Why? What? How?

I'm sure the biggest question we will get asked is "why". Why adopt? Why from Haiti? Why, why, why???? I have to say the simplest answer is it's where God led us. It's not that we chose Haiti or did not choose America or a different country, but it is where our daughter is. I'm sure God will reveal her in His perfect time.

Up until recently, we had planned to adopt from Guatemala. For some reason I started thinking about Haiti. The thought of it wouldn't leave my mind so I started doing a little online research regarding Haiti and it's adoption process. When I informed my husband about my revelation I think he was seriously questioning my judgement. On Tuesday we came home from a day of school shopping to find a storm had messed up our phone lines. Jeff disappeared to our bedroom to work on a solution to this problem. He came out shortly after with the strangest look on his face. He said he had been praying for a sign that Haiti was the country we were to adopt from and when he opened up the box for the phone lines there was a sticker inside that read "assembled in Haiti". It was his sign!

I think the second question we will get is "how can you afford this"? This simple truth is, we can't! I read the following on a blog called "Haiti Adoption Help". It really struck home with me and I hope it will give you a little insight into our beliefs on financing this adoption.

Almost everyone that starts out in adoption does not have the money and has NO CLUE where it will come from! Again, if God has called you to this- trust that He will be the provider. Move forward in faith, doing whatever you can do and pray about provisions. You will be absolutely stunned at the way the money is always there when you need it. Don't try and figure out how it's going to happen because God goes beyond your wildest imagination!! I have heard story after story of people that have started out with no way to pay the adoption fees and have received every penny in the most incredible ways. Maybe in a later post I will share how God did this for us and ask others to share as well. It certainly would encourage and inspire you! Now that we are at the end of the adoption, if I could go back and change one thing it would be that I would not have wasted so much time worrying about the money and a lot more time having faith that it would come. God's grown me a lot through adoption. It is a great time to really grow in faith and patience!! (taken from http://www.haitiadoptionhelp.blogspot.com/)

I hope this gives you a little insight into the "why" and "how". Blessings for your day!

Stephanie

Well...This is Us Then

Hello! We are the Salzwedel family from Wisconsin. I'm new to this sort of thing, but thought I would take a crack at it. I'm hoping to use this as a tool so our family & friends can keep up with our latest adventure - adoptiong a daughter from Haiti. We have been married for 14 years (together for a total of 19) and are truly the best of friends. God has blessed us with wonderful children and we are a wonderfully close family.