I've seen this happen before. It's not a new thing to me. But it struck me in a new kind of way tonight. Touched me.
In the adoption community, somebody (sometimes it seems like *everybody*) is always fundraising. Agency fees, deadlines, immigration expenses, travel, on and on, something new seems to be due all the time. Adopting families literally have to fight tooth and nail to scrape together the ransom needed to collect their child(ren). Not a day goes by that I don't see someone saying, "I hate to beg, but please... we travel soon and I'm worried we don't have the funds we need." My heart goes out to every one of those families. They have stepped out in faith that God will provide, they have sacrificed, scrimped, saved, scrounged, sold, crafted until their fingers (sometimes literally) bled... and then they've forced down their pride and asked for help. With such a huge burden to shoulder, no one would blame them if they focused solely on their own needs until their kids were home...
But that's not what happens.
Instead, they make time between their desperate attempts to fund their own adoptions... to scream, shout from the rooftops, for other families in the adoption process.
Instead, they give - out of nothing - just to chip in a little bit to help a friend reach their goal and bring their child home.
Tonight I noticed one friend of mine on at least her third or fourth consecutive day, probably many more than that as I've had limited PC access lately, shouting for another family adopting from the same country as her children are in. Listing items to sell or auction to raise money for that family, even as she struggles to fund her own. That family is just short of funded for their first trip with travel dates in sight. Both these families have children waiting in places that are beyond horrible. Both these families need our help desperately.
Another day, I noticed a mom who just got home from a gotcha trip pledging money for a matching grant to another family who has yet to travel. They have been encumbered with the many medical issues that come with bringing a neglected, malnourished child home from an orphanage, have barely had time to breathe, and yet, they're still turning around and giving more.
There are a few who haven't adopted yet... people like me, although mostly younger, which I find even more impressive... sometimes, young people not even out of high school... who save their babysitting money, make crafts to sell, ask for donations as Christmas gifts, blog, shout, scream, all to be able to give to 'the least of these'. Teenagers, saving their money not for a designer bag or the newest iThing, but to redeem an orphan from a hell most of us can't imagine. Putting the needs of others before their own, in an act of graciousness most people would think was beyond their years.
Then there are the families who, if possible, amaze me the most... I first came across this last summer when some friends of mine were traveling, spending over a month in a foreign country to adopt two orphans with special needs. These friends are not the only people who fall into this category by far. These families are on the ground, in country, right now... meeting their children for the first time, going to court hearings, securing legal documents, living in cramped apartments without many modern ameneties, dining on ramen noodles every night and praying to have the money to fly home... and STILL they give to families in need. STILL they hear the cries of fast-approaching deadlines and unforseen circumstances, and step up to the plate, ready to help... ready to give even out of their own need.
How can I not be touched?
This is a kind of selflessness we rarely see anymore. One that many people would have thought extinct. But I know better, because I am part of an amazing group in which we see this kindness every day. Seeing an adopting family cry out for another adopting family would probably break my bank account if I didn't give myself a budget... because it always makes me want to give to both families.
Sometimes I think, if we all took the time to learn a lesson from these amazing people whom I am so lucky to know, the world would be just a little bit brighter.
If you, like me, are touched by the generosity of people giving something from nothing, I urge you to join them tonight. I've known the place financially where I literally didn't have a single cent to my name, and if you're there, or if it's going to mean going without something you need to donate, please don't feel badly... but most of us have a little room to breathe. I do, finally. Give something, just a little something, to an adopting family, and help us all make the world a little brighter.
You can choose a family to 'sponsor' with a one time donation here. Donate wherever your heart leads you. Or, if like me, you need a little help (because you just want to give to everyone), I'll link a few specific families that are on my heart below.
The Unroe family
The Mitchell family
The Rosencrants family
Jack and Jensen
The Buhler family
The Roodhuyzen family
The Wingler family
And I'm going to have to stop myself there or I'll just list the entire 'Sponsor a family' page from Reece's Rainbow. Instead I'm just going to leave this post open for anyone who is adopting or knows someone who is to link an FSP in the comments - so check there for links too! Seriously, every one of these families is amazing and worthy, and you never know how even a small donation could make an expectant family's day.
