Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Travel is in Sight...and a Giveaway!


So, here's where we are!  We have received provisional approval, and it has been cabled to the US Consulate in China!  Once the Consulate issues what's called an Article 5, it will be picked up and expressed to Beijing where the CCCWA will process our Travel Approval!

In English, please?

Okay.  We could/should travel in 6 weeks!  As in mid-May, right after school is out!

So, although we've been working like crazy and have been so blessed by surprise gifts, we are still oh.so.short of the funds we need.  As in, $26k short.  There, I said it.  We trust the Lord's provision completely.  We are praying about a few fundraisers we may try in April.

In the meantime, my friend Ginna is hosting a giveaway for our matching grant!
It is an awesome package, including: 
 Tieks Shoes - donated by Troy & Ginna Hulett
Pretty tunic - donated by Mackenzie & Elise (FB group)
And this pretty necklace - donated by Kristin at ViBella Jewelry


We are so humbled and grateful for each of these donors!

So, how does it work?

  Everyone who gives toward our Lifesong/Karis matching grant between now and April 10th  will be entered in a drawing for this package gift!  That's it!

Just go to Lifesong's site and select "Give to an adoptive family."
Then, complete the donor form, and under the "Family Account Number" section, put 5903, and "Family Name," put Johnson.

You can either leave a comment or send a message to let us know you've given...or we can simply check our funding page.  

There are so many cool things about this:
* Your gift is tax deductible
* Your gift will be doubled due to the matching grant
* You will be investing in the life of a child

We are so humbled that God would lead us on this journey to our son, and we are excited to hold him in a few weeks!  Thank you for your prayers and your gifts!

TO HIM BE ALL GLORY!

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Lifesong and Karis Adoption Fund Matching Grant!



March 20, 2016  
                                                                                                  
Dear Family and Friends,

Some of you know the desire God has placed in our hearts to care for the orphan through adoption. We are so blessed to grow our family through the miracle of adoption. We expect to travel to China in May to hold our newest son, Kaison Joel!

What has prompted us to adopt? Primarily, we’ve felt so clearly directed by God to adopt that we want to joyfully obey Him. God desires for orphans of all nations to be loved, cared for, and adopted into Christian families—ultimately so they can become saved and adopted into His eternal family through Jesus Christ. There are over 147 million orphans worldwide and 120,000 children currently in the U.S. foster care system. It is estimated that less than 10 percent of these children are adopted into evangelical Christian families.

The biggest challenge is not opening our hearts and home to a child, but it is finding the finances to make this happen. The approximate cost for the adoption from China is $40,000. We don’t have that kind of money, but we know God is faithful and is leading us to trust Him. Honestly, it’s a little difficult (because of our pride) to make our needs known to the body of Christ, but realize it is biblical to do so. Your friendship is important to us, and we would love for you to pray and consider helping us in one or two ways with our adoption.
1. Please pray God would prepare Kaison as he leaves all he has ever known as “home” to join our family, and that God would give us wisdom, discernment, and insight as we raise him to know Jesus.
2. An Oklahoma ministry, Karis Adoption Fund, has partnered with Lifesong for Orphans and committed an Adoption Matching Grant of $5,000 to help toward our adoption expenses. Would you please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us meet this matching grant? Our goal date is May 1, but funds will be accepted towards our adoption until the date we travel.
Please make checks payable to “Lifesong for Orphans.” In the memo, note family account number “5903” and family name “Johnson” to assure it goes to the correct account. Please mail to Lifesong for Orphans, PO Box 40, Gridley, IL 61744.
100% of your donation will go directly to the adoption.
Another option is to give online. Go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate. Select “Give to an Adoptive Family.” Complete the online form and fill in “Family Account Number, 5903” and “Family Name, Johnson” Fields.
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. Individual donations of $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(c)3 tax exempt organization.

Thank you for investing in the Kingdom through prayer and finances—it will be an investment with an eternal return! Please pray this entire process will glorify God and fulfill His purposes.
Family Name: Johnson
Family Account Number: 5903                                                                                                   

In Christ,
Clayton and Connie Johnson and the entire Johnson Krew    

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

$10 Life Changing Challenge!

$10 Life Changing Challenge for the Johnsons
A donation of at least $10 can help the Johnsons bring their son home from China. This family of 14, soon to be 15, is adopting an adorable 2 year old little boy name Kaison, who has spina bifida. The Johnsons have opened their hearts and homes to God's children many times, and they are excited to do it again! They just need your help to bring Kaison home. A donation of at least $10 will help them get one step closer to uniting their family.You don't have to make a big donation to make a big difference in Kaison's life!
To learn more about the Johnsons, or to make a tax deductible donation to help them bring Kaison home, please visit:http://www.connectedheartsministry.org/…

Monday, March 7, 2016

LOA and other Good Stuff!

It came!!!  Our loooooong-awaited LOA has arrived!


And can you see why we might be just a tad excited?  Kaison melts my heart!




 And... well, you know the saying "when it rains, it pours"?  It's pouring, y'all!

We are 8 to 10 weeks till travel, and we are still raising funds to get our little guy home, so we've planned a huge garage sale for March 18 and 19, and a pre-order Easter bake sale for March 25 and 26.

But we just received word this morning that our family has been approved for a family sponsorship through Connected Hearts Adoption Ministry! 

 We are so excited about this because it allows folks who want to give to do so through a 501(c)3 organization, meaning all giving is 100% tax deductible!  

Connected Hearts will then disburse the funds to our adoption agency, Lifeline Children's Services, once we are close to travel.

We know that God has not lost sight of us, and that He will provide all we need to bring Kaison home!  We praise Him for that, and we thank you for being a part of this amazing journey!

Our Connected Hearts Page is Here!

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