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Dear Prospective Adoptive Parent,

Congratulations on your adoption journey! Whether you are just starting to think about adoption, or whether you are well underway (maybe even on your second or third adoption!) I am so thrilled for you—there is nothing quite as amazing as an adoption journey.

Perhaps you are at the point in your journey where you and your spouse have decided that you definitely want to adopt and are looking for the right fit in an agency. My husband and I were fortunate enough to find Bundle of Hope while we lived in Jacksonville, and we have worked with them twice to adopt two beautiful daughters who remind us every day that we serve an awesome God who is worth trusting. Here is some “insider” information about working with Bundle of Hope that I hope helps you decide if this might be the right agency for you.

When we began our adoption journey, finding an adoption agency that treated birth mothers with love and respect was extremely important to us. We wanted to be able to tell our future child that their birth mother was loved and cared for through her delivery, and that the decision to adopt truly was what she wanted—not something she was pressured or forced into. Through the birth of our first daughter, and even more so through the birth of our second daughter, we saw first hand just how well the birth mommies (as Glenda lovingly calls them) are loved and cared for. We witnessed need after need be met—whether is was safe housing, their favorite meal after delivery, comfort, counseling, companionship, or all of these things (and more!) birth mothers at Bundle of Hope are known and cared for as the unique, fearfully and wonderfully made children of God that they are. I love that the birth mothers are not only exposed to Gospel through counseling but they also get to experience Christ’s love though the tireless efforts of the staff at Bundle of Hope. The staff are on call for them at all times, and work tirelessly throughout the day and even through the night to care for these women and help them through a difficult time in their lives, and help them step into a brighter future.

And so, the most important thing I can tell you is that Bundle of Hope is more than an adoption agency: it’s a Spirit-lead ministry that offers Hope to women and children in desperate circumstances. The best way to think about working with Bundle of Hope is as joining a ministry that works tirelessly to help women in need and working to help birth mothers find the best families for their children. As adoptive parents, you are life-lines that wait at-the-ready for the ministry to call upon to help women who are ready to choose adoption. And believe me, when you get that “call” there is no greater feeling of joy!

Our “birth” stories in bringing each of our daughters home could not be more different! It is important, then, to bear in mind that not only will your story be different from everyone else’s, but the staff at Bundle of Hope is constantly dealing with and managing all the details of each unique placement. No two are the same, and there is no “detailed standard procedure” for placing a baby with a family—general guidelines, yes, but each placement is as unique as the individuals involved. You can, and should, trust the women there to guide you through the process, asking questions knowing that Bundle of Hope has everyone’s best interest at heart.

If you are blessed enough to be accepted into this ministry as adoptive parents, know that Glenda, Lee and Kristin along with everyone at Bundle of Hope loves you just as much as they do their birth mothers. They are excited to have you a part of their team. They pray for you during every step of the journey. There might be times where you think maybe they’ve forgotten about you—times when maybe it might take a week or more to return a call or email. But they will connect with you as soon as they can—they love you and want to include you in their journey. Know that they really are working around the clock doing this amazing, life changing, life saving, work and that sometimes the best thing you can do to help is have patience, pray, and trust.

So, in the end, if you are looking for an adoption agency that revolves around the wants and needs of adoptive parents, an agency that cares only for getting babies to people who want them, then this probably isn’t the place for you. However, if you are looking to partner with a ministry to serve and help meet the desperate needs of women and children, a ministry that is guided by prayer and the direction of the Holy Spirit, and a ministry that rejoices in and for adoptive families built by God then this just might be the perfect fit for you! It was for us!

My best wishes and prayers for your journey ahead! No matter what else happens, remember to trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t lean merely on your own understanding—in all you do, acknowledge Him, and know that He will never steer you wrong!

Heather