Adoption Funding Update

Hi Everybody,

I thought I'd share with you how things are going on the financial side of the adoption. If you've been reading the blog from the beginning you know that our "sign" that we were to go forward was when a wonderful foundation said they would like to give us a grant.

We were notified today that we have recieved a very generous $5000 grant!!! Through our own savings and tax refund, we've been able to cover the cost of homestudy ($900), USCIS ($830), AAI Application ($100) and AAI Adoption Services Fee ($2000). In addition, I have enough frequent flyer miles to pay for one ticket to Ghana.

We have left to pay...
Ghana Foreign Fee: $7500, of which $5000 will be paid by grant
HIV Waiver: $545 (I think)
Visa: $400
Kendi's plane ticket: estimating $1000
Food/Boarding in Ghana for 1 month*: $1000

So, all in all we still need to finance about $5500 more for the adoption. That is a LOT of money. At the same time, I have faith that the Lord will continue to provide in ways that we could never imagine. It's not an option for us to take a conventional loan or put this remaining $5500 on credit cards (literally, not an option), so we will have to trust it will come in other ways!!

Eric and I have decided that we do feel okay about applying for some of the "covenent loan" programs that are out there (basically, a no interest loan where there is no promissory note and you promise to pay the loan back with the tax credit). We'll continue to apply for grants. We'll also have a grant account (not sure what the proper word for it is) with From HIV to Home where our friends and family can give a tax deductible donation towards our adoption expenses.

Prayers are appreciated!!!

*Yes, I'm still thinking I want to make one trip. It will just be so much less expensive if we can do it that way. It all depends on IF DHS will expedite I-600 processing and how fast we can get the HIV waiver done. A family is doing the waiver right now in Ghana, so we will have some idea within a few weeks.