Additional way to contribute to the matching grant...

I told you a few days ago about a matching grant that we were awarded by Lifesong and Chosen and Dearly Loved.  They have provided us with an additional super easy way to contribute to it.  Simply click on the family photo on the right side border of our blog and a donate button will come up.  The first $3000 in donations will be matched!  We are scrambling to come up with funds for our expedited travel schedule, and appreciate this opportunity so much.  Meeting this match will mean a lot to us.  Thank you!

Matching Grant!

The Chosen and Dearly Loved Foundation has offered us a matching grant through Lifesong for Orphans.  Each dollar, up to $3000 will be MATCHED by them!  We are on an expedited schedule and still $10,000 short.  This matching grant would be such a huge portion of what we still need!  Details below: 

 

Bringing Joy and Purpose to Orphans

Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40  
Gridley, IL 61744
P 309.747.4527 F 309.747.4647 www.lifesongfororphans.org

May 18, 2016

Dear church, family, and friends of Ethan and Randi Lanz,

God desires orphans of all nations to be adopted into Christ-honoring families so they can hear the Word of God and ultimately be adopted into God’s eternal family through faith in Jesus Christ. While God calls us to fulfill James 1:27 and “visit the fatherless” not all are called to adopt. Some are called to pray, some to give financially, some to go on mission trips, and some to adopt.

Lifesong for Orphans is a non-profit Christian ministry dedicated to help meet the needs of orphan children around the world, and to obey God’s call to “visit the fatherless…in their affliction” (James 1:27). With over 147 million orphans worldwide, Lifesong seeks to mobilize the Body of Christ to love and care for orphans. Lifesong serves families, churches and orphans through adoption funding. Additionally, Lifesong brings joy and purpose to orphans globally in several countries and domestically through foster care initiatives. Please visit our website (www.lifesongfororphans.org) for more information.

Ethan and Randi have sensed God’s call to care for the fatherless and have joyfully stepped out in faith and obedience to adopt “Sonnet” from China. As you may already know, adoption can cost $25,000-$35,000 and this financial burden prevents many godly families from adopting. Lifesong in partnership with Chosen and Dearly Loved believes God has called this family to adoption and has committed an Adoption Matching Grant of $3,000 to help bring this special child home.
 
Funds donated to Lifesong for Orphans will be given to help cover adoption expenses. Lifesong is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and your gift is tax deductible. 100% of all funds raised will go directly to cover adoption costs--nothing will be taken out for Lifesong for Orphans administrative costs.

Will you invest financially in the life of this precious little girl? It will be an investment with eternal return. God bless you for laying your treasures up in Heaven.

For His Glory,
Andy Lehman
Vice President

How can you help?   If you'd like to mail a check, they should be made payable to “Lifesong for Orphans.” In the memo, note it is for the Lanz family and our family account #6126 to assure it goes to the correct account.  Please mail to :
Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744
 
Lifesong has been blessed with partners who underwrite all U.S. administrative and fundraising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.

 To donate online go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate. 
Select “Give to an Adoptive Family.” 
Complete the online form and fill in “Family Account Number” which is #6126 and “Family Name” (Lanz) fields.  PayPal charges an administrative fee (2.2% + $.30 USD per transaction). Your donation will be decreased by the amount of this fee.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support as we get down to the final steps of completing Sonnet's adoption.

o   NOTE: In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to the named non-profit organization.  This organization retains full discretion over its use, but intends to honor the donor’s suggested use.

  o   Individual donations $50 or more and yearly donations totaling $250 or more will receive a tax-deductible receipt.  Receipts for donations under $50 will gladly be sent upon request.  Lifesong is a 501©3 tax exempt organization.

Hard Copy LOA!

That oh so important document arrived!  This is formally called the "Letter of Seeking Confirmation from Adopter."  Many refer to it as the LOA - Letter of Acceptance.  And YES!  We accept!  We have already signed it and scanned it back over to our agency.  

Today they will file our i800 paperwork to get the approval of USCIS to adopt Sonnet specifically.  It then goes on to the National Visa Center to begin the work on her immigrant visa.  These steps usually take about three weeks.  We are so thankful to be down to these last few steps before travel!

Matched and LOA issued!

On the heels of beginning steps to expedite the remainder of this process our dossier file figuratively caught on fire!  On Tuesday we got our medical letter.  On Wednesday we found our dossier was out of translation.  On Thursday it was matched to Sonnet's file.  And today our LOA was issued! 

I don't know what all went on this week, but we saw prayers answered big time!  We are thrilled to be moving on to the next step with USCIS next week to get things lined up for Sonnet's immigrant visa.  We still have a lot of progress that needs to be made funds wise, (and thankfully not much time to do it!) so please pray with us that some of the grant organizations might move on our behalf in this coming week.  Thank you!

We got word from our agency yesterday that our file has moved out of translation and into review.  We're hoping this means we have our official approval from China by the end of the month.

In the meantime, concerns about Sonnet's heath continue.  Our agency is attempting to medically expedite the remainder of our process.  Hold on tight.  Things could get crazy around here!  Please keep our tiny girl in your prayers.

School year winding down...

The three younger kids and I have enjoyed going to a once a month class this school year.  A different country is featured each time, and we learn more about their location and customs.  They are also treated a music experience, food, and an art experience from the country.

This month we did Thailand and our art was shadow puppets.  The concept is that you cut detailed designs in the puppet and stand behind a curtain through which a bright light is shining.  The light then shows the designs in the puppet onto the curtain. 

The kids first had to brainstorm a concept for a puppet show, then create the characters they needed to perform it.  Since Tikvah's birthday was this week birthdays were on their minds.  Many of the children ran with a cat as one of their characters since the staff's examples they had made included a cat.  So wallah.  Their story was that the cat was having a birthday party.

I had to help them behind the curtain, so unfortunately I didn't get a video of their performance.  It was a little song of "Happy Birthday" and that was it, but it was super sweet.

If you'd like to see the concept acted out, here is a Youtube video that shows a  Thailand shadow puppet demonstration.

As we near the end of our school year and reflect upon what we've learned I'm overall really happy about how the year went.  Homeschooling these kids is the right thing for them.  They are learning and thriving, and I'm so fortunate to be both their Mama and their teacher.

We have a name!

Our dossier officially went to "in the process of translation" on the 19th of April.  It is agonizing to sit and wait for news that the file has progressed.  Perhaps this is a good time to reveal "Susy's" name. Most of you likely realize that the English name on an adoption file is one that is assigned by an agency. Our Little Miss has been advocated for by the names Susy and Zuza, though she has never been called either of them. We have debated for literally months as to what her special, meaningful, chosen just for her name should be and have at last decided! Introducing Sonnet, which means "little song."

We've had no word for a couple of months concerning her health status, and this mama's heart feels as though it can't take it much longer.  By all indications she is quite malnourished. Please pray with us that she is doing ok, and that this longer than usual process will speed up now!  Thanks.