the Lord did in this woman's heart!
This was LIFE CHANGING for her!
The Lord gave her a specific word about what she was praying for!
Such a sacrifice for her. And in that sacrifice was joy! The joy of the LORD is our strength. By giving to another, our faith in the LORD is made stronger. Giving is an action we choose to take...it shows we trust Him with the best place to put the money He gave us in the first place. It's all about Him!
I love this!!! I love how the Lord is using Lily's story to bring stories of changed hearts and lives!
Such an honor to be apart of seeing Him work!
This process is causing us to evaluate our own hearts in so many areas.
How is our giving?
Would we write a check for $500 and give it to someone is need?
Or are we thinking of the next vacation, that new lens for my camera etc.
Would we even pray about giving to someone in need?
Can I be really honest with you and share that my best friend has brought home two children from China and we did not give a single DIME towards their financial needs.
Can I tell you just how ASHAMED I am to confess that?
She would call and share with me in celebration when she went to the mailbox and the Lord blessed them with a check and it didn't even cross my mind to pray about how much to give them too.
I WAS WORKING FULL TIME THEN! Had a steady paycheck. Knew that I had money to depend on every other week! And still, didn't even think of giving towards bringing home these children I love so much.
Are we holding on tight to what we have, what really belongs to the Lord anyway, or are we givers?
Do we live with our hands wide open or do we hold on tight?
I know one thing, we serve a giving God.
His word says He loved us so much He gave his Son. His one and only.
He gave Him. {John 3:16}
Lord, open our eyes to the needs around us!
The ones hungry standing by the stop sign at Wal-Mart.
The single momma who needs help buying diapers.
The sick who are overwhelmed with medical bills we could bring supper to.
The student who needs a mentor after school.
The one whose appearance different from ours and desperately needs a friendly smile.
The one who needs sponsoring in another country so they can attend school.
The ones who have lost a loved one and need an encouraging word.
The neighbor who needs their grass mowing.
Where & to who can we give our time. Our resources. Our attention. Our prayers. Our talent. Our lives.
Meet the need.
May the things of Earth grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace,
Kim
