We have all heard the old ancient African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Well, in our case it takes a village to bring a child home too!

This past Saturday, we had a fund-raising yard sale which we began planning several weeks ago in an attempt to raise some money to complete our home-study. The home-study is rather expensive and it’s the next big step in our journey to bring Joyce home.

As friends and family began to hear about the yard-sale, they started cleaning out their closets, garages and attics and donating stuff for us to sell. It was really amazing! People started dropping stuff off at Amy’s mom’s house, bringing it to her school and the church, and calling us to come and pick it up. By the time Saturday rolled around, we had enough stuff to open our own little thrift store!

A mother, who has a child in Amy’s class, took some of the pictures we have of Joyce and had a huge poster made with Joyce’s story on it. She had it framed so we could set it up at the yard sale with a donation jar. It was beautiful and we will treasure it forever!

Several of the girls in Amy’s class, who are all in the same Brownie troop, set up a booth and sold lemonade, coffee and homemade baked goods. They made just over $100.00 and donated every penny to us! They also made signs on poster board and stood out in the yard and flagged cars down as they drove by. It was such a blessing watching them serve, and I hope my kids where paying attention!!

After it was all said and done, we made over a thousand dollars! Can you believe that, $1000.00 at a yard sale! Amy and I knew when we started this process that we did not have the money to do what God was calling us to do. However, every step we have needed to take, God has provided us with the resources to take it!

To all those who donated goods to be sold at the sale, to the best brownie troop (and their moms) in the world, to Anita, to those who came and bought stuff at the sale, to our family for working so hard during the sale and the week prior, to those who made additional donations, to those who prayed and participated in any other way, to our village…
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!