Hi All!
What a fantastic day. We have all been fighting a nasty sinus infection/ear infection the past couple of weeks, and it's easy to start to feel frustrated and a little saddened during this holiday season away from family. However, we have seen God's faithfulness so tremendously lately... Especially today!
First, we made it to our USCIS Biometrics appointment this afternoon (come hell, or high water- we were going to be there on time- sick or not). We are all set- now, we wait. Please join us in praying for a quick immigration approval, speedy mail and a smooth authentication process so we can get everything needed in our dossier sent to China ASAP!
The big boys, "patiently" waiting at USCIS. The appointment went much quicker than we anticipated when we first got there. Keegan ran all over (as we hollered at him to stay by us) and Bennett watched his show, and pretended to sleep :)
This one fell asleep on the way there, so he was a little peach in his stroller the whole time we were there. Ah, he's a dolly, that's for sure.
Lastly- If you recall, we have been boldly praying to be fully funded by Christmas. We are not QUITE there, but by God's grace, we have gotten within spittin' distance! Friends!!!! He is SO faithful- may we NEVER question His faithfulness. He is good, and He is the only one who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Eph 3:20).
Here's a quick update on the grants we've applied for and the current decision:
One17 Foundation- No grant awarded. No notification received.
Sowing Roots- No grant awarded.
Rollstone Foundation- No grant awarded.
National Adoption Foundation- No grant awarded. No notification received. $25 minimum donation (you can cancel your ongoing donation after the first one when applying).
Trusting Him Grant Foundation- No grant awarded. Rec'd email notification that they didn't have enough funding to assist, but requested to keep our application on file for the next decision.
Bowen Zacapa England Grant Foundation- This is a PRIVATE grant foundation through our placing agency and we were awarded $2500 ! Woo-hoo! We rec'd notification via email from our agency. The family funding the grant sends the funds directly to our agency.
Lifesong for Orphans- Just this morning, we received a call from our advocate, Carol, at Lifesong for Orphans. She excitedly let us know, that although we were not awarded a matching grant, they approved us for a $3000 interest free, payment free covenant loan. I was confused- I didn't know how these worked- essentially, they require NO payment until a year after our daughter comes home, when it is due in FULL. Thankfully, we can use our 2018 tax refund (adoption tax credit) to pay this back. Yay!
Families Outreach- And then, just when we thought today couldn't get any better, we received an email while we were standing in line at our immigration appointment this afternoon, that Families Outreach was awarding us a $1000 adoption grant! The grant is being sent directly to our placing agency to cover fees.
Never Alone Foundation- STILL PENDING. Decision will be reached in JANUARY.
Show Hope- STILL PENDING. Lord willing, we should hear from them in JANUARY also. This is one of the largest adoption grant foundations, but they are still not able to award every applicant a grant to assist with their adoption expenses. We hope and pray that we are awarded a Show Hope grant- they are one of the few grant agencies that allow you to use the grant monies towards travel expenses.
JSC Foundation- STILL PENDING. Again, this is another major grant agency in the adoption world. We should hear on a decision THIS MONTH. Still praying so hard for the decision makers at JSC. They receive a TON of applications, and it would be such a burden to have to determine who they're able to award grants to, and who're they're not able to assist (they state they're only able to award about 50% of applicants).
Kids for Kyla- STILL PENDING. They state on their website that applicants will receive written notification either way within 10 days after the committee's decision (however, the committee met on November 17). I'm praying that the lack of response is good news verses bad news. I will reach out after Christmas if we haven't received notification.
We have four more completed grant applications, that we have not yet mailed in. They have application fees, and I don't want to submit anymore applications with fee's until we receive all notifications on the submitted grant applications without fees. Lord willing, we will be fully funded WITHOUT having to submit application fees.
This world has so many devastating things happening in it. My heart is broken for Aleppo, and all the pain and sickness around the world. I feel a bit selfish praying for additional funding in light of all the tragedy in the world. But, if you wouldn't mind, after lifting up these tragedies before the throne, will you please join me in praying boldly for FULL FUNDING by Christmas? We are SO close!
Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support for our family. Thank you for joining us on this journey!
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