"But we cannot afford to adopt! Why is adoption so expensive?"

We completely understand. Many of the America World staff has adopted and experienced the real struggle with adoption expenses.

There are valid reasons for the expenses in adoption. From airfare and passports, to home studies and immigration, adoption is costly.

However, we are hearing more of our families are completing their adoption process with little out-of-pockets costs.  How?  More and more resources are out there for adoptive families.  America World's Financing Adoption page has just some of the resources that are helping families to find adoption grants and fundraising opportunities that work!

We spoke with Natalie DePrat, from America's Christian Credit Union (ACCU), to learn how they are also helping America World families with expenses. ACCU is assisting families with ways to help reduce the costs of adoption and providing "bridge loans" to provide for the expenses when needed--knowing that the Federal Adoption Tax Credit, adoption grants, and fundraising will be available later to quickly pay down those loans.

This podcast is a GREAT resource for all families called to adopt! Be sure to share with anyone you know who is considering adoption--especially those who believe that the cost of adoption is keeping them from moving forward.

Visit America's Christian Credit Union website to learn more.  While you are there, be sure to apply for their Adoption Grant!

America World recently received Hague reaccreditation from IAAME, which has kept our staff exceptionally busy. 

In this episode, Erica Ho (Development & Missions) joins us to talk about being Hague-accreditation and also about some exciting updates in Haiti and Ethiopia.

Email Erica about questions regarding these projects at Erica.Ho@awaa.org

Haiti Education & Nutrition Project

Beta Hosanna Facebook Page

After sharing their God-story of meeting on a Liberty University bus after unknowingly living in the same orphanage, Ruby and Ally talk about their memories from the orphanage and their medical needs.

Ally is legally blind in one eye, while Ruby had a cleft lip and palate.  Both are thriving as Liberty University students who are following God's plans for their lives. 

They talk to couples who are considering adoption but are not sure about adopting an older child, a child with special needs, or both.  They also share about growing up in a family as an "adopted child."

Be sure to listen and share this episode with others who may be considering adoption.

awaa.org

Little did they know that an open seat on a Liberty University bus would be an unexpected reunion for Ally and Ruby.  Both lived in the same China orphanage as children.  They would be adopted by families in the United States--Ruby to New Jersey and Ally to Maryland.

Both were attending Liberty University, a year apart, and that bus ride would be a God-moment that would give them both a story to share.  While comparing old photos from their orphanage, they realized it was the same one.  They even had photos of themselves with mutual friends at the orphanage.

Today, Ruby and Ally are sharing their story with America World Adoption. Both of their families chose America World to assist them in their adoption plans, but they were not in the same adoption group--neither family knew about the other.

Listen in as Ally and Ruby share their story with America World podcast host, Mike Stone. 

Learn more about adoption at the America World Adoption website.

CNN article

Curt Thompson is a psychiatrist, speaker, and author who connects our intrinsic desire to be known with the need to tell truer stories about ourselves.

Curt has spoken at a number of Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) Summits to share his expertise as it relates to adoption, the adopted child & the adoptive parents.

We were blessed to sit down with Curt to discuss how isolation feeds shame & how to recognize this and resist it, how to know your story & understand our children, and how to better understand loss.

Join Curt and our COO, Anna Graham, as we dive into these topics and find understanding is the difficulties we face in life and as parents.

RESOURCES:

Curt Thompson website
Being Known podcast
"Anatomy of the Soul" book
"The Soul of Shame" book
America World Adoption

Jack Hawkins rejoins us for this episode which was recorded with America World Adoption Founders, Brian & Renee Luwis.

Hear the story of how America World's ministry began, what led the Luwis family to start America World (hint: it was NOT to create an organization), and what the heart of America World is all about.

Whether you are an America World family or simply stumbled upon this episode, you will be encouraged and inspired to find that thing in your life that breaks your heart.

Listen in to our conversation with Martin & Emily Hale as we discuss their personal international adoption experience. The Hale family continues to grow as they are in the process of adopting their third child from India.  We'll talk about what led them to adopt, how the cost of adoption affected them, and the differences between their first and second adoption processes.

Learn More at America World Adoption

Melinda Salle & Ashley Gosnell had no idea how God would use them and the mission team at an Ethiopia orphanage.  They led a short-term mission team to Addis Ababa.  What they experienced was 10 young teens "aging out" of their orphanage on that trip.  Those 10 girls would be turned out on the streets of Addis Ababa to fend for themselves.  Most end up in prostitution, poverty, abuse, and eventually an early death.

The America World Mission team led by Melinda and Ashley knew that God had other plans for these 10 girls.  As God led them, they stepped out in faith to respond.

Today, the Beta Hosanna House is a place of refuge, education, training for a trade, and learning the Gospel message.  As girls 'graduate' from Beta Hosanna, a new group of girls who age out take their place.

AWAA Mission Trips