After sending in our dossier about 2 months ago, Liz and I were put on a waiting list for a referral of a child. For those who don't know, a referral is basically where we get the paperwork and as much information as is available on a child in the D.R. Congo. This is when we will get the chance to review all of the paperwork and decide if we will be a good fit for this child and vice versa. When we were first on the wait list, we were number 11. They told us then that the estimated wait time was 6-9 months, so we decided to settle in, read a lot about adoption, and I was going to try to write a dissertation (or at least start). We expected to move about 2 spots each month if we were going to be on the "fast" end of the spectrum. In the last two months, we've moved from number 11 to number 5 (six spots!!!). We've been quite surprised at how quickly we've moved on the wait list, but we are still scared to say that things are moving quickly. We still want our hearts to be content with 9 months if that is how long it will still take. So, we are currently number 5 on the wait list for a referral of a child.
Once we receive a referral and agree that we are the best fit for this child, we will send our paperwork to D.R. Congo for review and approval by the government. This process, we are told, will take another 4-6 months before we would travel to pick up our child. Although this seems like so far away, we are keenly aware of some dear friends who have waited so long to get a referral or to even go pick up their children. For those who are in that boat, know that Liz and I are praying for you guys.
Financially, the Lord has helped us raise nearly $14,000 now. We have been blown away by God's grace and provision. According to our beginning estimated costs, we still lack about $9,000, but I'm sure there will be other expenses that pop up even after that goal is met. We found out last week that Lifesong for Orphans and the Orphan Care Alliance have given us a matching grant in the amount of $3,000!!! This was amazing news for us, and the next boost in our fundraising endeavor. With this grant, anything that you feel led to give will immediately be doubled up to $3,000. Liz and I are currently preparing letters to send out with all of the information about this grant and how you can partner with us to help bring our little Congolese child home. If you would like to read more about Lifesong for Orphans or Orphan Care Alliance, just click the name and it should take you there. Liz and I feel unbelievably blessed to have been given this financial gift from these ministries. Please stay tuned for more information about how you can partner with us to help maximize this matching grant. Our deadline for the matching funds is December 26th, so we'll be sending letters out soon. If you haven't gotten anything from us yet, it is probably because we do not have your address. We'd love to have a way to get in touch with you if you feel led to partner with us. You can find us on Facebook or just leave a comment here at the blog. So, there's the update. The Lord is moving us forward, both in the process and financially. As always, we covet your prayers. We leave updates more often on Twitter (@howelladoption) and Facebook, so if you're familiar with those media sites, you can find us there.
