Fundraising Update...Where does the Money Go?

We wanted to give you all an update on what your generous donations have gone to pay for so far. You are all amazing, and my heart is so thankful for all of your help in bringing our boys home! I am so looking forward to posting their pictures when we are allowed to....to show you exactly who you are helping to give a family and home. God bless you all!

$100 Placing Agency Application Fees
$200 Home study Agency Application Fees
$440 State Background Checks
$90 FBI Fingerprint checks
$60 Birth Certificates( Ted and I)
$30 Marriage Certificate
$1300 Home study Payment part 1
$90 Required Adoption Courses Online for Certification.
$75 Required Adoption Orientation Course
$72 Passport Photos (6 sets required for Ted & I)
$342 Passports
$720 I-800 Immigration Fees
$425 Homeland Security Fingerprinting
$1000 Placing Agency Fees Part 1
$49.73 Dossier photos and Photo books sent to the boys in China.
$33.40 + Postage so far
***$5027.13 Is the Total Paid so far
*************************************************
This is what is due right now to move forward to beat the October deadlines to bring the boys home in December, then we can begin applying for Adoption Grants.
$1300 Home Study Fees Part 2
$1500 China Dossier Fees

After this will come a multitude of other fees, which I will update at a different time. Hopefully we will get the grants we apply for to help pay for those fees and travel.

If you would like a tax receipt for your donation, you may send a check to:

Agape Adoptions
1410 Main Street
Sumner Washington 98390

Just write in the memo " for the Ted and Karla Baca Family Adoption"

Why Us...Why Now?

I've had some people ask ( and other people probably wondering without saying anything out loud) WHY are WE trying to adopt 2 boys from China? Why US, when we need humble ourselves and ask for financial help to do it? Why NOW, when we already have so many medical needs going on in our family. I heard this song by Matthew West...and it sums up perfectly the reason WHY US, and WHY NOW. For us, it is because God has called us to be His Instrument in providing a home for 2 brothers, and having 2 Less Orphans in the world, and NOW is the time these boys need a family. If you can help us , we appreciate each and every donation so much. God bless!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_RjndG0IX8&feature=player_embedded

Envelope Fundraiser

So, I’d like to introduce you to our second idea for our fundraising campaign. It’s called the envelope fundraiser. If it is successful, we believe it will cover many of our expenses for this adoption. We have chosen the number 153. If you google the number of orphans in the world, in big bold numbers up pops the number 153 million. We chose this number because soon there will be two less than 153 million orphans in the world.

We have 153 envelopes, all numbered one to 153. We are asking friends, family, small groups, businesses, etc. to claim one of these envelopes and give the amount displayed on the envelope as a donation. Leave a comment about which envelope you are claiming, and make a donation through the Paypal donation button here on the blog. I will have the #'s still available posted and updated in the comments.

 For example, if you choose #43, then you’d donate  $43. If you choose #121, then you’d donate $121. No one would pay over $153. As the envelopes are chosen, we will post updated pictures of our "Envelope wall" showing the empty spaces with  #s that have already been taken. You can donate  more than one envelope if you like, and for each envelope donation we will pray a rosary for your family's intentions and mail you a postcard after we have prayed for you if you give us your address. (Rosary will be said no matter what, but we can't mail you  a postcard if we don't know where to mail it)

If you would like your name on a puzzle piece as well, just add $10 to the envelope amount. Thank you so much, and may God bless you for your prayers and generosity!

Too Many Children? That's like saying there are too many flowers...

A song to inspire choosing life...

***UPDATE***Please donate any amount TODAY if you can...we really need donations for the fees due this week  we need another $1400 to cover the fees before Wednesday. Please share this Post everywhere. Be a part of a miracle for the boys! A Donation of $10 or more get's your name on the back of a puzzle piece, which when completed (500 pieces) will be put into a 2 sided frame and displayed for the boys to see how many people wanted them to have a home again. May God bless you!

***If you want to contribute to the costs directly to the Adoption Agency with a check you can send your donation to:
Agape Adoptions 1410 Main Street
Sumner, WA 98390

please put  For the Ted and Karla Baca  Adoption in the memo if you send a check. If you want your name on a puzzle piece , please leave a message on this post. Thank you!

***UPDATE ***8/8/15 Our Life is a Puzzle! First Fundraising Goal...

***24 pieces claimed...476 more to go to get 500 names on the puzzle! Let's show the boys that there are at least 500 people in the world willing to donate $10 or more to give them a family where they can be together, forever. God bless you all!



To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge, that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do all things more abundantly than we desire or understand, according to the power that worketh in us; To him be glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus unto all generations, world without end. Amen.

Ephesians 3:19-21"

 

 

Ok ...here it goes! This is  our first fundraising goal to bring these precious brothers home from China. We are beginning with a Puzzle, appropriate since God is in charge of piecing together orphans and families.

$4500 for the Home-study and initial documents.

The first 500 people to donate $10 or more will get their name on the back of a puzzle piece that will be revealed when all of the pieces have been purchased. The Puzzle will be glued together and displayed in our home in a 2 sided frame, showing the people that made this adoption possible.

I will post updated pictures of a goal thermometer showing how much has been raised, as well as the back of the puzzle with all the pieces as the fund grows through donations.

You can donate using the paypal button on the side of our blog, marking it as a gift...then there will be no fees. May God bless you for your generosity, you will be added to our family prayers.


***$40,000 is the current amount estimated for the total expenses of bringing the boys home.(Hopefully it will be decreasing)


 

Fundraising Goals!

Ok ...here it goes! These are our fundraising goals to bring these precious brothers home. We are in a time crunch as the older brother "times out" at age 14 in March 2016. Then he is no longer adoptable. Please help us raise the $ needed quickly. We hope to be able to Travel to China in December to bring the boys home.


