Epilogue

For the full story, you can start at Part One, or just read the letter to Matt and Lisa where we unveiled the surprise.  This is the beautiful epilogue, directly from the Maxfields...

Dear Friends, 

WE ARE HOME!!! 

We landed back in the U.S. on July 22nd.  We had a rough go in Africa and on the way home.  Caden was pretty sick with respiratory issues and an ear infection. The 34 hours of travel with the kids strapped to our bodies were not fun to say the least, BUT we made it safe and sound!  

We have spent the last month laying low and adjusting to our new normal.  Caden is transitioning so well! He is the best lil’ baby ever!  He eats GREAT. Sleeps GREAT. He laughs and smiles All. The. Time! We feel SO blessed. And that is in HUGE part thanks to YOU!!!!!  

I still can’t believe what Jeff and Emily did for us by setting up this secret blog! What awesome friends. What a huge blessing.  What an amazing heart for the orphan.  We couldn’t have done it without your love and support.  You helped us reach our goal and YOU got our son home for good!  

We wanted to say THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!!!  That doesn’t even seem like enough but we truly mean it.  Caden has a bright future ahead of him now.  May God bless each and every one of you.  Some of you friends, some of you we have never even met!  But you are all a part of His story.  And we are forever grateful. 

Love,
Matt, Lisa, Koral and Caden Maxfield

You can follow Lisa's Blog here.  It's awesome.

The Big Reveal, And A Big Thank You!

If you missed the beginning of the story, start here.

Emily visited Matt and Lisa on Sunday night to let them in on the big secret.  She could barely contain herself.  I wanted so badly to be there, but I had to settle for a sketchy Skype connection.  At least I got to watch as Matt and Lisa, with Koral beside them, got the best surprise so far this year.  Here's what I got to see from my room in Afghanistan...

Matt and Lisa reading the news for the first time.

The surprise hits them.

Lisa pretending she's not crying.

Matt ecstatic.

Koral can't wait to meet her baby brother!

It was just as exciting as Emily and I hoped it would be.  We have all of you to thank for that.  If you want to read the story from Lisa's point of view, check out her blog post about the night.

One other way you can support their adoption journey is to buy one of these necklaces that Lisa is selling as a fundraiser.  She only has a few left, and then the entire adoption will pretty much be fully funded, so hurry!!!

Thank you to everyone who prayed for this project and especially to those who sacrificed financially to make it happen.  In her own words, here's what Lisa thought about the whole thing...

I am utterly and completely at a loss for words. What can one say when they have been given such a gift? Because sitting here, right now, a mere Thank You seems foolish. I am still shaking and I have had the chills for the past hour and don't think they will be going away ANY. TIME. SOON. 

I am blown away, and I mean BLOWN AWAY in the biggest way I have EVER been blown away by the generosity of people. Some who know us and call us friends and GET THIS...  SOME I HAVE NEVER EVEN MET.... whaaaattttttt?? How is this possible. I feel like I am on some kind of crazy version of 'Extreme Home Makeover' and I just keep saying out loud... 

"This kind of stuff DOES NOT happen to normal people like us!"  

I can not express in words what this means to us, our family and our sweet baby boy. He will know what EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU have done for us. You are all a part of His story now.  

I thought his story was great before....but NOW...its just un~real!!  I only hope that this can spark a fire in the hearts of people. To love and to help others. I hope that the whole world will start to think of the orphan as so much more than a sad picture flashed on the TV every once in a while. We are fighting for life. We are fighting for souls. And if we aren't here to do great, crazy, amazing, BOLD things for God, then what the heck are we here for? 

Thank you.  

Thank you. 

Thank you. 

- Lisa Maxfield, with Matt & Koral

Dear Matt & Lisa,

When you invited Emily and I to be a part of your adoption story, we didn't realize what an exciting adventure it would be, full of ups and down, and moments of disappointment and long periods of waiting and wondering.  Now we know you have a son.  And we know he's joined you in the waiting game.  None of us can be sure how long you'll have to wait just to meet him, but we know it's going to happen.

