how much does adoption cost? and how you can help!

Many times over the past year we’ve been asked about the financial side of adoption… How much does it cost?!! This is the 50 million dollar question that is difficult to answer. On one hand it’s a simple dollar figure but on the other, how do you explain to a coworker, acquaintance, or friend of a friend that the money is not just a one time, lump sum, hand it over and get a kid in return kind of exchange. We are not going to Wal-Mart and picking out a pair of shoes. We are rescuing an orphan. A child with no mother or father, who’s life will be dramatically different the second a judge slams his/her gavel down and they instantly becomes ours. The money is nothing compared to a child’s life.

However, adoption is expensive, regardless if it is domestic or international.  Adoption can range from $28,000 to upwards of $50,000.  While different adoption agencies have various fees, most of what we are paying for does not go to the agency itself.  Thankfully, these fees are not a onetime payment. In fact, the money is usually due slowly over time and gives us a chance to save for each payment.  With each step of the adoption process we incur more fees and costs.  Below we break down what our adoption is expected to cost according where all the money does too. 

*KEY: GREEN is money due to Bethany, BLUE is due to US Government, RED is due to China, Black is expected travel expenses and shipping expenses.

China Fee Summary:

$550       -Application fee- PAID
$2,400   -Home Study Service fee- PAID
$4,650   -Program fee I- PAID
$432      -Copy, and shipping expenses- PAID
$170      -Fingerprinting for both parents- PAID
$720      -US immigration form I800A- PAID
$1,760   -Fee for Dossier Submission to China- PAID

$2,350   -Program Fee II- due at referral acceptance- NOT PAID

$1,050   -China fee due at referral acceptance- NOT PAID
$5,700   -Orphanage Donation- cash due when picking up child- NOT PAID
$2,000   -Legal fees- cash due in China- NOT PAID
$200      -Child’s visa and medical exam- NOT PAID
$280      -US consulate Child’s Visa and courier fee- NOT PAID
$330      -China travel Visa for 2 adults traveling- NOT PAID
$194      -Passport Fee for 2 adults- NOT PAID
$6,000   -Airfare for 2 Adults to China- NOT PAID
$1,000   -Airfare for adopted Child coming home- NOT PAID
$4,500   -In county lodging, flights and food for 18 days- NOT PAID
$2000    -Post adoption report fee- NOT PAID

OUR TOTAL ESTIMATED COST is $36,286

We have already PAID $10,682

A little math and you can see that we have about $25,000 to go (NOT PAID) and we have been told to be ready for some unexpected costs in China that not included above.

So, you might be saying “WOW… I had no idea how much it cost to adopt”, or “WOW… how in the world are they going to come up with that money?”  It’s scary to us as well, but we have to believe that God is going to provide in incredible ways!  We already live on a pretty tight budget, as many of you know, but we are going to need more than a tight budget to come up with $25,604.  We do have a plan. We continue to save monthly and, as you can see from our previous post, are selling a lot of unnecessary stuff around our house. We recently SOLD the Mazda ($3800) and have applied for several adoption grants.

We are also planning to have a few fundraisers... And guess what? Today we want to invite you to partner with us!

Fundraising:

1.  As a first step to bridge the adoption fee gap several of our friends designed and sold support t-shirts. So, in keeping with the going trend, we have designed our own adoption T-shirts!  After getting a lot of opinions from friends and family, we have finally decided on this! Click on the shirt for the link to get yours.

We chose Amazing Grace because, as believers, it has been the corner stone to our adoption in Christ.  We are adopted by God, only because of his Amazing Grace. 

Ephesians 2:8 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”.  We love Phil Wickham’s song “This is Amazing Grace”

"This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross
You lay down Your life
That I would be set free
Oh, Jesus, I sing for
All that You've done for me
Who brings our chaos back into order  
Who makes the orphan a son and daughter
The King of Glory, the King of Glory"

WE ONLY HAVE 15 DAYS to sell at least 50 shirts!! If you would like to support us by purchasing one of the available sizes and styles this is a great way to help. Follow this link if you are interested in our shirt: https://www.bonfirefunds.com/the-baumeister-family-adoption-fundraiser

2.  So… what if you say “I have a million shirts, I don’t want ANOTHER grey shirt, or I hate the design”. It will NOT offend us!  Instead of buying a shirt, would you be willing to donate the price of a shirt to our adoption fund? What you would have spent could be given as a DONATION to our TAX DEDUCTIBLE adoption account provided by Lifesong.** Caution, this is different than the t-shirt site (see link below)!!

If this interests you there are two ways to give, and we would be extremely grateful.

-Give by Check

Please make checks payable to Lifesong for Orphans. If you would like to remain anonymous please make a note on your check with this request. 

In the memo please note your gift preference with Family Account Number and Family Name. (#4655 Baumeister)

Please mail checks to:

Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744

-Give Online by Credit Card

1. Go to www.lifesongfororphans.org/give/donate or use the "paypal" donate button in the upper right corner of our blog.

2. Select Give to an Adoptive Family

3. Complete online form and fill in Family Account Number & Family Name Field. (#4655 Baumeister)

*Please note that PayPal will charge an administrative fee (2.9% + $.30 USD per transaction). Your donation will be decreased by the amount of this fee.

3. Pray for us.  Pray that God would provide the financial resources to bring our sweet baby home!  Pray for our agency as they continue to look for a match for us.  Pray for our baby, who we do not know yet, but God has been preparing for us for all of our lives! 

4. Share our story. Maybe you wont give, or can’t give right now. That’s ok! Social media, your friends, family, businesses that don’t know us, but want to help (and want a tax deduction) could all be the help that we’re looking for. The more people that hear about our story means the more people that will hear about God’s Amazing Grace! 

5. Garage Sale- Date sometime this Fall.  More details to come, but we will be having a huge garage sale with items donated from friends and family.

If for any reason you have questions, the t-shirt link is gone, the donate button is not working or any concerns please feel free to email us at klbaumeister@gmail.com.  We thank you so much for taking the time to read our blog and consider helping us along the way.

How amazing it will be for you to meet this baby girl/boy that you helped bring home from China.

We are forever thankful.

John and Laura