International Adoption... "Uh, isn't that expensive?"

So, I’ve been debating writing about this… discussing personal finances isn’t high on my list of appropriate blog topics. But, God is teaching us so much about His provision that I feel like we need to share!

International adoption is EXPENSIVE. And let me be clear, we are NOT buying the kids. These children, who we do not yet even know, are priceless in our eyes. That being said, there are MANY fees associated with adoption... Fees for home studies, background checks, medical testing, adoption agencies, lawyers, translators, visas, travel, etc. When I see a total number around $35-40,000, I freak out… but then I see the breakdown of each component and it starts to seem not so absurd. It’s frustrating and unfortunate, because in an ideal world it would not cost to provide a child with a family… but the deeper you get into the process, the more all of the expenses make some sense.

Yes, there are grants, loans, tax refunds, etc. out there. However, most of these programs have the requirement that your home study is complete BEFORE you can even start their application process. So you’ve got to start dishing out to get the ball rolling, not knowing what assistance may be available to you. 

We knew the cost and therefore were not planning on adopting in the near future. We had even looked into foster care as a “cheaper” alternative, but in the end we continued to feel led towards and passionate about Ethiopia. The goal was to save lots of money before starting the adoption process. But then earlier this year God clearly started telling me to leave my job… and I’ve got to say, that was confusing because our second income was supposed to provide the money to be saved for what we felt God was calling us to do! We ho-hummed about this for months… (Actually, I should clarify that I ho-hummed. Chad was supportive from the beginning. He has a theory that money should not be the deciding factor on important "big picture" things. He is not a slave to money. He is wise. Love him!) I FINALLY took the leap of faith and I resigned in March. Money was going to be tight and that was without even trying to save for adoption.

Literally, within days, three things happened:

1. We got a call that a small settlement was owed to us. We knew nothing about this money… it was from an occurrence 5 years ago… and the woman who contacted us specifically said, “I’ve been trying to track you all down for quite awhile to inform you of this check.
2. Chad received an additional benefit at work that significantly impacted our monthly expenses. When he received the information on this benefit, the company representative said, “I’ve been carrying this around for weeks and kept forgetting to give it to you.
3. We had been appealing charges regarding medical claims for Cora. We had been waiting to hear back for quite awhile from the insurance company. They called to say it had just been reconciled and we did not owe anything. 

Crazy, right? All of a sudden, things weren’t quite as tight. But more than that, we felt a renewal of faith and encouragement that we were on the right path. It felt like God was saying, “I’ve had this covered since the moment I impressed upon you to leave your job.” If I had taken a leap of faith sooner, I believe God would have shown his provision sooner.

When I think about these first few days, scripture floods my mind…

"What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself." Luke 12:29-32 (Message)

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)

A few months later, we felt strongly that we were supposed shorten our mortgage term to ensure we’d be completely debt-free sooner versus later. It didn’t really make sense to increase a monthly expense when we have just subtracted an income. Our equation of income versus expenses seemed like it could potentially be unbalanced, but after the way God provided for us earlier, we couldn’t deny Him another time. We did it and have been blessed by that decision.

Here we are today, about 30% into the fees and no longer hung up on the daunting expenses. To date, each time a fee has been due, we have received the funds around the same time in the form of a refund, bonus, consulting gig, etc. It’s been amazing. And now that our home study is complete, we can start applying for grants and raising support. What was once the biggest hurdle to adopting is no longer feeling insurmountable. Very exciting!


“You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both... If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds... Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." Matthew 6:24-34 (Message)