A Milestone

As we head into the weekend, I want to share a message about how hopeful and encouraged we are.  Thank you, friends, for helping us hit an exciting milestone this past week:  $1000 in donations and T-shirt sales (and pickles, too)!  We actually passed $1000 at our small group, where yet another of our small group faithful donated for a shirt.

We're seeing God move in encouraging ways.  People in our community are noticing, and remembering, our shirts.  Perfect strangers are learning about the needs of orphans, they are supporting us in bringing home our baby, and most importantly, they are hearing and sharing the gospel.  The Lord has expanded our circle and helped us spread the Good News and that He cares for orphans.

I get chills when I think about a friend from our small group who was asked by the librarian last week whether she had been at that library the day before.  She had not, but the librarian remarked that she had seen that same T-shirt (our T-shirt!) worn there the day before.  Thank you, friends for supporting us.  For WEARING the shirts, and for sharing our exciting story.

This past Sunday morning at church, as I was updating a friend on recent events in the life of our family, I realized she had not heard we're adopting.  She mentioned that she had just seen a cute little girl walk by with an amazing adoption T-shirt that she had to have.  (It was the same little girl whose mom sported our tee at the library this past week, friends from our small group.)  The result?  Two more shirts sold and that much closer to bringing home our baby girl.  My generous friend with a huge heart for children and adoption herself, and her amazing daughter, reached into their pockets after church to support and join with us.  Thank you, friends!

Needing God to provide far more for us than He normally does to cover the cost of this adoption is humbling.  We are looking at raising around $30,000.  What a huge, impossible number for us, but so very easy for the Giver of all good gifts.  Receiving your gifts is such a blessing and an answer to our prayers.  Know that we appreciate you and praise God for how He is working for our family's good through the generous gifts of our friends and family.

So just know that when you support us and wear the shirts, people notice.  I'd love for those of you who have already received them to send in pictures of you or your family in our shirt.  I'll put together a little album here on the blog, with your permission, and share our shirts around town (or around the world).  And stay tuned for more exciting ways to partner with us in the coming months.

You can send your pictures to: whereourhopeis @ gmail.com (take out the space).

With a grateful and encouraged heart,
~Katie