There are still roadblocks of course, lots of paperwork and red tape to push through, meetings, travel, and any number of things that could make this whole process more difficult, most of which we can't control.  One of those roadblocks, a very big one for most people, is money.  It's simply daunting, even a little bit discouraging, to think about what it's going to cost to bring an orphan from Ethiopia into a family that loves him.  But with God's help, that's actually a roadblock we can control, or at least make a little bit smaller, a little easier for you to get around.  We decided about month ago that we were going to make it as small as we possibly could.  Not only that, we wanted as many people as possible to share in the joy that this journey has already brought to us.

So, we basically invited everyone we could think of to send us money, which we would then match, dollar for dollar, to give to you.  About 30 different families have responded over the past four weeks, and we are excited to tell you that we have received $3,500 for the sole purpose of bringing your son home.  That means Emily and I, on behalf of all the people who got involved (and yes we have all their names for you), are overjoyed to be able to present you a total of $7,000 to help fund the journey for which you both have selflessly volunteered.  It's not everything.  But we all hope it will take a big enough bite out of the total to make the rest just a little bit easier.

We all love you.  And, get this, some of these people don't even know you!  Can you believe that?  Matt and Lisa, thank you again for allowing us to be a part of your story.  God bless you guys for what you're doing.  And God bless your son who is waiting to meet you.

- Jeff and Emily and lots of people who love you...

Deadline Is Today!

If this is your first time here, read part one first and then come back to this post.

Ready for the update?  Ok, last week we were still under $2,000.  Thanks to several small donations, and one $1,000 check (can you freaking believe that?!) we're at just about $3,000.  That's awesome!  $3,000 in just four weeks!  If we could do this every month we'd be adopting babies year 'round!  But, as great as $3,000 is, it's still short of our $10,000 goal.  Think we can raise the rest in one day?  I truly believe that we can.  Let me show you how.

I email the link to this blog to about 200 people each week.  And each week I'm sure a few people pass that email along.  In the past month, 527 people have actually visited this blog.  That's exciting!  But we've only received donations from a total of 19 families.  I understand that each person may not be in a position to participate right now.  But for those who are, we can do something huge here!  If you're one of the 508 people who've read this blog but haven't yet had a chance to donate, I need you to search your house, your car, your laundry, whatever, and come up with $13.78 and get a check in the mail right now.  You don't even have to finish reading.  You need to get out there before the mailman comes!  $13.78.  That's it.  Why $13.78?  Because if we can get each of the 508 people who've seen this blog but haven't gotten involved yet, to send $13.78, we can raise $7,000 in ONE DAY!  That will put us at $10,000 total.  Then Emily and I are going to pile $10,000 on top of that and give Matt and Lisa a surprise that will likely have them laid out on the floor.

So, you still have TODAY, January 31st.  I think I've done everything I know how to do.  I've pleaded and begged.  I've cajoled.  I've double-dog dared.  All in an effort go get as many people on board as possible.  It's up to you know.  Email this blog to your friends while they still have time to get involved.  If you live locally you can bring Emily a check any time before Sunday night.  Any money that we receive by this weekend will be added to the total and doubled.  If you planned to donate but can't make it to the mailbox right now, email me to make other arrangements.  We're going to include any money we can get before Sunday night when we reveal the whole thing to Matt and Lisa!

For instructions on how to give, visit part one of this blog and scroll to the bottom.

Also, visit Lisa's blog to check out her latest, very cool, adoption project.

What's on Lisa's mind...

We're three weeks in.  Half of me is excited about the money we've already raised, and the other half discouraged by the money that we haven't raised.  Our goal is $10,000, which Emily and I are ready to turn into $20,000.  Right now, we're just under $2,000.  Let me just remind everyone, we are going to DOUBLE whatever money you're willing to provide.  DOUBLE!  If you have change in your couch cushions we will turn it into dollars.  If you're willing to skip a few trips to Starbuck's we could turn $50 into $100 for you.  Please don't miss this opportunity!  We still need to bring in about $8,000 in the next seven days.  Want to know what Lisa will be thinking about during that time?  Here's a quote from her latest blog post:

Our Dossier will be sent to Ethiopia this Thursday and I am praying for it to get submitted to court asap and for us to be assigned a court date SOON.  I kind of REALLY want to go meet our son… and I am gettin real antsy people. Im talkin.. real antsy. Fingernails are gone... the cuticles are becoming non-existent, blood is not uncommon. I check my email every 40 seconds...

