Adoption Letter

I know that many of  you have seen this letter on Facebook and/or e-mail, but I thought I'd put it here, too, to cover all our bases.  And if you keep getting the same message in different places, maybe you should pay attention!  :)

Dear friends and family,                                        

A little over three years ago, you received a letter from us in which we explained our decision to pursue adoption and asked you to pray for this journey.  Many have done so faithfully, as well as asking for updates and encouraging us along the way.  We have needed that encouragement as this adventure has been longer and more taxing than we had anticipated! 

            Now, at long last, we are happy to report that a birth mom has chosen our family and we plan to bring home a precious baby girl sometime in early January!

            As you may know, adoption carries a high cost, both in emotional and financial resources.  Many of you have given emotional support through prayer, personal notes and conversations, and in more tangible ways, like helping with fundraising.  Others have given financial support as well, and for all of it, we thank you!  Those funds have gone toward covering the costs of a home study, agency fees, and other minutiae of the process up until now.

            Now, in order to bring home Baby, we need to ask, once again, for funds.  The total cost of the adoption will be $30,000, plus some travel costs (with the price of gas, etc., even a trip to Kansas is expensive!).  This may seem like a lot of money- and it is – but as has been the case since October of 2009, we feel that God is calling us to adopt and He will make a way. 

            In addition to begging our friends and family for loose change, we are pursuing adoption grants and low-interest loans.  Further, we are conducting fundraisers: Just Love Coffee, and an on-line silent auction, in particular.

            Early January is not that far away, so let me get to the point.  If you are willing and able to help in any way, in any amount, here’s how:

            Direct donation: go to GiveMN.org, type in Mission Orthodox in the search bar (top right hand corner), and our page is the third one down.  Directions should be clear from there.  Next Thursday, November 15, is Give to the Max day on that site, so it would be a good day to give and maybe earn a little extra for our cause! 

            Or, write a check to Mission Orthodox Presbyterian Church and put “Adoption fund” in the memo.  Send it to 1040 Como Ave. St. Paul, MN 55103.

            Fundraising: Shop at JustLoveCoffee.com.  Follow this link to our storefront: https://justlovecoffee.com/about/beneficiary/shawstorefront/ .  Every purchase earns us money!

            Or, donate goods or services to our on-line silent auction.  Please contact me if you have something to donate and we will work out details.

            The auction will run from November 26 until December 7 at 32auctions.com and will be under the creative title “Shaw Family Adoption.”  So, when that time comes, check it out and bid on some items. 

            This is a lot of information in a small amount of time, but time is of the essence here as Baby’s due date quickly approaches. 

            Please prayerfully consider how you can help to bring home this precious baby girl to her forever family.   

            Thank you for your continued and unstinting love and support for our family. 

            With love from,

            The Shaw Family: John, Anne, Will, Micah, Johanna, Sam, and Baby Girl

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!’  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”   Galatians 4:4-6