April Fools

This is no April Fool's joke - while looking into t-shirt fundraising options this week (after receiving a BEAUTIFUL, personalized image from a talented friend), we've both been reminded of how much we loathe admitting we need anything, especially money. And even though every adoption agency and web forum out there says, "fundraise with t-shirts, garage sales, and auctions," while comparing sites, I sat at my computer thinking: "How low have we sunk?!" Give to our fund. Buy our book. Hire Carrie to edit. And now... buy a t-shirt?! I feel myself becoming THAT friend on Facebook - the one always asking for something. Not cool.

As two, very independent introverts, fund-raising was one of the worst parts of our missionary years, and the thing we came home saying, "we'll never do that again." And yet, here we are... with a YouCaring page, looking at t-shirt options. After all those years of standing firmly on the base of, "If you're going to adopt, then you need to budget appropriately!" - how in the world did we end up here?

I have a story to tell you. And (unlike my usual stories) I'll try to keep it short. :) 

In December of 2014, we found ourselves sitting in our car while I sobbed (you can't choose when conviction comes!). Once again, I knew (very clearly) what God was asking me to do, but I was digging in my heels. "No, Lord. I don't want to let people in on this story - they'll ask questions and be nosy and want details, and I don't want to deal with that. [See Above: Introvert] I don't want to ask for anything. WE can do this. WE don't need other people. We are lone rangers, riding along with You -we don't need a team." 

As Peter and I sat there and talked, the conviction that we were being selfish with this story - that really wasn't ours, it was God's - began to flow out of both of us. The idea that God wanted to use this story to encourage other people, and that maybe that even included sharing financial needs, started to take root. As you might have noticed by now, we're a little slow to acquiesce at times... but on February 1, 2016, we finally gave in. 

It's been 2 months since we first decided to open this part of our lives to the world (after more than 4 years of keeping it to ourselves and a small circle of others), and in the last 2 months, you have added $7,211 to our fund, and an incalculable amount of support and encouragement with your notes, emails, and messages of encouragement. We have been both surprised at the response (that people think it's as exciting as we do), and honored that it has been deemed worthy of your hard-earned dollars. 

As of April 1, 2016, we are within $2,800 of our half-way point ($10,000), and have 2 months left before our earliest potential travel month (June). God knows our needs - He knows them better than we do - and He will provide (through our jobs, through our thrift, and through the support of others)as we need it. 

It's been stretching, it's been humbling, and it's been exciting. Thanks for joining us on His journey. 
P.S. Stay tuned... due to the request of some of our friends, t-shirts, bookmarks, tote bags, or something else will soon be coming to a Facebook page near you. :)