Our Both Hands Letter

Lifesong sent us a template for this letter and we have rewritten it with out information to be sent out for sponsorships to our team. If you feel called to help financially there is a button on this blog for donations that will go into our Lifesong account to sponsor this project.

Meet Bryan & Kim Young…

“You may be wondering why we have chosen to start our family with adoption. Well, primarily, we’ve felt since very early in our relationship that we were being called to give a family to a child without one. Partially because we have been blessed with such loving parents, our hearts break for babies and children who live in orphanages and do not know the devotion and love of a mother and father. This passion for orphans has driven us to start the adoption process and also to choose the country with the most need for parents. While it hasn’t always been the easiest choice, we know in our heart of hearts that this is the path the Lord has for us and we feel honored to be part of such a journey.  Though the tragedies in this world have left children without parents it is God’s desire for people to take these children in and give them a home. We want to be part of that.”

Baby JT…

We are adopting a little boy from Ethiopia, and will be matched with a specific child in 2011, then travel to Ethiopia to bring him home (he’ll be under 12 months old)!  As a family, we’ve been excitedly praying for him, and we’ve already named our son – John Todd Young!

The name John comes from John Rowe, Kim’s late grandfather who fought for our freedom in World War II & Korea. Words spoken by him have directly and indirectly formed Kim’s values and compassion for those with less. Todd is a Young family name. It was Bryan’s father’s middle name, Bryan’s middle name, and will soon be John’s middle name.

Meet April…

April is a wonderful woman who has been through a lot over the last few years. After marrying and having three children (including a set of twins), the family moved to Crystal Springs, FL. April’s husband was not very nice to her and he left her shortly before he passed away. Since then April has been dealing with declining health as Polio has put her into a wheelchair and diabetes has wreaked havoc on her health. Since the loss of her husband and the decline of her own health, April has been unable to be active in taking care of her home and there is a ton of work to do! We plan on adding a cement block in front of her house to give her wheelchair access, as well as fix a piece of the floor that keeps getting stuck in her wheelchair and has also injured her. There are a number of other tasks that we are excited to help April with. She is overwhelmed at the support and help our team is offering and also very excited to be a part of our adoption process.

Our Both Hands Fundraiser Project…

A small Ethiopian boy living in an orphanage halfway around the world. A widow living in Pasco County who just needs a little help. A group of people excited to lend a hand.

What could these three things possibly have in common? All three are coming together to play key roles in an exciting fundraising opportunity taking place all day on October 30, 2010. This fundraiser will help us adopt a child from Ethiopia while we spend a day fixing up April’s house. We are asking our family and friends to sponsor us while we work on April’s home, and the money that is donated will be used to bring a child home to his forever family. Think of it like a charity golf outing; but instead of us golfing to raise money, we are going to support a widow in need. I want to give you an opportunity to participate in this awesome project, if it feels right. If not, no big deal. But, truth be told, I hope you find this as irresistible as we do. Both Hands through its partnership with Lifesong for Orphans is an organization that is dedicated to comforting widows and helping orphans. Lifesong makes it possible for your contribution to be tax deductible.

Thank you for investing in the Kingdom through prayer and finances – it will be an investment with an eternal return!  (Matt 6:20)

In Christ,

Bryan & Kim Young

How Can You Help?

My request is simple and straightforward. We are not all called to adopt, but we can all play a part in this wonderful process. Would you consider taking part in the joy of adoption by helping is raise the money to bring JT  home?

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and consider my invitation! There are two ways that you can help…

Prayer – Please pray for blessings over this adoption: pray for JT, that God would prepare his heart to be adopted and provide food and clean water to his birth mom during the pregnancy; and for wisdom, clarity, and understanding for Bryan and Kim as they raise this child to know God. Please also pray for continued blessings for April, and for the ministries of the Both Hands Foundation and Lifesong for Orphans.

Financial – Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to reduce the remaining adoption expenses as we work with our team to better the life of this widow, April.

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.” James 1:27

For more information on Both Hands and Lifesong for Orphans please visit www.lifesongfororphans.org & www.bothhandsfoundation.org.