Help Bring Asher Duvall Home.

UPDATE #2: As of TODAY (11/19) Jon and Carly have raised a little over $600! That is great, but there is still a ways to go. Please consider sponsoring a puzzle piece ($25), buying a head warmer ($10), or just plain old donating (any amount is so appreciated)! I cannot stress how important that this is.

Adoption is a huge undertaking.

As a parent, you see a picture of a child and in that instant you KNOW that God called you to them. And suddenly no mountain seems too high, because YOU ARE GOING TO GET YOUR CHILD.

And it doesn't matter that some close friends and family just don't get it. It hurts that they don't get it, but it doesn't deter your sense of purpose.

In this case my friends Jon and Carly SAW little Asher Jui from China, a six year old with Down's Syndrome.

And they are filled with a passion to bring him home, but right now they are really struggling to scrape the funds together.

Jon and Carly have three other (home-grown) children, who have decided that they would rather have a brother than Christmas presents this year.

Carly is crocheting like mad; she has some seriously cute head warmers that would make excellent Christmas gifts. 

They had a garage sale to raise a chunk to pay their application fee and start the home study.

The agency that they are working with is reminding them repeatedly about the first payment, $2500, that is due no later than January 13, 2014. Even though that is the due date, the need is much more urgent than two months away. Because (and I am so not an expert on the Chinese process) when Jon and Carly mailed their letter of intent to China and received approval, that started the clock ticking...six months to submit their dossier or they lose Asher. The file is closed. And there is nothing to be done about it. So, that being the case and the fact that they are being told that the dossier takes 4 months to put together, the need is NOW. I would just love to see God pour out blessings through His people, who are called according to His purpose. I would love to see them have those funds by Thanksgiving. 

They have started the process with the agency. Paid the application fee. Paid to get the home study started.

They need to come up with around $10,000 total before they can even begin applying for grants.

It is such a vicious cycle. Payment after payment coming due and no grant funds available until travel.

I know exactly the overwhelming feeling that comes when you look and see that dollars are what stand between you and the child of your heart.

But I can also testify that God provided for us in amazing, grace-filled ways to bring home our little man. And I am trusting, as are they, that God will move in His people's hearts to help bring home Asher.

Some people are very critical of adoption fund-raising. The Bible is pretty clear about what we are supposed to do when it comes to orphans. I know that even before we embarked on our own journey, I was always excited to help others. Because how many opportunities do we have to literally touch the life of an orphan?

So, if you don't feel called to give financially, or if you are unable to, don't feel like you are exempt from helping. PRAY. Pray. Pray. Pray. Because this adoption is ON THE LINE. This redemption story is ON THE LINE unless GOD and HIS people step in.

You can check out Jon and Carly's blog to find out how to support them in this endeavor. (Just a side note: if you donate to their Reece's Rainbow fund right now, those monies won't be released until travel, so please choose the "donate" button at the top left hand side that will link to PayPal.)

And, please, Dear Readers, pray for the Duvall family.

(Good grief, this kid is ADORBS)