WOW! (Mark's title) aka "Blessed by our church family, friends and reminded that God provides!"

Last Sunday, our church held a potluck dinner, silent auction, and bake sale as an adoption fundraiser for us. About six weeks ago, we had approached our pastor asking if the church would consider a change drive to help us with adoption costs. Truly, we were grasping at straws... we don't know a thing about fundraising. We thought that if we could raise a few hundred dollars, every little bit would help with our adoption costs.

Well, we were humbled when our church came back to us offering to have a dinner and silent auction. As we talked and planned, the bake sale was added. Then last Sunday, it was also mentioned that our church was going to ask Thrivent Financial if they would match some of the funds that were raised. Oh, my goodness... we just could not believe how people were reaching out and supporting us. We still didn't have high expectations, but we felt so touched by the efforts that people were making on our behalf. And so unworthy!!

This morning, we planned to get up in front of the church and tell everyone thank you. We still didn't know how much money had been raised, but it really didn't matter. The prayers and support that lifted us up as we brought Maia home and now as we make this journey were what was most important to us. Anyway... I'm off track. We were asked to come up in front of the church and presented with a check for

$4400!!!!!!!!

This was beyond anything we had even remotely considered. I can not express how full my heart was when Lynn told us that the church council was so moved by our faithfulness to God's calling to bring Matthew home that they "KNEW that they had to show us how much they supported us." 

God keeps reminding us that He is in charge of this journey and He wants Matthew home with his forever family just as much as we do. Thank you is totally inadequate to express the emotions in our heart, but 

THANK YOU TO OUR CHURCH FAMILY AT
SOUTH ZUMBRO LUTHERAN

AS WELL AS OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
WHO ATTENDED!!