It’s nearly impossible to try and put into words all that
Christy and I have experienced in the last 5 months or so. It seems like every
conversation, blog, or opportunity that I get to share with others what all has
transpired so far in this adoption process simply scratches the surface of all
that has really taken place.
Only a few short months after Christy and I first married in
2006, we fell in love with two little brothers who needed a loving family and a
home. We prayed and opened our hearts but didn’t feel the Lord leading us to
adopt at that time. Ever since then God has graciously taught us more and more
about our adoption in Christ and back in April, after much prayer and trusting
the Lord, we began the process to adopt!
We quickly realized that this road wouldn’t be easy but reminded
ourselves often that the road that led to our adoption wasn’t either. So in the
first of May we decided it was time for action. We announced that we were
adopting to our friends and family and in order to get the ball rolling, I sold
my motorcycle to pay our applications costs. Little did we know all the
decisions that soon had to be made. Literally it was question after question.
In the midst of all the questions, we began to plan our
first fundraiser. A t-shirt fundraiser!
We were told in the beginning to aim for a goal of 25K, which was greatly
intimidating to us, but with the help of a friend from college, Bubba Crowder
from @FundtheNations, we quickly had a well-designed t-shirt and were taking
orders. We also began working towards having a garage sale to raise funds. In
only a few short weeks we had raised over 1,000 dollars from shirt sales and soon
our garage and one other was full of donations for our yard sale. Over 50
people volunteered to help throughout the yard sale and God graciously exceeded
any expectation of ours and raised 5,000 dollars.
In the beginning, we also opened a business checking account
for my side lawn care business and committed all of our earnings to this
adoption. God has been gracious to bless that as well. We’ve done all sorts of things to help
raise funds and each one of them has been blessed. We are so grateful! Our
cousin traveled down from TN to do photo-shoots with kids and donated all the
proceeds. Christy and a friend Sabrina started making necklaces and that has
helped as well. Our church graciously planned a Pancake Supper for us and gave
nearly 3,500 dollars. We received a matching grant the very next day for that
exact amount. Only a few weeks
later we received a 2,500-dollar matching grant and our parents were very
gracious to provide matching funds. Besides this, many friends and family have
sent letters of support and finances to help with the costs.
We have received overwhelming prayers, love, encouragement
and support from our family, friends, and church family. The journey thus far
has been nothing short of awesome, sanctifying, and faith building. This has been about so much more than
raising money and adopting a child.
God has grown us in ways unimagined and indescribable. It’s a gracious
work and I am so thankful.
This past Sunday we matched with a birth mom in Utah. We
couldn’t be more excited as the situation is exactly what we’ve been praying
for. An open relationship with the mom and even the dad is present. We are
looking forward to meeting them and praying for an opportunity to love them and
share the Gospel with them as well. She is due Nov. 21 and we are making plans
to be there. We are so thankful
she has chosen life for this child considering the painful road of life she has
already walked. The costs and fees are 32,000-33,000 plus travel expenses,
which is slightly higher than we have to date. We are confident in the Lord’s
provisions and that He has led us to where we are. In the last 5 months He has
given us over 28,000 dollars for this adoption!!! We are amazed at His provision and reminded from James that
“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.
So here’s how you can help. First, pray. Please pray that
God would work out the many details. Pray for the birth mom/dad and for this
little girl to be delivered safely and healthy. Pray for protection, provision,
and safety. Pray for the travel details for us to workout accordingly. Pray
that God will provide us with the 4,000-5,000 dollars we need in the next 14
days. I know this is a huge
request but we fervently believe He is able. I am hoping to sell my guitar
today or tomorrow so please pray for the details of that to work out. The
church has always been God’s plan for the orphan and we have seen the body of
Christ ‘care’ in fathomless ways.
Second, you can also help by giving. So many of you have
already given generously and we are so thankful. If you’d like to give, just
click the ‘donate’ button to give by c/c or through PayPal, or if you’d like
you can mail it to us. (address below)
Lastly, you can also help us by advocating for us. This is
where you can be creative. It could be as easy as sharing this post on Facebook
or Twitter. Or you may have something to sell or donate. You may want to talk
to friends or family on our behalf, share our story with them and ask them to
join you in prayer for us or in giving!
Once again thank you all so much for your support,
encouragement, and faithfulness without which this would have been impossible.
The Williams Family
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth
His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He
might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might
receive the adoption as sons. Because you are
sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying,
“Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then
an heir through God. Galatians 4:4-6
305 Brushfire Drive
Dothan, AL 36305
Dothan, AL 36305
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