I am often asked why we want to adopt overseas when it's so much cheaper to adopt from foster care. Its a legitimate question but a hard one to answer clearly. Dan and I have been working towards being certified to provide foster care. Ironically, it is harder to pass a home study for the foster care system when you live in an 100 year old house than it is to pass a home study for overseas adoption. That is just one small factor in our journey.
I would say the main motivation to adopt from Sierra Leone is the fact that we have seen first hand the conditions these children are surviving and we can't "un-see" them. Children in the US foster care program certainly don't have it easy and we are in desperate need of more good foster care families. However, these children at least have a chance to lead a healthy life an make a success of their lives. The orphans of Sierra Leone have little if no chance of bettering their situation as they age out of the orphanages. Few will receive an education due to not having anyone to sponsor they educational fees. They all will most likely live on the streets, selling what they can to survive. The girls are very likely to be pushed into the sex trade. Many will die because they will not have an income that allows them to get medical care. Those girls who do marry will most likely bare many children who they will in-turn have to be turned over to the orphanages because they cannot provide for them. The future for these helpless children is bleak.
So here we are, committed to adopting overseas. The big question for our family is how in the world will we pay for this?! We are cutting every corner possible and constantly brainstorming on how to raise funds. One of the ways we are doing this is by making and selling bracelets. As of now, we have about 20 to 25 designs we are working on. Our goal is to sell 1000 bracelets for a suggested donation of $10 each. That means that we (meaning me) are spending all our spare time making bracelets. Our house has a ridiculous amount of hemp bits and thread and beads scattered here and there. It is not an easy project but it has turned into such a blessing. With each bracelet, I think about our future. I pray for the child that will join our family. I pray for our family as we grow. I pray for the person who kindly buys that bracelet. This little project has so impacted my soul and I am tremendously grateful.
If you are so moved, will you buy a bracelet? You can follow our link to our campaign site that is on the top right of our webpage. Thank you so much! Now...back to making bracelets!
