Saturday, October 23, 2010

Orphanage Donation update and waiting for travel approval!

Call me crazy, but I really enjoy putting together yard sales (and not only because of the financial blessings we receive from them!)  I enjoy them because I get to meet and talk with so many wonderful people.  I pray that we were able to touch the hearts of some who we spoke with as much as what mine was touched!

If you take a quick look at the Orphanage Donation Tracker on the right side of the blog you'll see that we have already been blessed with raising just over $600 for the orphanage donation!  A huge thank you to everyone who donated and/or shopped at the sale!  We saw many people who donated even though they didn't buy anything and many who donated more than what we were asking.  People stopped to shop just because they saw our signs that said "Child Adoption Fund-raiser"!

On the left side of the blog are what I call "Thank you gifts".  Everyone who donates online, by mail, or in person for the orphanage donation will have their name entered into a drawing for the chance to win one of these gifts.  Not everyone will win (sorry!), but please know that you do have our sincere thanks and gratitude for the donation.  The donation is really also a fee for our adoption - so not only do you help the children, you are helping us as well.  It goes right to the orphanage where our daughter has lived since she was about 3 weeks old (she is now about 3 1/2).  We are praying that we raise way more than the required monetary donation, that way we can purchase and take with us physical items I'm sure they need more of - like jackets for this winter, diapers and formula for the babies, and shoes!

On the right side of the blog is where I'll post the names/blogs/websites of the individuals who donate items that are offered as the "Thank you gifts".   Please be sure to visit any links!  Anyone who would like to donate a "thank you gift" can send me an email at kevkarb@yahoo.com. 

If you want to be updated when we add to the blog, just fill in your information on the right side under where it says "Subscribe to Orphanage Fundraiser", and you will be emailed when we update the blog.

Oh - ways to donate can be found on the right side of the blog.  You can donate online through the chip-in button, mail a donation, or you can even make a tax-deductible donation!

On a final note - we are now waiting for Travel Approval from China to go get our daughter!  Yeah!

With sincere thanks,

The Burgess family

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Adoption/Orphanage Fundraising Sale Fri 15/Sat 16th 8 - ?

Thank you to everyone for coming!  It was a great success!  And thank you to the family who let us have the sale at their house :) 

$5,250

This is the approximate amount we need to raise for the orphanage donation/fee.  It is called a donation, but it is really a set fee and will be determined by the exchange rate when we travel.  It goes right to the orphanage in Liupanshui City where our daughter has been living for the past 3 years of her life.  Our daughter, Lyric, won't benefit from it because she will have her family.  It is for the children that are left behind.  Some of these children will be blessed with families.  Many won't.  In China, orphans are allowed to be adopted internationally until their 14th birthday.  After that, I believe they can only be adopted in China until their 16th birthday.  And after that, no one.

$5,250.  That's what we have to raise.  It isn't what we want to raise.  We want to raise more than that.  When we are in China we will be going to our daughter's orphanage in Liupanshui City.  We have to see where she has lived for the past 3 years of her life.  She has been fed there.  She has been clothed there.  She has been held there.  We want to leave something concrete, like books, clothing, shoes, or educational toys.  Anything we raise, any donations beyond the $5,250 will be put towards purchasing supplies for the orphanage.  We are blessed with so much.  To be able to give, it's, well, it's good that we have the opportunity to do so.

This weekend we are having a fund-raising yard sale, and anything we raise will be put towards the orphanage donation/fee.  On the 30th of this month we are also having, with two other adopting families, a tea-luncheon.  I'll post more about the luncheon later, but the proceeds from that will be split with the two other families.  Our share of the proceeds will also go right towards the orphanage donation/fee.

If you would like to make a donation you can do this through the chip-in button on the left or you can send it to us at:
Kevin and Karen Burgess (Adoption)
P.O. Box 456 
Plainfield, IN 46168

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation we have been able to set up an account with a wonderful not-for-profit called Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries.  Their website is www.kingdomkidsadoption.org.  You can donate through their website by going to the "donations" button on the top right and then clicking on "Family Grant Donation" or you can mail a donation to:
Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries
1417 N. Lincoln St.
Spokane, WA 99201

All donors will receive a tax-deductible receipt. Checks must be made out to:
Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries and please, do NOT write our name anywhere on the check, but include a note saying where you would like the money to go (to the Burgess family). If you have any questions you can call them at 509-465-3520 or their email is ministry@kingdomkidsadoption.org. Just let them know you would like to make a donation for Kevin and Karen Burgess.


Please stop back by soon.  We are in the process of collecting some thank you "gifts".  Anyone who donates to the fundraiser from now until Thanksgiving Day (not including at the yard sale or tea-luncheon) will have their name entered into a drawing for an opportunity to win one of the gifts.  Some of the gifts include a gas card for $50.00 to Speedway gas station, DVD's and whole-bean coffee from Honduras!  I'll post pictures soon.

We would also appreciate prayers for the success of raising the orphanage donation/fee and for a smooth adoption journey.  Thank you!

The Burgess family