Friday, May 31, 2013

Busy Bees

Well, Dustin went into the hives yesterday just to check on them, and he took out 6 FULL SUPERS! We have had some very busy little bees.  Today, the kids helped him go back into two of our other hives for more supers!

The kids LOVE helping with the bees. Bees are another of God's amazing creatures. I love how they all work together with one purpose in mind.







Here are a couple interesting facts about bees:

Bees are the only insects that produce food eaten by humans.

A colony of bees can be anywhere from 20,000-60,000 honeybees (and only one queen).

When the worker bees are born, they have to be taught how to make honey.

Each worker bee makes about 1/12th tsp of honey in its lifetime.

Did you know they communicate with each other through a form of dancing?

In one collection trip, a honey bee visits anywhere from 50-100 flowers.

In the winter, they feed on the honey they have collected throughout the year (which is why we always leave a certain amount for them). When it is cold, they all bunch together to stay warm.

And did you know that honey helps build the immune system? It's also a natural sugar, and has been known to help with allergies and other ailments.

(bee facts taken from bee right.com)

We love bees; just another one of God's amazing creatures! Thank You Lord for bees, and thank You for honey. Thank You for taking care of all the details. You are so magnificent, and yet you care about every detail.

"My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off"(Proverbs 24: 13-14)

Saturday, May 25, 2013

WOW! Farm Festival Fundraiser SUCCESS!!!

The Lord BLESSED our FUNDRAISER today! WOW! We are so in AWE of Him!

The weather was absolutely PERFECT! It was gorgeous outside. Praise God!

We had so many wonderful friends and family members that came out to help volunteer. Let me say a big "THANK YOU" to everyone who helped make this event happen! Aricka Webb, thank you for getting the ball rolling, I stand in awe of how BIG God made this event!



We estimate that we had at least 300 people at our farm today, and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time.

Thank you everyone who helped with donating and working the event. We couldn't have done this without you. You are a God-send, and I pray God will bless you for your service.

Collison Trio...You were PHENOMENAL!!! If anyone ever has an event and is looking to hire an extremely talented group of musicians, we HIGHLY recommend this Southern Gospel Group!


The farm was a buzz with the hay rides, jumpy house, horse rides, tug-of-war, three-legged race, dunk tank, baby animals,...there was just so much fun to be had. There was hot dogs and cold drinks for people while sitting in the shade and on bales of hay listening to amazing, godly music; plus, the bake sale had lots of sweet treats to enjoy. I cannot articulate the energy and enthusiasm of the day. It was such a blessing. Several times, I teared up just looking around at all the people who had come out to support our family and our adoption. God truly blessed this day and this fundraiser; to Him be the glory.

TOTAL AMOUNT RAISED TODAY: $2,289.25

Alleluia! Praise God! We are beyond blessed! Thank you Lord. Thank You for Your blessing and Your favor. We are so undeserving and You are so magnificent. Thank You for perfect weather and amazing friends. I pray that You bless each and every person that was a part of today's event. I thank You for our farm, Lord. I pray we continue to use it for Your glory. I pray this all in the precious name of Jesus. Amen

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

THIS SATURDAY....It's getting big!!!

We are so excited to see how God will use this Saturday's Farm Festival Fundraiser to bring glory to Him and provide for our adoption process.

He has already started to reveal His awesomeness! We have had several individuals and several groups come along beside us and offer to help and donate towards our fundraiser. The community's heart for orphans and love for the Lord is amazing!

We have a live Southern Gospel group, Collison Trio, who has volunteered to entertain and provide LIVE MUSIC for our festival at no cost! How generous! Thank you Collison Trio!!!

A Sea of Hope Orphan Ministry as stepped up to donate ALL THE DRINKS for our fundraiser. This means that all proceeds from drinks will go directly towards bringing our children home!

Grace Community of Topsail Church has committed to providing ALL THE HOTDOGS, BUNS, & CHIPS for the event which means even more money will go directly to our adoption agency!

Christian Homeschool Educators of Wilmington (CHEW) has organized a BAKE SALE table at the festival with all proceeds donated to our adoption!

Grifaldo Properties real estate has committed to running the check in table.

