Why does adoption cost so much? The Breakdown.

$33,000 - $38,000

That is what it will cost, approximately, to complete our Colombian adoption.  To us, and to most of you, that is an insane amount of money.  We went into this process knowing that we could not do this alone.  The Lord would have to provide.  I have faith He will.  What He favors He will fund.  But I doubt He will provide by just dropping the money on our front porch.  Instead, He will be using you and me.  We are His hands and feet:  my friends, my family and others who are led through other avenues to this website.  Before I ask for one single dime from anyone, I want you to know exactly what costs are involved.  So here is the breakdown:

Out of Pocket Agency & U.S. Adoption Expenses

Application Fee for the Adoption Agency                                     $250.00

Agency fees which cover the home study, dossier                       $14,250.00
  preparation, administrative and staffing costs for the
  agency, Humanitarian Aid fee to Colombia,
  (4) Post-adoption social worker visits, document shipping
  fees, translation of post adoption documents, etc.

Fingerprint Fee with State of Alabama                                                  $97.00

Criminal background checks                                                                      $57.00

Medical Reports for home study and dossier (these specialty         $1,000.00
  tests were not covered by our insurance)                

Passport pictures for all six of us                                                             $60.00

Passports for all six of us                                                                           $540.00

Citizenship and Immigration Service Fees (application                   $890.00
   with the United States to adopt internationally, including
   biometric fingerprinting)

Training with the International Adoption Clinic (full day               $150.00
   seminar in Birmingham)

10 Hours of required Hague Treaty parent training online              $195.00

Required book purchase for additional adoption training                $12.00

Dossier apostille (certification by Secretary of State)                       $90.00

Psychological evaluation                                                                           $545.00

FedEx fees                                                                                                       $31.68

Dossier translation fee                                                                             $800.00

Document fees in Colombia & Colombia lawyer fee                    $400.00

Legalization of documents in Colombia                                           $280.00

Wiring Fee                                                                                                  $50.00

Translation of child's medical files                                                     $400.00

In-Country Expenses While in Colombia 
(the ranges indicate the difference in expenditures based on length of stay, some regions require as little as four weeks and others require 7-8 weeks)

Airfare for the 6 of us                                                                        $4,500.00

Airfare for adopted child (return flight)                                       $550.00

In-country translator/guide/transportation                             $1,000.00

In-country attorney fees                                                                     $1,500.00

Hotel Accommodations & Food                                                        $4,000 - $9,000

Medical Exam for adopted child                                                        $150.00

Birth Certificate and passport for adopted child                         $300.00

US Visa for adopted child                                                                    $231.00

Copies and authentication of adoption decree                              $100.00

Translation of adoption decree                                                           $250.00

Post-adoption expenses

Attorney fees to complete the adoption in Alabama                    $480.00

Court report for re-adoption                                                                $50.00

Grand total of $33,208.68 plus the $5,000 fluctuation depending on length of stay in country

We cannot do this without you!

Some people will be able to donate a large amount of money, some smaller amounts.  Some could do a monthly sponsorship or volunteer their time to one of our many upcoming fundraisers.  Others could donate a service or product for a silent auction or raffle.  And I hope that MANY of you will pray.  Please pray for us and for what the Lord would have you contribute.  I am so thankful for all of you and every bit of support so far!  We have raised $1,100.00 at this point.  That leaves our remaining fundraising goal at around $32,000 on the low end.  We could potentially travel as early as November of THIS YEAR.  So that makes our monthly goal only $4,571.  Completely doable, right?  

https://adopttogether.org/maynard/

This is our website for donations.  The donations can be made anonymously or you can identify yourselves.  The donations are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE.  This agency once a month will provide our family with a grant in the amount of the donations that have been made to our site. Please make sure you see our family's picture on the page you are on before you click Donate Now or it will not be designated for us.

And please make plans to attend the first yard sale fundraiser on Saturday, June 1st.  Location to be announced.  Let me know if you can help any day May 28-31 getting set up.  Thank you again.  May the Lord bless you!