We are the Bress family: Tom, Heather, Nathan (13) and Zachary (10). Last spring our family discerned a call to adopt again. We didn't feel the desire to adopt an infant or toddler, as our kids are older. We wondered, could we be called to adopt an older child? This is something that in the past we would never have considered. Everyone knows that those children are too damaged, too hard, too scary. Except that our God is the God who removes all fear. Who opens hearts and gives grace. Who calls us to care for the orphan and tells us all things are possible with Him. We know beyond the shadow of a doubt that this is what we are being called to do. In July we hosted a sweet 12-year-old boy named Jean Carlos from Colombia, and we fell in love! We had the pleasure of giving him his first swimming lessons, his first time camping, and his first time seeing the ocean. We saw that he is just a normal kid who was orphaned through no fault of his own. He is so brave, so affectionate, so drawn to babies and small children! He loves swimming and water balloon fights, drawing and Monopoly, and befriended children and adults alike, charming them with his eager attempts to converse in English. Several weeks after he returned to Colombia, we were able to tell him that we wanted to adopt him, and we are leaving to bring him home early in February of 2017. The adoption will cost about $40,000. We have saved $25,000 of that and hope to raise the remaining $15,000 through fundraising efforts. Family and friends have expressed an interest in being part of the journey to bring our new son home through a financial gift. We are grateful to be a part of Adopt Together, which makes your gift tax-deductible. We feel honored that God would choose us to parent this amazing child and are grateful that there are people out there with hearts for the orphan who can help us make Jean Carlos's dream of a family a reality. Thank you for your prayers and your assistance! Gratefully, Tom and Heather Bress
