the Burch family – Lance, Amy, Hannah (18),
Rachel (16), Tatiana (14), Karen (13) and Chloe (11)
My husband traveled to Colombia many years ago and brought home coffee. I don’t drink it, but it did smell wonderful.
As you know, I am a huge supporter of adoption. Every child deserves a loving family. The Burch family are friends of a dear writer friend of mine. I’m sharing their story this week. Please help – say a prayer, be encouraging, and if at all possible, join me and give a few dollars. Maybe skip that cappuccino this week.
We are the Burch family – Lance, Amy, Hannah (18), Rachel (16) and Chloe (11). Our adoption journey began years ago as we talked and dreamed about some day adopting children. Then, in July 2010, Lance spent time in an orphanage in Ukraine and returned home with an increased desire to adopt. Our family decided that it was time to begin the process. We were interested in adopting from a Latin American country because each member of our family speaks some Spanish and we have always loved Latin American culture. In August 2010 we applied and were accepted to adopt from Peru. We decided early on that we were interested in adopting older children who would not have as many options as those that are younger. We worked toward and invested in the adoption of 12 year old Natalia for two years, until we were given the devastating news that we would not be able to adopt from Peru. When we received this news, our dossier had been in Peru for four months and all of our paperwork was in order. The Peruvian government was making changes and decreasing their number of international adoptions. We filed an appeal, but there was nothing we could do to change their decision.
Our family decided that this would not be the end of our adoption journey, and that as painful as it was to lose Natalia, we would press on. We spent over $7,000 of our savings on our adoption attempt from Peru that we were not able to recover. We were not sure how we would be able to afford to begin the adoption process again, but we decided to trust that God would provide if we continued to follow him.
Karen (left)
We immediately applied to adopt from Colombia. After a year of work, our dossier was in country and we were approved to adopt from Colombia in August 2013. Also in August, we were given information on two sisters, Tatiana (14) and Karen (13). We decided to pursue their adoption. Through a hosting program for older children the girls were able to travel from Colombia to spend 17 days with us in our home in December 2013. Participating in the hosting program was the only way that we could pursue the adoption of Tatiana and Karen.
Tatiana (white coat)
And, although the hosting program cost us over $7,000 more than we were planning to spend on our adoption it proved to be an amazing time of bonding for our family and for our Colombian girls. Another benefit of the hosting program is that now, because we have hosted Tatiana and Karen, we should be able to bring them home within seven months from the time of our referral instead of the usual two years. After having them here with us we know that these girls are our daughters and that they belong in our family. We love them, miss them terribly and cannot wait to bring them home.
We received our official referral of Tatiana and Karen in March, and should be traveling to Colombia to finish out the girls’ adoptions by July. Lance and Amy will be in Colombia with the girls for 2-3 weeks. Then Lance will return home to go back to work and Amy will stay in Colombia for another 5-6 weeks to finish the adoption process before bringing Tatiana and Karen home.
The girls’ first time in snow!
We just received a $2,500 matching grant from Lifesong for Orphans. This will greatly help with our travel expenses. We have until we get home with the girls (about 3 months or less from now) to raise the $2,500 that will be matched. Lifesong has been blessed with a partner that underwrites all U.S. administrative and fund- raising costs (TMG Foundation and other partners). That means 100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.
Snow angels!
Options for giving: Checks should be payable to “Lifesong for Orphans. In the memo, note “Burch Family” and account number “Burch#4412” to assure it goes to the correct account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley, IL 61744. To pay online go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate. Select “Give to an Adoptive Family.” Complete the online form and fill in “Family Account Number” field with Burch#4412 and “Family Name” field with Burch. Note PayPal charges an administrative fee (2.9% + $.30 USD per transaction). Your donation will be decreased by the amount of this fee.