FRESH FROM KRISTIN ARTRIP….
Wow, it has been a while since we have updated our friends and family on progress or news about adoption. As you know, we started this process right after Canaan turned one and have been pursuing private adoption since last summer. Private (or Independent) adoption is where we use our own network to find a birthmother. It has felt like a long road and at times frustrating with so many closed doors. So we continued to pray for direction.
A few times over the past two years people have told me about a public agency in Dayton called Adoption Link. I would get information and then back down because I saw the price and thought “there is no way”. Well, this past spring Mark coached t ball here is Hilliard so that we could make connections in our new town. He was assigned an assistant coach Rob. It so happens that Rob and Melissa have adopted two little boys from Adoption Link and told us to re consider. I think God was up to something.
So over the last two months we have prayed about changing the direction from private adoption to public and joining the agency. We did a fundraiser late last summer and will use that money along with our own to make it happen. We have come to the conclusion that we would step out on faith financially and pursue a public agency.
So after calling many agencies all over the country everything kept pointing back to Adoption Link in Dayton, Ohio. Rob and Melissa had us over for dinner last week and explained everything to us and it confirmed to us that this is what God wants us to do!
We are excited to say that we have officially applied and will be excited to start this process as soon as possible.
We have been challenged over the last few weeks and motivated to take this leap of fatih because of a few verses and a statistic…
James 1:27- Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you”
Proverbs 24:12- “Once our eyes have been opened ,we cannot pretend we don’t know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act.”
34% of Christian families say they are going to adopt- only 1% do (147millionorphans.com)
We say we are about adoption- so we want to be about it 😉
We look forward to updating you in a couple weeks as we move along in this process!
Much love,
Mark, Kritstin, Malachi and Canaan
markartrip.wordpress.com 