Patti Frelund

Adoption. It is something that has been on my heart for most of my adult life. I have considered foster parenting as well. The timing just never felt right. I ultimately didn’t have the confidence to move ahead.

Now I am a single, empty nester with time to consider what I have done and what I still can do. As I have considered where I am and what I still want to do in life, I have continued to chew on adoption and foster care. I started to inquire what this could look like for me, and I have had doors close. Then I had one open in a most amazing way.

I just brough two beautiful girls home from Belize! But now I need to bring home my son!!

It is a long story. I will try to keep it concise.

Some of you may remember that Kristin spent a year in Belize working at Laugh Out Loud Children’s home. Just after she got there a large sibling group arrived. Kristin was one of their primary caregivers and individual tutor for that year. I met them back in 2014 when visiting Kristin. Fast forward to 2020. I was inquiring about foster care once again and ultimately decided that I couldn’t do it because I couldn’t care as a mom and then give them up. Shortly after deciding foster care wasn’t for me, I learned about Kendra and Alicia. They had become available for adoption! (Marvin was not eligible at that time. I would not have broken up a sibling group… and not sure I would have considered adopting three!) Fast forward almost 2 years, Kendra and Alicia are here and I’m now trying to bring home their younger brother, Marvin.

Fast forward to today. I have been working with two adoption agencies (One for Colorado home study and one who works with Belize.) I am starting over with the home study and we are now starting the process with Belize. Here is where I need help. International adoption is not cheap. I already have about $40,000 invested but I will likely need about $20,000 more, plus I will need to finish a room in my basement. I am starting to pursue grants to help cover some of the costs associated with the adoption, but I really need to seek other help as well. The timing is tight. I need to raise money quick because Marvin is quickly approaching the age where he will no longer be eligible to be adopted.

I have witnessed God’s provision in the adoption process of Kendra and Alicia and believe that God will provide the finances to adopt Marvin, but I am having to trust Him in a whole new way! I don’t know exactly where the finances will come from. But I know that God loves these kids and so do I!

So, thank you for helping me bring Kendra and Alicia home! I am asking, would you like to partner with me in prayer and maybe financially to bring Marvin home? Please let me know if you have questions. I would LOVE to talk more with you about this exciting journey we are on! It’s exciting! It’s scary! It’s moving fast!