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Many of you
have already heard the news:
the Van
Nests are adopting a young girl from Haiti!!
To make this
happen we need your help. But, first the
back-story:
Russ and Sam were part of a Mission Team that recently traveled
to Haiti. While there, they worked with
Real Love Ministries International in the village of Minoterie. RLMI operates an orphanage, a medical clinic
and partners with a local church and school.
The team was involved in several projects throughout the week: pouring
concrete floors for the new orphanage, children's ministry, mobile medical
clinics, pastor/church leader training, crusade services, prayer walks, sports
outreach and ministry to prostitutes. It
was a very eventful and successful week.
Even though it was just Russ and Sam going, the mission trip
was an exciting opportunity for our whole family as it continued our love and
passion for Haiti and her people. This
love began in the early 1990s, when we sponsored a child from Haiti, Arsene
Charles, through Compassion International.
Arsene is now 35, and lives outside of New York City and is happily
married. He has visited us on several
occasions and connects with us regularly.
For a long time, it has been our desire to make a mission trip to Haiti. This was the first of many trips for our
family to bring the hope and love of Jesus Christ to the Haitian people.
Prior to this trip, the discussion of adoption became
frequent. This topic has come up before
but, as parents, we always said no for all the practical reasons. However, this time the Holy Spirit was
starting to lay a burden on our hearts to respond differently. Russ and Sam left for Haiti with intent to
serve but also, to confirm the Lord's leading to adopt. We believe this confirmation was made in
several ways over the course of the week in Haiti. With much excitement upon their return, we
set out on our adoption journey.
It is our desire to adopt a young girl from RLMI's
orphanage. We are very clear that we are
not a family seeking to adopt but one who has been called to adopt this young
girl that the Lord will lead us to. We
want to provide her with a loving family and to lead her to the even greater
love of God! It is our hope that she
will become a blessing to her native country and people. We believe God is calling us to continue to
serve Haiti through RLMI (in fact, Russ is considering an offer to join their
Board of Directors) to help many children and families. However, we believe we are called to love
this little girl in a very different way by making a place for her in our
family. We are very excited about that!!
But, we cannot do
this alone! We need your prayer, your
encouragement, and your financial support.
Since we were never planning to adopt, we have not saved or
planned for such. However, we are moving
forward by trusting for the Lord's provisions in all matters related to this
adoption. We have already selected a
Home Study Agency (Families United Network) and will soon select a placement
agency. It has been a rollercoaster just
to get to this point in the first 1.5 months of our journey. Adoptions are just that way especially,
international ones.
Please prayerfully
consider helping us raise the funds we need.
Right now, our estimate is $20-$30,000 to complete this adoption. A lot will depend on our choice of agency and
some costs are variable. We need approximately $10,000 by the end of
spring/early summer to get our dossier filed in Haiti which is the first
critical step. This will include the
Home Study fee, agency fees, government and filing fees, etc.
Contributions of any amount can be made on our behalf by:
Sending Checks Payable to: Little Beaver Foundation (2091) with Van Nest Adoption in the memo line and mail to:
Community Foundation of Western PA and Eastern OH
7 West State Street, Suite 301
Sharon, PA 16146
These contributions are tax-deductible and you will receive a receipt. There is no processing fee.
You can give in large amounts or make smaller contributions over an extended period of time. While we pray things go quickly, this adoption process can take 18-24 months.
Another option is to contribute through our GoFundMe page: http://www.gofundme.com/5NtheNest
Note: This option will deduct a processing fee from your donation. We are providing this option for easier donating and sharing of our cause. Please share this link with others in your social media networks.
Also:
- Sam and Grace are participating by selling Jameson's Candy Chocolate Bars (plain, almond, peanut butter and crispy) for $1.25 each.
- Maybe you would like to help organize a fundraiser on our behalf (pancake breakfast, yard sale, home party, etc.). Please contact us with your ideas and interest.
- Another option would be to contact your church or other organizations you participate in to request they participate financially. Contributions can be sent the same as above.
- Do you have an idea we haven't thought of? (Note: we will be pursing grants through various adoption foundations.)
We are
unashamedly asking you to join in this journey.
We believe as God has called us, He is calling others close to us and
those who are strangers to be a part of this journey as well. Once again, it is our hope to give this young
girl a bright future; to lift her out of poverty, to give her a lifetime loving
family she can call her own, and to give her the opportunity to realize God's
plan in her life. Sadly, many young
girls in the village turn to prostitution as their means of support for
themselves and others. We want to take
away that option for her and give her a bright future that will ultimately
benefit her native Haiti.
We believe that
God is writing a great story for us and an even greater one for her!
Please
become a part of the story!
Russ, Lori,
Sam and Grace
Connect with
us in our Facebook Adoption Group: 5 In
The (van) Nest