When God led us to Jacob, we were just getting ready to leave for China to get Jordan. We had to borrow almost the entire amount of Jordan's adoption, so when I told Jeff about Jacob, he looked at me incredulously and said, 'Where are we going to get the money for that?" We both knew that if God led us to do something, He would provide, but honestly, we had never faced a deficit quite this large when it came to our adoptions. We knew that we had no other places from which to borrow. We couldn't take out another loan because the payments would be too much for us to handle.
Our agency was so wonderful. They allowed us to take the step of faith we needed--and only required us to pay a retainer to the attorney in Guatemala. Thankfully, the attorney was also willing for us to pay less than the normal amount--and it was agreed that we would be allowed to pay the remaining $12,500 in two installments, rather than one. I doubted that spreading it out would help--but what could I say?! :)
The time came to pay the first installment and we did not have any money. Hmmm....Our agency didn't say anything...the attorney didn't say anything. We decided not to say anything either! :)
A few weeks later, our agency rep said that she believed that God was blinding eyes because no one had mentioned that the money had not been paid.
In the meantime, we filed our taxes and got our adoption tax credit money on its way to us. It helped get us to our goal, but it was still short of what we needed--and it left nothing to pay on Jordan's debt.
Jeff also got a new job--and a signing bonus--which helped--and the wonderful ministry that had Jacob on their website, www.theshepherdscrook.org , gave us a $1,000 grant.
Still, on paper, it didn't look like we would have enough. The day that we were told that Jacob's paperwork was completed, our rep told us we would have to make the large payment to our attorney and the agency. With a thumping heart, I called Jeff to tell him we needed to come up with the money. He said, "Karin, I think we just might have enough in our checking account!" I was floored! He called back later to verify that we did, indeed, have just enough to cover the amount needed.
We still have travel expenses, but we are hoping we might have enough frequent flier miles to use for that, so it shouldn't be too bad. God is sooooo good. When we started this, I couldn't imagine how we could possibly make this work out, but God is faithful. I do not want any of you to think it is normal for us to have an extra $12,500 in our checking account! This was truly God's provision and I want Him to get the credit for it!!
...I own the cattle on a thousand hills...Trust Me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give Me glory. Psalm 50:10,15
