My name is Heather Idoni. My husband Jim and I have been married almost 32 years. From the earliest years of our marriage, we believed that one day we would be adoptive parents. After raising 5 biological sons, that dream became a reality when we brought home our first 3 adopted sons from Ukraine, ages 12, 16 & 17. After a few months' home, Jim and I realized there was nothing else we would rather do in life -- in fact, we felt a calling from God to return to Ukraine and adopt 2 more sons, ages 11 and 14. While there for their adoptions, we met 2 MORE deserving boys, ages 12 and 15 -- and the rest is history! After adopting 7 sons from Ukraine, and then an 8th son (age 20, who cannot yet come to the U.S.), we are working hard to finish the adoptions of our 14th and 15th sons (#9 & 10 adopted, ages 13 and 18). This last journey to adopt has had many trials, but we have also seen many miracles! Jim and I love our boys so much... and we can't wait to be united as a family together in Michigan.
But we need your help.
International adoption has many expenses, including airfare, U.S. immigration fees, translation costs, help with documents within the country, and much more. Each successive adoption also adds to at-home expenses. As you can imagine, with all of our adopted sons being pre-teens to young adults at the time of adoption, their needs are greater than those of young children. By God's grace we have been meeting their needs, but that leaves little left to save to adopt again.
That is where you come in! Over $87,000 has been donated to and fundraised for us through loving friends, local churches and grants since 2013. Our expenses to adopt our 8 sons have been well over $170,000. But God has provided for all our needs over and above! However, we still need more. Our current adoptions have had many extra expenses and additional trips required. With all the unforeseen costs, we are still short about $25,000.
Anything at all you can give will be so appreciated. No amount is too small! We are also welcoming friends (or strangers!) to pledge matching fund amounts. Help with fundraising is always needed, too. Please let me know your ideas or how you want to help. Every bit counts!
Money is not all we need. We really need friends committed to praying for us. Right now, I am going through a very trying time physically and I don't have the energy I've had previously to organize and do the work for local fundraising. I could really use help with that, especially if you live close. Please contact me if the Lord puts something like this on your heart.
Thank you again for reading our story... This is the "short" version, but it would take a book to write out all we have been through and to describe all the hundreds of amazing miracles the Lord has done to get us this far!
The photo above shows 12 of our sons. We were so blessed to have them all together for my 3rd son Angelo's wedding this past summer. We love being Mom and Dad to our boys and we are trusting God for the completion of what we believe to be our final adoptions.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP... AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING OUR NEED!
Heather Idoni