Lifesong Matching Grant

Dear Family and Friends,

How do I even begin this letter?  Every time I sit down to write it, I am not quite sure what to say….to bear my heart to you, to be transparent to you.  I wish this was easy for me to do.  Yet, it is so deeply personal that I find my words inadequate to tell this story of my heart.  Yet, this story must be told, my barriers put aside, for it has little to do with me.  It is about a little boy.  A little boy that has been etched upon my heart so deeply that he is a part of me.  God has spanned miles and continents and connected us in such a way that it can be only explained as divine.  He divinely appointed me to be his mother, for him to be our son and for our family to be his family.  We have readily accepted this gift God has chosen for us, a son from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa.  On Father's Day of this year we received the first phone call where we heard his name for the first time.  A precious little 3/4 year old boy named Moise.  We officially accepted our referral as soon as our home study was completed which was on July 15th.  We continue on our exciting journey to bring our son home to his family.

Through this journey, a story is being written.  Many of you have already been written in and rallied with us as we prayed through mountains.  We have also cheered together at each different phase so far, when just in time, every time, God provided.  You, as our family and friends are important characters because many of you will be big part in my son's life.  Beyond my expectations has been the twist in the plot, where characters have been written in that I have never even met.  Generosity and encouragement spanned the miles through love, prayers and unexpected financial gifts.  If you haven't joined our journey yet, this is your official invitation to do so.

Our story began with a stirring of our hearts and took us to the country of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a war torn country.  A country with millions of orphans due to war and the AIDS epidemic that has ravished across the land.  The conflict is arguably the world's most deadly crisis since World War II.  It wasn't until our journey to adopt from the Congo that we realized all of this.  Before this point, we were living in ignorant bliss in the comfort of our Americanized boundaries.  It was only when I began to research this country where my son was from that my eyes were opened and it became deeply personal. I vowed I would be a voice for the children in this country.  The word of God in Isaiah 1:17 has been my rally cry "Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow."

You maybe wondering, how you can be a part of our story? 

   •  PRAY - The first thing you can do is pray.  We are hoping to travel by the end of the year to bring our son home.  The country is having elections the end of November and is causing much chaos in the country.  When we travel, how soon we travel is dependent on how these elections go.  We need you to join with us and pray for the country of DRC during these elections.  Our adoption moving forward is dependent on how this election goes.  Pray that God will rise up a leader that will protect the children and bring healing to Congo.

    • GIVE - The biggest challenge we have faced is not opening our hearts and home to another child but it is in finding the finances to make this happen. We know that God has called us to this journey and that He is faithful.  Our adoption all together when said and done will cost approx. $34,000.  We saved $10,000 ourselves before we started on this journey.  God has proved faithful and through fundraising, saving our pennies, and gifts from friends and family we have conquered another $12,000 in the last few months. We still need to raise $12,000.  We have just a few months to finish raising the funds we need to pay.  Will you please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us get Moise home?  If we match this grant, that will be $6,000 toward our adoption goal. 

    Lifesong (www.lifesongforoprhans.org) has graciously given a Matching Grant of $3,000 to help get our son home.  They will match your donation dollar for dollar up to $3,000 and all donations are tax-deductible.

  If you would like to be a part of this amazing God-led journey to bring Moise home you can send your gift between now and November 15th to the address below.  Lifesong is a trusted organization administering the funds on Moise's behalf, and will pay adoption expenses out of funds received.

1. Please make checks payable to: Lifesong for Orphans. **Please preference how the donation may be used by writing “preference Fuller #2233 adoption” in the memo section of your check.    (*Note: In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to Lifesong which retains full discretion and control over its use.)

2. Mail checks to:

         Lifesong for Orphans

         PO Box 40 / 202 N. Ford St

         Gridley, IL  61744

Thank you for investing in the Kingdom through prayer and finances – it will be an investment with an eternal return! (Matt 6:20)  Please pray this entire process will glorify God and fulfill His purposes!

In Christ,

The Fuller Family

Craig, Tessy, Aleigh, Avery and Ryan

EXCITING UPDATE: We just received a letter this week that we were granted a gift from Kinsman Redeemer out of Kirksville, MO in the amount of $4,000.  If we raise the $3,000 and it is matched, then this leaves with only $2,000 more that we need to travel to get our little boy.  God is AWESOME!  I give him all the glory and praise and I thank each of you for being part of our story.