Adoption Update: Counting the Cost

Hey, friends! I wanted to write a different kind of post today. I’ve shared in the past about our heart’s desire to adopt, the “why” of adoption, the biblical mandate and call we’ve felt to care for orphans.

Illumination

My goal in sharing all this has been to continue shedding light on the topic of adoption and orphan care. Hopefully, we can help remove some of the *unknowns* that stand in the way for so many people.

One of these big UNKNOWNS is the financial cost.

If you googled it right now, you’d come up with the average cost of a domestic adoption, which sounds just a little crazy and slightly horrifying.

Image from www.adoptivefamilies.com

Our domestic adoption through Bethany Christian Services will cost around $24,000, which is slightly lower than the national average. International adoptions average closer to $40,000. Adoption through foster care is much, much lower. You can read more about our reasons for choosing domestic adoption: here. I found a pretty good article that breaks down the costs involved in adoption: here.

Overthinking

When I start thinking, writing about, or sharing information on any of the stages related to our adoption journey, I’m always tempted to over-think things. When we were weighing the possibilities between domestic, international and foster care adoption, I wanted to hear every argument. Would we be judged for adopting domestically instead of internationally and vice versa?

As we come to the topic of funding our adoption, I find myself in the same boat.

What will people think?
What is ethical?
What is God honoring?

Perspective

I have read every argument and side to the fundraising conundrum. After much prayer and consideration, here’s what I think:

Though we have done our part to set aside funds, work additional jobs and prepare for an extra child, it just wouldn’t be as sweet without you involved. We’ve felt led down this particular path to domestic adoption, and now, we would love your help.

I’m not going to lie, it’s been a long road for us to get this far. We’re excited, but a little weary. We’ve learned a lot along the way and we would love to answer any questions you may have about adoption. Everyone’s story is special and unique.

This is our story, and we’d love for you to be a part of it!

Giving

• You can give financially toward the cost of our adoption here: Lemp Family Adoption
• Read more about our adoption journey here: Adoption
• Find out more about the work of Bethany Christian Services here: Bethany
• If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, you can donate through Pure Charity: here. *Please note, the transaction fee is higher through Pure Charity – 5% vs. 2.9% through You Caring.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. -James 1:27 (NIV)

 

Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes, without a single fault—we who stand before him covered with his love. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to! -Ephesians 1:4-5 (TLB)

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