$6,500...Agape Adoption Fees...$40,000...Approximate Total Adoption costs fundraising goal

Approximate Goals:
$3,000 needed at the time of the Home study
$3,200 needed for China program fees at Dossier preparation
$720 + another $720 for 2nd child at I 800 filing...Immigration filing
$425...Fingerprinting for 5 people
$1000...Birth certificates, Marriage License, Criminal Background Study, Psych evaluations,        Physical/Medical Evaluations,
$11,200...Orphanage Fee for 2 brothers (asking for reduction)
$12,000...Travel & lodging expenses in China for Parents and 2 Children
$500...Chinese Entry Visas per person
$2000 Document Fees for 2 brothers
$1500...US Attorney Fees and Court Fees
$2000...Post Placement report fees

Hearing God's Voice

Luke 13:34
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent to thee, how often would I have gathered thy children as the bird doth her brood under her wings, and thou wouldest not?

Every child deserves the love of a family. Whether they are in Africa, India, South America, China, Russia, Columbia, the United States of America...or anywhere else in the world! There are so many children in the world that are without a family to call their own. Poverty, death, abandonment or abuse have deprived them of a nurturing family and a place to call "home." They have suffered so much in their short lives. Many are called to provide loving homes for the worlds orphaned children. Some are called to adopt children in Foster Care. Others adopt infants who might otherwise be aborted. Many are led half way around the world to the child or children who are to become theirs. Many cannot adopt children themselves, but can help financially, or by being prayer warriors.  Each family is a part of the puzzle God puts together to give His orphans a home, without each and every piece the puzzle is not complete!

James 1:27
Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one' s self unspotted from this world.


Have you ever wondered how God speaks to His children? Me too! In my case it usually begins with a longing in my heart. Then I begin wondering if it is really God, or is it my own agenda? Then I pray to discern God's intentions. And I wait. And I speak to my Husband and ask him to pray. Then, most times, if it is from God, things start happening that lead me in the direction to go, or close the door. Many times I wonder how God thinks I have what it takes to carry out His Divine Will. We don't have the funds to adopt...it wasn't in our plans at this time. But God knows how it will all work out, we just have to trust and obey. ( And work and PRAY!) So begins another adoption journey...this time we are hoping to head to China to bring home a sibling group of 2...ages 9 and 13!  I hope that you will follow along with us, support us in prayer, and if you are so led...we humbly ask for a donation gift that will help 2 orphans find a home in this world. I will be posting our monetary goals as we go along, and I have a Paypal button on the side of the blog that will go to an adoption account. Unfortunately it is not tax deductible at this time.
May God bless you for your support...we will keep you in our prayers as well!

An Introduction to our Family

     Welcome to our adoption blog...time to introduce our family to you all.  I am Karla, and my husband, Ted, and I have been married for 23 years. We are a catholic family living on a 5 acre Hobby Farm, with our 3 living children and my brother. Our youngest son, Sanjay, passed away during his time in the hospital undergoing a Bone Marrow Transplant. We were hoping for a cure for his Thalassemia Major, but on February 12th, 2011, he suffered an unexpected brain bleed. Two weeks later, after making a miraculous recovery, he suffered another massive brain bleed on the night before he was to leave ICU to go back to the BMT unit. At the Age of 10, Sanjay went home to be with the Lord.
     Sanjay and Josy were adopted from India in 2003, at the ages of 2.5 and 3 years. Our Older children Max, age 9, and Cheyenne, age 7, were so excited to be getting a new brother and sister. What an incredible adventure! Since that time we have learned a LOT about Thalassemia and it's medical treatment, have moved twice, ( once changing States) Retired from Military Service, developed family relationships, homeschooled our children, went on great family vactions, had my mother and brother come live with us, suffered the loss of our son & my mother, and Ted's younger sister, his mother & father. Faith has brought us through it all, both the blessings and the sorrows...and we are ready to step out in faith to adopt again!
    May God bless you all as you join our family in this journey...your prayers are so welcomed and appreciated!

Remembering our youngest Son...Every child deserves a family

It is approaching the 4th anniversary of our youngest son's death. We still miss him every single day. This is a post from my previous blog, the one I began when we hoped that a Bone Marrow Transplant would cure Sanjay from his Thalassemia Major. 2 months later he passed away in the hospital, a freak brain bleed ended his life...but not his legacy.

13 Years ago this boy was born in India, and within a month was brought to an orphanage. We don't know anything else about his beginnings. I didn't even know about him at the time. But God did. God knew every hair on his head and had already numbered his days. In His great mercy and love, he touched the hearts of a family half way around the world, and we responded to that call, stepping out in faith into the unknown ...and that little boy was adopted into a family...mirroring our own heavenly adoption, when we were baptized and became members of God's family. This little boy was LOVED! And we were so blessed!

 

 Family is a funny thing. There are few others who can irritate, exasperate, and even anger one another...yet also induce such a wellspring of love and protectiveness than a member of your family. God designed families to raise up soldiers for Him. To love one another, to be "sandpaper" to smooth the rough edges off, and to help one another along the path to our Eternal Home. You could say that we've accomplished that goal with the youngest member of our family. It is some consolation to have the hope that we will see him again. We can never take for granted that we will have plenty of time to concern ourselves with Heaven. Only God knows the day and the hour...I hope that my life is pleasing to Him, and that when my days on Earth are finished, He will greet me with the words, "well done...." And on that day, I hope to see Sanjay's smiling face beaming back at me with that toothy grin, along with all of the other loved ones who have gone before us. Lead the way, Little Traveler...

 Happy Birthday in Heaven, sweetie...we sure do miss you here, we are so glad you're a part of our family.   And families are forever.