Ok friends and followers, as of now there are zero updates. I’m sure you clicked on the blog hoping to hear some exciting news about the next step in our journey, but during this “waiting stage” we don’t expect to do much except wait. But with that being said, I’ve never been much of a wait-around-type, so we have decided to focus our energy on fundraising!

Before I go into some fundraising ideas/ask for feedback, let me give you a financial update. We have raised/paid about $16,000 of the money needed. You heard me right! We are over half way funded. When JC called to tell me the news I didn’t believe him – I was literally shocked. Shocked to the point of making him add it up again, and then I actually made him add it up again in front of me later that evening. I was blown away!

Side Note: Every penny we have been given is going through an account at our church – this means every penny is held accountable for. We decided that since we will be dealing with $30,000+, most of which has been generously donated, we want every cent to be accounted for and we don’t want any discrepancies in where it is going.

With that being said, we are on the home stretch as far as funding! However, that last $15,000-$20,000 (depending on if we adopt two children), will basically be due in a huge chunk.  The majority of this final half will be travel cost, in country cost, medical testing and court fees for our child/ren. (Check out our “Cost Breakdown” page for a full financial layout.) Therefore this waiting stage is the perfect time to hit the fundraising pavement, because once we are matched with a child we will be on our way to Uganda.

Another Side Note: If anyone feels led to pay the remaining $15,000-$20,000 please don’t hesitate!

So here is what we are thinking for fundraising…

• We are planning to host a fundraiser dinner the evening of Saturday, April 13^th. Tickets will be sold for $25 per person and $350 per table of 8. Message us for more information! We are also looking for people to sponsor tables, so keep that in mind as well. If you’d like to sponsor a table, but have us fill it we would be more than happy to do so!
•  We are going to write a letter to United Airlines asking them to sponsor our flights. Sure it’s a long shot – but the worst they can do is say no!
• Grant writing. There seem to be grants out there for people adopting and now that our Home Study is finished we qualify. We have already finished one application and have a few others to complete, but I’d love to know what people suggest! Have you adopted and received funding through grants? If so where should we apply? What grants do you recommend?

What else??? We would love to hear your comments and ideas on how to raise the remaining funds. Please feel free to share any and all ideas with us! Either by commenting on this page or emailing us personally – we would love to know your suggestions!

In Him,

Leslie and JC Elliott

PS… Here is an awesome picture of mugs that some great friends gave to us…