Thursday, October 29, 2009

The Pass It Forward Adoption Fund

While we still have a long ways to go to raise the full amount for the Pass It Forward Adoption Fund (And I still really need YOUR help) I have decided it is time to announce the family who will one day be given the funds to completely their adoption (and then in return will turn around and raise the money once again to pass onto the next family).

From the very beginning when the Lord started working out the details of the Pass It Forward Adoption Fund He put a very special family in my mind. I prayed more than you could image about this decision- knowing it was a big one. Then, I confirmed that decision with a good Christian friend of mine whom God also put this family in the forefront of her mind.

For several months now I have continued praying over this decision, and then I spoke with the family and they too have been praying. They realize that this will be a gift- and yet at the same time there is a responsibility that comes with it. The responsibility of accepting the gift, finding the child the Lord has in mind for their family- and then also raising the adoption costs for the next family. Therefore the vision of the Pass It Forward Adoption Fund continues on. The reason we started this fund was because we believe that when God blesses us it is so that we can bless others. It is not a open hand close hand deal. It’s a open hand, receive his blessings and then continue to bless others as well.

The Pass It forward Adoption Fund was founded on the vision that those with a heart for adoption will come together, work together and support each other through this amazing journey called adoption. From the many, many emails I have received over the past few months asking for help, emails from individuals telling me about families they know of in need of funds for their adoption- I know without a doubt that we are on the right track. Raising the money for an adoption can be so overwhelming- overwhelming enough that often times it is the sole reason people do not adopt. They see the cost- and it stops them dead in their tracks. And inevitably, a child in need of a family remains an orphan for life. So for those of you who have walked this road of fundraising and saving, and for those of you who have emailed me informing me of a family in need- I challenge YOU to also come along side a family and help them. Get creative, work hard, sacrifice yourself, pray. Ask God what YOU can do to help a deserving family bring a child home. I promise you will not regret it.

I wish I could help EVERY FAMILY- I wish I were Bill Gates (Bill honey, if you happen upon my blog could you please help us out here??) but I am not. You all have no idea how much I truly appreciate all of you who have come along side of me and given. Many of you are adoptive families- many of you are in the adoption process right now. I have had children empty their piggy banks and give, I have had families eat beans and rice for a month and give. I have had people return purchases and people go without- all because they know that together we can make a difference in the life of a child. I am so thankful for each and every one of you. You may never see the full extent of your sacrifice- but God does. He sees and He knows.


The recipients of the Pass It Forward Adoption Fund have a huge passion for orphans. They are a good strong Christian family who we know often sacrifice themselves for others. They are a family who I know has the ability and the desire to continue on the vision of the Pass It Forward Adoption Fund. They are a family who deserved to be blessed. Our prayer is that this fund can continue on and on to help more and more families yet for now, we had to choose just one family- and that family is... (drum roll please) - The Riggs family. http://www.riggsfamilyblog.com/

For those of you who know them- you are shaking your head agreeing they are the perfect choice. There are so many reasons why but for now I want to just share a few…

Several years back Michelle and I became friends as we were both adopting from Guatemala through the same agency. I remember being blown away by Michelle’s constant offering of prayer. She truly seemed to care and truly seemed to want to help, even as she herself was adopting. But it didn’t stop there. As our family worked, struggled, and fundraised to bring our daughter Mya home from Guatemala- Michelle and Brent were doing the same thing at the same time for their son Landis. And yet in the mail they sent US a check for $450 to help with our adoption cost. Right there is an example of the kind of people they are. Always putting someone else’s needs before their own.

Secondly, is Abby. A lot of you know Abby because of her leukemia. I know Abby because of her heart. Even at her young age Abby understands that she was adopted and she understands what a family is. But it doesn’t stop there… you see, Abby doesn’t sit around worrying about her cancer or the pain it brings her. Yes she knows she is sick and she knows there is pain involved. But what bothers Abby most is knowing there are kids out there just like her, who are hurting and sometimes sick- but without the love of a family. Without a family to hold them when they cry, a family to tell them that everything is going to be okay. Abby knows that it is through adoption she is able to experience these things for herself today. Because of this it is Abbys greatest wish to adopt a baby brother from Ethiopia. Yet in true Abby fashion- she doesn’t just wish for a brother- she wishes for a bald baby brother so that he will be just like her.

Again, I want to thank you for all that you have given up and given so far- to help one day make this families dream of adopting another child come true. We still have a ways to go but I know together we can make a difference in the life of a child.

I cannot wait to see what God does through YOU!!!


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16 comments:

Unknown said...

PRAISING GOD AMY WITH YOU!

I love it!!!!!

Praying over this with you and excited to watch GOD MOVE in the hearts of many!

Love you,
Jill

Recovering Noah said...

Whoo hoo, Riggs Family! I can't think of a more deserving family. This child will be loved and cherised like no other.

Congratulations!

Leslie

darci said...

ahhh I'm bawling! yay oh yay, for the beautiful family of beautiful Abby Riggs..
I'm so glad. darci

Adeye said...

So happy for them. What a blessing the funds will be for their future adoption. So thankful to the Father for His amazing provision.

Holly said...

I don't know Abby personally and I can't truly fathom what her little body has gone through but I know what it is like to have a little one who thinks of other orphans when other kids are thinking of themselves. I know that God knows the desire of little Abby's heart and I can't wait to see God pick out the baldest baby boy in Ethiopia to be the newest Riggs member!!! I would like to donate a beaded serving set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder with the proceeds going into the Pass It Forward Adoption Fund.
I am not even close to being a the point where I have even paid myself back for the supplies I've purchased so far or I would do more!
Trusting God!!
Let me know about the serving set and if you want to do the auction on your blog.
love,
Holly
PS- thanks for linking to Beading Our Way Back.
BIG hugs!

Dardi said...

This has hope written all over it ... I love it!!

Sophie said...

Crying right now.What a wonderful gift for such a deserving family. Their precious Abby is always in our prayers and I'm so thrilled for them. God bless!!

trustandobey said...

Do not know them but know of them (and Abby). Trust your judgement completely! Will be praying that Abby gets her little bald brother!
Lisa

Melinda said...

Awesome Amy! So happy to see the big news revealed finally! I can't wait to see who God has planned for the Riggs family next!
What is the current total collected so far?

Meredith said...

You couldn't have picked a more desrving family! I can't wait to watch this unfold... what a wonderful opprotunity to watch God's hand at work.

Karin said...

I am so excited for the Riggs family! I can't wait to see the bald baby boy that God chooses for them. :)

Andrea Hill said...

What an amazing family you chose. I know you spend a lot of time in prayer over this. There is really no need to explain. When you raise money, many people think they should get some for their adoption but unfortunately you are not a bank. It is those who are quiet and meek and give silently those are the ones it comes back to 10 fold. I am so glad you chose Michelle and her family.

The Gobble's (Lanetta) said...

So excited... I knew immediatly that this was GOD!!! BAWLING... this is so awesome and we want to be apart of this awesome, AWESOME vision God has given you...casue we have it too!!! So thrilled!!! God is SO good!!!

Kathleen said...

God is Mighty to Save and he has the perfect baby brother waiting for sweet Abby!!! Michelle and Brent Riggs truly understand what being the hands and feet of Jesus is all about. What a blessing this will be for them.....You just don't even know where God will take this gift:) How exciting!!!

Joy Portis said...

What a wonderful choice! Abby has ministered to so many with her strength and her compassionate heart! Can't wait to see what special bald boy the Lord has planned for this special family!

Sister Haiti said...

Yay!!! I wondered when you were going to announce it. So happy for the Riggs family!!!!