Dear Family and Friends

In March 2008, Bill and I were preparing for a ministry trip to Ukraine.  Although we anticipated that our life would be changed by this trip, only God knew how radical the change would be.  While we were in Ukraine we experienced fellowship with beautiful Ukrainian families, we connected with a local church plant, we spoke at village churches on marriage, I visited a women’s sanitorium, and we spent several hours at an orphanage.  As we toured the facility, we were struck by the neatness of all the bedrooms, the well-supplied classrooms, and the bleachy-clean smell that permeated every corner.  As we met children, gave them prayer blankets, smiled at them, and hugged them, one thought kept going through my mind, “These children need families.”  They are clean and fed, but at night, when the lights were turned out, who kisses them goodnight?  Who prays for them and with them?  Who do they come to with bad dreams? 

We came home stirred, and almost too full to know how to share of God’s work in our hearts with people.  Late one afternoon, I was working in Panera Bread preparing to speak at our church on Mother’s Day when a forwarded email arrived in my inbox including this excerpt:

I am hoping you two may be able to help with any connections that you have made with other families through the adoption process. Katya is looking for a host family, who can also be her forever family, for this June-July. Since Katya’s visit with us this Christmas, a lot more has been learned about her past. Her paternal grandmother raised her from birth. Katya’s biological mother did not want her and her father had TB so grandma did not want him to be around Katya for fear she would also get sick (she was a preemie). Katya’s grandmother is no longer able to care for her and sent her to the orphanage so she could go to school. She very much wants Katya to be adopted into a loving family.

Immediately I felt that this was for us but trusted my husband’s discernment.  By the next morning, Bill was confirmed as well. 

Katya arrived June 19, exhausted, dirty, and smelling like she had been traveling for 24 days rather than 24 hours.  But for us, as we received this “least one,” we felt as if we were receiving an angel.  The next three and a half weeks were glorious and challenging.  Putting Katya on the airplane to head back to Ukraine and the orphanage was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.

Over the next few months, we prayed and fasted, considered the cost – financially, emotionally, practically.  We talked with the children.  We talked with family members.  We met with wise friends.  And on November 11, Bill announced, “I’m ready.”  Tears filled my eyes and the next day we began the arduous process of international adoption. 

Our home study was completed in January 2009 and the final documents of our dossier were delivered to Ukrainein April 2009.  Despite administrative glitches, we are hoping to travel this summer to bring Katya home. 

As we have prayed for Katya, and asked God to give us His heart for her, He has shown us that this adoption is certainly about Katya and our family, but it’s bigger than that.  He is giving us His passion for mercy and justice and deep concern for the plight of the fatherless in Ukraine and around the world. 

·          Ukraine alone, has 100,000 orphans

  • Many children run away from these homes, preferring to live on the street.
  • Children usually graduate from these institutions between 15 and 16 years of age and are turned out, unprepared for life outside the home. 
  • About 10% of them will commit suicide after leaving the orphanage before their 18th birthday.
  • 60% of the girls will end up in prostitution. Those who run prostitution rings target orphaned girls, who are especially vulnerable due to their lack of options and lack of people who care what happens to them. Though promised good jobs, they end up on the streets and brothels of cities across Europe.

Not all of us are called to adopt, but we all are called to exercise “true religion - caring for orphans and widows in their distress.”  (James 1:27).  We would like to ask you to consider caring for orphans by coming alongside us as we seek to bring Katya into our family.  Here’s how you can support us:

1.    Support us in prayer.  We will send out regular emails to those who are committed to praying for us.  Please email cfinley@evergreenchurch.com,  if you would like to be part of our “Welcoming Katya Prayer Team”

 

2.    Support us financially.  The cost of this adoption will be in the neighborhood of $25,000.  Although we are confident that we will be able to provide for the long-term care of Katya, we do not have this capital in reserve.   We are so thankful to have received a $3000 matching grant from LifeSong for Orphans and the James Fund. So, if you contribute early, your gift will be doubled!  The deadline for donations is May 20, 2009.  To contribute, please send a check to:

 

LifeSong for Orphans

P.O. Box 40

202 N. Ford Street

Gridley, IL  61744

In the memo line of your check write: FINLEY #788 Adoption.  ALL financial contributions are tax deductible and 100% of all donations go directly toward the cost for adopting Katya. “According to IRS guidelines, your donation is the named non-profit organization.  This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.” 

3.    Donate your Frequent Flier Miles for us to use for travel.  Contact me (cfinley@evergreenchurch)  and we can work out the details.  

 

4.    Support us practically.  We need help to prepare our home to receive Katya, help with house-sitting and dog-sitting while we are in Ukraine, and help once we return with meals, house-cleaning, errands, etc.  If you would like to come alongside  us in practical ways, please email cfinley@evergreenchurch.com  and we’ll put you to work! 

 

5.    Visit our blog frequently.  Here you can follow the ins-and-outs of this adoption adventure.  We will be able to post from Ukraine and keep you posted all along the journey.  

 

6.    Pass this information on to anyone whom you think might be interested in our story, interested in pursuing adoption themselves, or want to express God’s heart for orphans by supporting us. 

Please pray about supporting us in this journey.  If you have any words of encouragement or questions for us, we invite you to leave a comment or email us personally. 

                                                                        Peace and joy in Christ,

 

 

                                                                        Bill and Cindy Finley