Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Dancing With the Staff and Garage Sales Galore!

While we patiently sit in this season of waiting for things to move in Haiti I just wanted to update you a little bit.  We have been spending our days praying for movement like always but also completely trusting that God is in control of our future! 
A very exciting future, but still one that is always developing, and taking crazy twists and turns. 
While we wait though, we are still trying to prepare our house and lives for the changes that will take place in the future and that always seems like it brings it's own challenges.
The biggest challenge for us has been trusting God to take care of everything!  I am generally a "doer" and if there is something that needs to be done I just figure out how.  This situation doesn't allow for those opportunities so sitting back and allowing others to "do" things has become my norm!  We have been blessed with amazing friends and family, and even strangers that have chosen to walk with us on this journey, and we have leaned heavily on them.  Thank you to all of you for the prayers and support. 

Since I haven't updated in a while I just wanted to let you know of a few things happening in our lives:
I know these all deal with finances, and I apologize ahead of time for that (feel free to stop reading now unless you want to find out when I make a fool out of myself dancing), but currently that is what takes up most of our time with the process!  The sad truth is that adoption is not free and it takes a small army to get these kids home.

Currently
Matching Funds.  An extremely generous, anonymous donor put up matching funds of $3,000 for our adoption expenses.  We will be taking a trip to Haiti in May to visit the orphanage and get a feel for what we are really doing on this adventure, and our big payment is due before we leave!  We are so close to matching those funds with the help of a bunch of you and we just say thank you!
 Also, if you haven't gotten a "faith" bracelet yet and would like one please let us know!  We just ordered another batch, which means right now there are over 250 people showing some "faith"!!!


4-18-13
Dancing with the Staff-
 I(Jon) will be participating in this crazy event at our local high school.  A group of about 40 teachers, matched with high school students will be involved in a dance contest similar to the TV show.  We have practiced for two weeks and I am ready to unveil some pretty awful dance moves! Truly, I am a terrible dancer, all elbows and thumbs! 
The really cool part of this is that the proceeds from a free will donation will be given to our Job Jar account that the boys set up.  I am not sure who caught wind of this and made the decision but this community is truly remarkable and we couldn't ask for a better place to live! 

5-9-11
Brandon Rummages
We will be having an Adoption Rummage sale!  If you have any gently used items, big, small or whatever please consider dropping them off!  All money from the rummage will be used to bring a beautiful child home!  We will take anything you have to offer, and what does not sell will be donated to charity afterwards.  We have a passion for the St. Francis House in Sioux Falls so anything they can use will be given to them also!  If you have anything you want to get rid of please give us a shout and we can leave a door open or even come pick things up!  


Again, thank you so much for all that you do for our family.  This process has been amazing but also something that we never would have been able to do without all of you!  God has a crazy sense of humor and you only have to look at our family to realize that!  This is completely above our heads!

If you are just curious why, Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U64bongHqYU