Aloha Family and Friends!
We have some very exciting news to share about multiple wonderful opportunities that God has provided us with as we continue our adoption journey!
As you may already know, my friend Ku'ulei has organized a fundraiser for us through her in-laws' very generous business, Sage Harvest. From now until December 15th, 100% of the profits from their "Steadfast + Immovable" line of shirts will go to help fund our adoption. I got one of their tank tops myself, and it is the MOST comfortable shirt I own! In addition, for the next week, if you enter the Promo Code: KAWAI, 100% of the profits on gourmet jerky purchases will also go to us to help bring our little girl home. You can check it out at www.sageharvestjerky.com
But that's not all! This past week we received a matching grant from Chosen and Dearly Loved and Lifesong For Orphans up to $3,000! There are two ways that they will match funds. One is through Gobena Coffee. 50% of profits from purchases made through our link will go to us AND be matched by Chosen and Dearly Loved. Our special link is: https://my.gobena.org/stories/kawai-adoption-fund/?id=124
In addition, we now have an account set up through MyStory. All donations are tax deductible and will be matched (up to $3,000) by Chosen and Dearly Loved. You can view our "MyStory" at https://mystory.lifesongfororphans.org/stories/kawai-ohana-adoption/
For those of you who have been following our blog updates know that financial provision has always been on our prayer request list. Thank you for all of your prayers! We truly feel like the flood gates of heaven have opened up upon us in our time of need!
Some of the ways that your donations and purchases will help us bring our little girl home is by helping to cover expanses such as immigration and visa fees, travel expenses, and medical reviews by an International pediatrician, just to name of few. LifeSong also sets aside $1,000 of the funds to help us with post-adoption expenses.
Thank you again to everyone who has joined us in this incredibly journey. We cannot wait to get our little one home, and we could not do it without all of your prayers and support!
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Monday, November 14, 2016
Steadfast and Immovable - by: Ku'ulei Steinke
In the famous words of Disney’s Lilo and Stitch, “ ʻOhana means family,” and for Crystal and Kory Kawai of Kona, Hawaiʻi, ʻohana means a precious little girl from China who is waiting to be adopted.
Crystal and Kory Kawai first met at Kealakehe Elementary School, where they both work as teachers. “We were initially attracted to each other because of our similar sense of humor,” Crystal said. “We both act silly and goofy. We both grew to realize that we have the same values and interests.” Their similarities don't end there. They are both Christians who enjoy playing music in their worship band; Crystal plays the bass guitar, while Kory excels in playing guitar. The duo also shares a passion for playing the drums and ukulele. So, it was no surprise to friends, family, and colleagues when the two started dating the day before Thanksgiving of 2013. It didn’t take long for the musical duo to realize they were meant for one other. “One night Kory told me he was done with dating and knew that I was it for him,” Crystal said. Kory proposed to Crystal during spring break in March 2014 and the couple tied the knot four months later, on July 7.
Soon after they were married, Crystal and Kory began discussing the idea of adoption and made the ultimate decision to begin the process in February of 2016. “We both believed that this was the way that God was calling us to grow our family,” Crystal shared. What began as talk of adoption bloomed into the desire to adopt children with special needs. “We believe that the work God has placed in us as teachers, especially with Kory being a special education teacher, has prepared our hearts and minds for this.” Crystal said. “We believe that God has our children planned out for us. We just need to find them.”
While the desire to grow their family was simple, the process to make their dream come true has been much more complicated. The Kawais describe the process as a roller coaster ride. “It definitely has been a struggle trying to adopt while living in Hawaiʻi, especially living on a neighbor island, because our resources feel limited,” Crystal said. “It’s character building,” Kory added. In spite of the stress and mountain of paperwork, the couple has remained steadfast in continuing on the journey that God planned for them. “Overall, it has been a wonderful journey that we continue to pursue each day,” Crystal said. “At times, it is like watching a lifelong dream slowly unfold before our eyes.”
Crystal said that while their primary goal is “to bring our girl home,” she and her husband also hope that their adoption story will inspire and encourage others to embark on the journey of adoption.
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