Adoption aint for the faint of heart friends. It’s somewhat grueling. But I know there is a sweet Prize at the end…

The truth is, Matt and Lisa are going to bring this baby boy home with or without our help.  He is already their son.  They're just jumping through the last few hoops at this point.  And if they had to sell their house to make it happen they would.  If God wants them to have this baby, we couldn't stop it if we wanted to.  But dream with me for a moment...  Twenty years from now, you run into Matt and Lisa, and they introduce you to their grown son, who's had an amazing childhood experience, grown up around friends and family who love him, and is just stepping out into the world as an adult ready to make things happen.  Imagine he takes your hand, and with more sincere appreciation in his eyes than you've ever seen in a human being, he says, "I'm here because of your generosity.  If I had remained in Ethiopia, there is a good chance I would not be alive today.  Thank you for my life."  I think that would rock your world.  Is this thing to happen if you don't send any money at all?  Of course.  Matt and Lisa won't let it not happen.  But would you want to miss out on that experience?  I hope you don't.  Please get a check in the mail today.


For instructions on how to give, see part one of this blog and scroll to the bottom of the page.


- Jeff

Shocking!

First time here?  Read Part 1 for the story then come back here.

I just read that one out of every six children born in Ethiopia won’t live to see their fifth birthday.  One out of six!  That's insane! There is a desperate need for basic food, clean water, and medicine. Removing a child from an orphanage, providing them with a family and a future, also frees up a bed in that orphanage for another orphan.

If you help Matt and Lisa bring one home, you also help free up another bed in an orphanage for a child who might currently be living on the street, or maybe even about to be dumped in the street.  A child who's probably the one out of six who's otherwise not going to make it.

Remember, Emily and I are matching every donation up to a total of $10,000 between now and the end of January 2012.  That means you have two weeks left to mail a check and watch it multiply.  So far we've received amounts as small as $10 and as large as $500.  No amount is too big or too small.  We are going to double whatever you donate!  We still have a long way to go so please don't wait until the last minute.  It's not often you get to write a check for $1,000 and watch it become $2,000.  I double-dog dare you.

For instructions on how to donate, visit Part 1 again and scroll to the bottom.  Help us bring one home.

One Week In

If this is your first time reading this blog, click here to see the email that started it all and find out how to help.

Here's the latest...

It's been one week since I emailed a challenge to almost everyone on my mailing list to get involved with the adoption journey of our good friends Matt and Lisa Maxfield.  Emily and I committed to matching every single dollar we receive in the month of January, up to $10,000, hoping to surprise Matt and Lisa by removing every financial roadblock for the baby in Ethiopia who doesn't yet know that he has a mom and a dad and a sister waiting to meet him.

So far, people have contacted us with pledges totaling $800, and we've already received more than half of that.  I'm very encouraged that we've been able to reach almost 10% of our goal so quickly.  But there's a lot of free money left on the table, $9,200 to be exact.  Help us give it away!

You have three weeks left to get a check in the mail.  Of course we'll accept any amount, but please consider doing something crazy.  I dare you to write a check for $1,000!  Or $10,000!  We could wrap this thing up today!  And remember, once this adoption is paid for, any additional money will go into an adoption fund that we will use to help provide a home for another orphaned child.

One more thing.  For years, Katie Davis has a kept a blog about her life in Uganda and the many children she's adopted.  Her story is incredible and I highly recommend her book, Kisses From Katie.  Let me leave you with a quote I found on her blog today.

It is well after our 8 o’clock bed time. I have been sunk deep in the couch and in the Word knowing that 13 pairs of feet were tucked snugly in 13 beds. But as I make my way from the couch to my room, something catches my eye and I peek my head in the girls’ bedroom.

There flat on the cold, hard tile floor is my 11 year old with her blanket pulled tightly around herself. It doesn’t look as if she has rolled out of bed; it looks intentional. I nudge her awake. “Honey, what are you doing on the floor?” Why would anyone ever choose to sleep on this, the hardest of surfaces, with a comfortable bed just inches away?

“Remember,” she mumbles sleepily, “I just want to remember. Some people don’t have a bed,mom. I didn’t have a bed, mom. God gave me a bed. And I wanted to remember what it was like to not have one.”

There is a child in Ethiopia right now who doesn't have a bed.  You can help put him in one.  

