Blog

14 Jan

Grant Recipient Story: Jonathan and Erin

Grant Recipient Story: Jonathan and Erin Adoption has been in both our hearts for years. We were both raised with close friends and family members who were adopted. We knew it would be a part of our story, but only God knew how the story would unfold. We struggled with infertility for years and lost two children. Those were the worst years of our lives. However, the Lord proved faithful. He sustained us and provided for us through the grieving process....

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11 Jan

Grant Recipient Story: Kevin and Jenny

Read Kevin and Jenny’s adoption story: We were interested in adoption early in our relationship. We felt called to adopt the first time, and now we have the sweetest, most loveable 3-year-old. After prayerfully considering adoption again, we felt called to move forward. We were so excited and somehow assumed that since we had done it once, it would be even easier this time. Unfortunately, in the wait, we became weary. We questioned if we really heard...

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21 Dec

Loving Those Who Don’t Love you Back

This blog was so graciously written by a long time friend of Katelyn’s Fund, Becky Bilby. One of the toughest things I have been called to do is love someone who does not love me back…..or at least someone who does not show they love me in any verbal or outward form. We are so used to hearing “thank you” at the very least when we do something for someone –but in this relationship – those words are not spoken either....

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20 Nov

11.14.24 Support Meeting

November 14 – What’s For Dinner? Dana Visser & Carly Saylor, Sioux Center Health We were pleased to have Dana Visser (occupational therapist) and Carly Saylor (speech therapist) share their expertise with us about feeding and eating in children. We learned about the importance of breathing and stability in infants prior to eating, the developmental milestones for the different ages along with the emotional and sensory aspects of eating and food. They also shared their favorite types of high...

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14 Nov

Belong Sunday 2024: Celebrating Family, Faith, and God’s Transformative Work

On Sunday, November 10, we gathered together for Belong Sunday—a special day dedicated to embracing the beauty of adoption and reminding ourselves of the transformative power of God’s love. It was a time to reflect on what it truly means to belong, not just in earthly families but in God’s greater story. A highlight was hearing from the Mannchen Family, a beautiful testament to how God brings people together across borders, cultures, and languages. Liz and Uli Mannchen shared their family’s...

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15 Oct

10.10.24 Support Meeting

October 10 – School/Home Connections, Grant Willits & Iver Mettler We all have a basic human need to be heard, seen, and loved.  Meeting this need for their students is the main goal for school counselors Grant Willits and Iver Mettler.  Throughout their typical school day, both Willits and Mettler seek opportunities to build relationships by loving kids through the act of listening to them.  This is how strong relationships are built.  The power of simply asking a child...

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18 Sep

09.12.24 Support Meeting

September 12 – Know, Love, Speak, Do – Loren DeJong So often we fall into the trap of living in our day-to-day circumstances with a tendency to focus on our own problems and difficulties.  Loren challenged us to remember that this is God’s story, and He has invited us to be a part of it.  God wants your heart and your child’s heart.  He wants you to live in total dependence on Him.  We can live with the confidence...

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05 Sep

Grant Recipient Stories: Bejamin and Bryana

Benjamin and Bryanna Harner God has been at work throughout this whole process. He led us to Iowa 5 years ago for better opportunities in agriculture. He led us to our church that we now call home. He has called us to adoption after struggling with infertility for a few years. Right now, we are in a waiting period to be matched for adoption, but He is working in us and through us. He is shaping us into who...

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04 Aug

Grant Recipient Stories: Jonathan and Kristen

Jonathan and Kristen Crowe When we stayed at our daughter’s orphanage in Manila during her entrustment process in 2022, our hearts were broken for all the kids who were praying for a family. We met with, loved on, and spent much time with so many amazing children, and we couldn’t believe they were just sitting here without a family. We made the decision to adopt from the same orphanage our daughter was at a young man who we knew...

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02 Aug

Grant Recipient Stories: Andres and Rachel

Andres and Rachel Lara We have always felt a deep calling to adopt. Even on our first date, we talked about what our ideal family would be like—and the term adoption arose in our conversation. In our third year of marriage (2014), we took the plunge to begin the foster-to-adopt journey.  After a miscarriage, our miracle boy, Luca, was born in July 2018!
 During the lockdown in 2020, we felt God stirring our hearts again toward adoption....

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