A Family in Need | Reece's Rainbow Families

I have been blessed recently to know a family who, though not planning an international adoption before, fell in love with a child on RR and decided to jump in with both feet.  This is amazing because they are acting on faith.  You see, sometimes families hesitate to commit to children because commitment costs can be so overwhelming, and not every child has a large grant already waiting for them.  Some children don't have a grant yet at all, therefore to even start the process to rescue the child, families have to come up with a large sum in a short amount of time.  This is one of those situations - where a family is taking a leap of faith to try to raise commitment costs in a short amount of time, knowing all the while that a child's life rests in the balance.

A Family Sponsorship Program can be set up with Reece's Rainbow, but not until after commitment costs have been paid.  The visibility and tax deductible status of the FSP has helped many families raise needed funds - but not before commitment.  Here we have a family who is ready to jump in and rescue a child, maybe two, and MONEY is the only thing holding them back.

We can't let that happen.  We just can't.

A lot of people will say that it's the family's responsibility alone to raise commitment costs - because if they can't come up with the initial money, how are they going to fund the rest of their adoption?  But there is a fundamental flaw in this logic.  Many, many adoptive parents were not planning to adopt, therefore they were not setting money aside for this purpose.  It's great when a family knows they intend to adopt and can set aside funds beforehand, but sometimes God taps us on the shoulder, and ready or not, families go.  That's what this family is doing.  It will take time to get further fundraisers in place, for the family to reassess their expenses to save as much as possible for their adoption.  But the kids - they don't have time.  Some children's files are returned after only two months with an agency if a family is not found for them.  Other children are in such desperate condition, that a family must be able to move as quickly as possible.

This is where we come in.  Those of us who can't adopt can still help.  We can help that family raise the initial ransom for their children, giving them time to formulate a plan for the rest of the adoption expenses.  We can donate, or do a fundraiser for them, or share their need.

Sadly, I have seen situations where families were unable to raise commitment costs in time and had to release a child.  This means more time waiting for those children.  We can't let that happen anymore.  If we're not willing or able to jump in and go get these kids ourselves, we need to rally around those who are.

So here I want to introduce you to my friend Amanda.  She and her husband are just starting out their adoption journey, hoping to rescue one, maybe two children from Eastern Europe.  These are children who do not have time to wait around.  They are also in a place where initial commitment costs are high, so a family's work is really cut out for them.  Amanda has started a blog recently to write about their need, their fundraisers, and hopefully one day their children.  I encourage you to visit her blog.  Note the paypal link on the right hand side.  Could you contribute just a little bit - maybe swap out Starbucks for a home brew, or skip pizza night, to help ransom an orphan?  In situations like these, every little bit helps!  Check out Amanda's posts too - she is also a 31 consultant!  I have to admit I have fallen for 31 bags recently, as have many people, and if you order through Amanda, her commission will go straight toward ransoming an orphan.  It's a win-win situation!

One day, hopefully one day soon, I hope to be able to post a picture to show you the face(s) of the child(ren) that this family is bringing home... but it can't happen without you.  Right now, right here, is where you can help.  So many of us have hearts for these children but cannot adopt.  This is our opportunity to DO something.  To be a part of bringing orphans home.

Visit Amanda's blog here.

And remember these faces.  Faces of children across the world who have no hope without you... as you do.

Donate.  Share.  Pray.  Do something.

Which group will you be in?  The one that steps up... or the one that walks away?