We're Meg and Ian Murphy, and we're adopting a little boy from China. Though we don't yet know his face, we know his name, and we have space already carved out in our hearts for this little fella who will one day make us an international family of four. We're so eager to meet him!

We wish we could foot the bill to bring our son home by ourselves (what adoptive parent doesn't?), but the fact is, international adoption is dauntingly expensive. For us, the money was the single biggest argument against our undertaking to do this. It was only after we came to terms with the truth that faith always calls us beyond the borders of comfort and even, at times, resources and ability, that we found the courage to take the first few tentative steps into this wonderful and dizzying unknown.  

Here are the numbers: our placement agency's estimated total for our adoption expenses is anywhere from $33,280 to $38,650. This sum comprises placement agency and home study agency fees; third party costs such as immigration approval, dossier preparation, adoption education classes, etc.; and travel costs, which range between $8,000 and $10,000.

The aforementioned estimate does NOT include the additional, often significant ongoing expenses that will come with adopting a child with a minor to moderate special need - the cost of frequent doctor's visits, surgeries, therapy, and so forth.

With Pure Charity, we can raise funds to offset the fees charged directly through our placement agency, fees which total $19,400. The breakdown is as follows:

U.S. Processing: $3,500

Adoption program fees (includes donation to the orphanage in China): $15,000

Post-placement Processing: $900

No man is an island. We humbly reach out to the continent of the people we are privileged to have in our lives -- family, friends, acquaintances, even strangers -- and invite you to join us in realizing this dream that is so much bigger than we. It's been said so often that the expression has become trite, but it really is true that no sum is too small. Whatever you can give would be appreciated beyond words.

Thank you, thank you, for your prayers, your encouragement, and your support along the way. We love you.

If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

      - Emily Dickinson