Psalm 118:15 "Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!"
I have tried to refrain from talking about finances on our blog. One, I didn't want our blog to be a place people felt all we did was ask for money, or that that was the purpose for our blog. It is not. We want our blog to be a place where people can learn about adoption and see how the Lord has called us to adoption. To follow along on our journey as we have stepped out in faith. However, the Lord has blessed us so many times financially, in this adoption, I just had to share. One, to give God the glory. Two, so others can see that when you step out in faith for something God has called you to do, He will provide! Period. It may be last minute, but He will provide.
When we started the adoption of Levi in March we literally had no savings. We had saved up to buy our son a used car. What we thought was a "good buy" turned out to be a nightmare. We didn't even have the car 24 hours before it began having trouble. Three visits to the car shop and one transmission later our savings was depleted. We paid 2x more on the repairs than we did on the car. Anyway, when I brought up adopting Levi to Mark his first reaction was, "What do we have to do to bring him home?" His second reaction, "We can't pay for this. Where is the money going to come from?" Well, as God would have it our first huge fee came the same week as our tax return. The next big fee came only a couple weeks later, but so did Mark's bonus! Now, yes, it would have been nice to chuck all this into savings. But, God's timing is awesome and we know that He will provide for our needs, as well as for this adoption. John 6: 19-20 says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." I really feel adoption is an eternal treasure!
Along the way we had other fees. One was our I800a/federal fingerprints, which again was provided for by a dear family in our church who felt lead to pay for this fee. Other fees paid for by a co worker of Mark's who donated $100.00 to our blog button, and another co worker who walked up to Mark after work and wrote him a check for $570 right on the spot to help. These men helped pay for our home study costs. So here we are amazed that God has provided, just as He promises. Every fee due at this point has been paid for. Yet, we know other fees are coming: travel visas, agency fees, orphanage donations, and travel costs. All approaching quickly due to our expedite, and totaling close to 18K. It appears overwhelming to us, but not to God.
Due to the travel visa requirements changing we applied for our visas early. (See post below). We had been praying that God would provide the funds for this, but the day came to pay and no funds. So, I put $1193 on visa figuring this would be the beginning of our needing a loan. Knowing full well that on the heels of this fee would be a $7150 fee, due upon receiving our LOC, followed by travel costs and the orphanage donation. I came home though, at peace, knowing God was still in control. That
$1193 was nothing to Him. And you know what? He provided! That evening I checked my email to discover just hours earlier Mark's parents had donated $1000 to our AdoptTogether site! And another lady we know had donated $24 a few weeks earlier. Jehovah Jireh had provided! But God's provision goes further than our physical need. It is confirmation to us that we are in God's will. That He is with us every step of the way. That what He calls us to, He will see us through. A lady I know calls them "God winks". I like that!
So, where will the next $7150 come from? I don't know, BUT God does and I can't wait to watch Him work!
John 14:18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."
