Monday, October 21, 2013

Fundraiser through Lifesong for Orphans!

We are so excited and blessed that Lifesong approved us to fundraise through their wonderful orphan care ministry! Several months ago Sean and I applied for 6 grants! Last week we received 2 letters in the mail.  The first letter contained a $500 grant- PRAISE THE LORD! We were SO excited to receive this! The second letter was from Lifesong for Orphans! This wonderful Christian ministry will allow anyone to donate on our behalf through them and receive a tax deduction.  We are mailing hard copy letters (let us know if you want one) and we are also copying and pasting what we mail below so you can be a part! If you decide to donate please make sure you use our account number and family name so it goes directly to us.  The great news is that we will receive 100% of donations!

One more update- our next rummage sale will be Saturday November 16! We are still collecting items and working on a location! We truly appreciate your support and donations. 

Here is our letter about fundraising through Lifesong:
 
October 21, 2013                                                                                     

 Dear Family and Friends,

Some of you know we have felt called by God to adopt a “fatherless” child into our family.  We are adopting a little girl from Ghana, Africa and will be matched with a specific child in the next 12 months.  After we have been matched, we will travel for court then we will travel a 2nd time to bring her back home.  As a family, we’ve been excitedly praying for her, and we’ve already named our daughter- Jada Suzanne.  For those of you who don't know, Suzanne is my moms name and my middle name. 

What has prompted us to adopt? Primarily, we’ve felt so clearly directed by God to adopt that we want to obey him.  We also desire to give an orphan child a family that she probably wouldn’t otherwise have.   God desires for orphans of all nations to be loved, cared for, and adopted into Christian families- ultimately so they can become saved and adopted into His eternal family through Jesus Christ.

There are over 147 million orphans worldwide and 120,000 children currently in the U.S. foster care system.  It is estimated that less than 10 percent of these children are adopted in evangelical Christian families.

 The biggest challenge is not opening our hearts and home to another child, but it is finding the finances to make this happen.  The estimated cost for the adoption is $35,000. That’s certainly money we don’t have, but we know God is faithful and is leading us to trust Him.  By God’s grace we’ve been able to pay the initial $5,000.  We have held 2 fundraisers: a rummage sale this past May raising $3,800 and an online Facebook auction this past September raising $4500.  We have now paid a total of $13,300 towards our adoption!

Honestly it’s a little difficult (because of our pride) to make our needs known to the body of Christ, but we realize it is biblical to do so.  Your friendship is appreciated, and we would like you to pray and consider helping us in one or two ways with our adoption.

 1.      Please pray God would tenderly care for Jada in Ghana until we are able to bring her home; that God would prepare us for the upcoming changes in our family; and that God will give us wisdom, discernment, and insight as we raise Jada to know Jesus.
2.      Will you please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help cover the remaining $20,000 towards our adoption expenses to bring Jada home? Our goal date is December 4th, but funds will be accepted towards our adoption until the child is in our home and/or our adoption is complete.

 Please make checks payable to “Lifesong for Orphans.” In the memo, note family account number (#4038) and family name (Richardson) to assure it goes to the correct account. Please email to Life Song for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley, IL 61744.  Lifesong has been blessed with a partner that underwrites all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption. 

 Another option is to give online.  Go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate. Select “Give to an Adoptive Family.” Complete the online form and fill in the family account number (#4038) and family name (Richardson).

 In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to the named non-profit organization.  This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use. Individual donations of $250 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt.  Receipts for donations under $250 will gladly be sent upon request. Lifesong is a 501©3 tax exempt organization.

Thank you for investing in the Kingdom through prayer and finances- it will be an investment with an eternal return! We’ll give you an update with a picture of Jada and details as we receive them. Please pray this entire process will glorify God and fulfill His purpose.  You may continue to follow our blog at www.therichardsonadoption.blogspot.com.  

 
In Christ,
Sean and Sarah Richardson


We also received a letter of support from Lifesong that we are mailing with the hard copies! Please let me know if you would like me to mail you or your family a fundraising and support letter.

We truly appreciate and are overwhelmed with all of the love and support we have received.  Please continue to pray for us during this "waiting period" until we receive a referral.  Please also pray for our daughter (whom we will name Jada) and the people who are caring for her. 

Love you all,

Sean and Sarah