Thanks,

Jeff & Emily

P.S.  To visit Matt and Lisa's blog, click here.  They just posted some exciting news on January 5th!   Feel free to leave them a comment.  Tell them how amazing they are.  Let them know you're praying for them.  Just don't tell about this fundraiser!  (We'll let you know when they find out)

For Matt and Lisa

This is the email I sent to everyone on my mailing list on Sunday January 1st, 2012.  For instructions on how to give, scroll to the bottom.

Dear Friends,

I'm writing to ask for your help.  In 2012, Emily and I will welcome our 10th child into our home (1st human).  It's already been a crazy experience for both of us, and being apart only makes it harder.  But making a baby is the easy/fun part.  We know that the real challenge will come when we actually become parents.  Well, imagine trading the nine months of baby-growing, for one to two years of interviews, house-inspections, reams of paperwork, and fingerprinting, and then going straight to crying and diapers!  Emily and I have two very close friends who've done exactly that.  

We had the good fortune of meeting Matt and Lisa Maxfield when they showed up at our church about two years ago.  In addition to the two of them, we got to meet their beautiful daughter, Koral who they had adopted from the island nation of Vanuatu.  They selflessly opened their home to a baby they didn't have any part in creating.  And, as though that weren't amazing enough, they're about to do it again!

This time they'll be rescuing a child from poverty, and a life without a family, in Ethiopia, and they're well into the process already.  Emily and I have been supporting them financially for several months now, but they still have a long way to go.  The price-tag for adoption is never exact because of the numerous variables involved, and the various hoops which must be jumped through, but the estimate for this particular adoption is about $30,000.  

It doesn't sound like much.  I mean we all know people driving around in $30,000 right?  Not Matt and Lisa.  They sacrifice a lot to make miracles like this happen.  That's why Emily and I have not hesitated to make sacrifices ourselves to ensure they reach their goal on time, and make sure they're prepared to handle any unplanned expenses.  Matt and Lisa thank us profusely, and constantly ask what they can do to show us how grateful they are.  But the truth is, they are the ones who have blessed us.  By inviting us to be a part of this journey, they have offered us the chance to give life and hope to a child that might not have otherwise lived to see adolescence.  Of course we're not the only ones.  It takes a lot of support to come up with that much money in a year or two.  This is where you come in. 

Emily and I want to invite you to be a part of this story.  But we want to make it easy.  And we want to make it irresistible.  We want to make you an offer you can't refuse.  So, to start 2012 with a bang, for the entire month of January Emily and I are going match, dollar for dollar, every single contribution you make to Matt and Lisa's adoption fund, up to $10,000.  This is complicated math, so let me explain.  That means if you send us one dollar, we will send them two dollars.  And if you send us $500, we will send them $1000.  And I dare you to pull out your checkbook and send us a check for $10,000...  It will take a us a little while, but if that happens Emily and I will give Matt and Lisa $20,000 and probably pay for the rest of their entire adoption!

Seriously folks, this should be an easy decision.  Not only can you double your giving power here, you will get to help us literally save someone's life.  How much money would you be willing to give to bring your own child home from a foreign country?  That's exactly what we're dealing with here.  Help us make it happen!

Are you in?  Here are the rules:

1.  Checks can made for ANY amount.  Funds will be matched up to $10,000.

2.  Once the adoption is covered completely, any surplus funds will go into an adoption fund and be used specifically to place more orphans into loving homes.  Maybe Emily and I will adopt one day!

3.  Make checks payable to "Adoption Ministry Of YWAM" (YWAM means Youth With A Mission, an organization that Matt and Lisa have traveled with)

4.  DO NOT write Matt and Lisa's names anywhere on the check (very important, this is a legal thing).  We will ensure the money goes into their adoption account.

5.  Mail the check by January 31, 2012 to: 

     Emily Gelzinis

     349 Archie St.

     Spring Lake, NC 28390

6.  Visit the Maxfield's blog at justlove127.com where you can leave a comment and let them know you're praying for them.  Just don't mention this fundraiser!

IMPORTANT: Share this email with your friends.  We will match contributions from ANYONE!  Forward this to everyone you know except Matt and Lisa.  I've actually removed them my mailing list for the moment and they will not be receiving this email.  We want it to be a surprise!  We'll post video of them crying when we hand them the check. :-)