Old River Farms has donated their hay wagon to our event for hay rides.

Sweet Peas by the Sea, a local catering company, has graciously offered for us to use their large tent, tables, and chairs at no cost!

Wilmington Portable Toilets gave us $40 OFF per unit for the port-a-potties we are renting.

There has also been several individuals and families that are joining in helping set up, directing traffic, heading up activities...etc. We are so excited to see this all come together even bigger than we could have imagined.

Please continue to pray for God's blessing over this fundraiser and for Him to be glorified. (Please also pray for beautiful weather to enjoy the event!)

For details about the fundraiser please click here (and feel free to join us and bring some friends!)

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Adjusted Fees for Our Adoption


As I mentioned earlier, we, unfortunately, underestimated the costs for this adoption :( We weren't sure what additional expenses there would be with a sibling set of 7. However, this is the most current, expected fees that Christian Adoption Services has written up for us to be able to plan for.

* shows what has already been paid

Required Paperwork/ Filing
*Medical Evaluations 90
*Birth Certificates/Marriage License & translation 150
*USCIS 1800A  850
*Fingerprinting   85
*Psychological Evaluation 1300  600

CAS Fees
*Application fee 200
*Home Study 1,500 800
*Dossier 1,000
*Coordinating fees 4,500
Post Placement 4,250
Finalization 1,100
Additional Siblings 6,000  4,200 (700 per additional sibling)

ICAB Fees
*ICAB Application 200
*International Mailing Fee 100
*Liason fee 600
ICAB pre-travel 3,000
Orphanage contribution 1,000 
Estimated ICAB Pre-Placement Fees
Passport Application 1,200 x 7 = 8,400p
Birth Certificate 280 x 7 = 1,960p
Commission on Filipino Overseas 400 x7 =2,800p
Visa Fee 10,000 x 7 = 70,000p
Visa Medical  10,000 x 7 = 70,000p
Visa picture 120 x 7 = 840p
Meals and Transportation passport 3,000 x 7 = 21,000p
Meals and Transportation medical 7,000 x 7 = 49,000p
Tax exemption certificate 200 x 7 = 1,400p
Administrative Fee 1,000p
Airfare estimated 7 kids + 2 adults 34,000p
Accommodations (5 days) 3,000 x 5 days = 15,000p
In Country Fees Total: 275,400 pesos / $6,679

Travel
Roundtrip Airfare NC-Manila 2 1,800 x2= 3,600
One way airfare Manila to NC  7 1,000x7= 7,000
Roundtrip Airfare Manila to Cebu  2 125x2= 250
One way airfare Cebu to Manila 7 70x7= 490
Hotel in Manila  2     1 night (Saturday) 1 room=100
Hotel in Cebu 2   3 nights (Sun, Mon, Tues) 1 rm=300
Hotel in Manila  9            3 nights (Wed, Thurs, Fri) 2 rms=600
   Travel   Total: $12,500

~ Children over 12 must attend Embassy class Thursday.
ICAB appointment Friday
Saturday- Fly home

Total:  $41,904
Current fees paid:  $9,175

Total Estimated Remaining Expenses: $32, 729


Wow...I would be lying if I didn't find these numbers intimidating and a little scary, but we trust that somehow God will provide for this adoption to bring His children home.

Please join us in praying for provision for this adoption. Please pray that the organizations we are applying for grants would look favorably on our application, that our fundraisers would be productive and blessed by God, and that God would stir in the hearts of individuals to come alongside of us and financially support us in our efforts to bring these kids home.

If you have any ideas of other fundraising activities we could do, please let us know. If you are organizing your own fund raiser to help cover our adoption expenses, please let us know so that we can share information on our blog and facebook page! (email me with details: the.bestul.family@gmail.com)

We look forward to witnessing how God can make this happen, and we are so grateful to all the individuals that have already stepped up to help us bring our children home.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Home School Co-op Next Year

I am SO beyond excited that our family has been accepted into Trillium Cottage Academy for next year!

Trillium is an absolutely amazing group of christian homeschooling families that meets once a week for classroom activities that correspond with and build off the work the homeschooling families are doing at home. The group was established 11 years ago.

The small group of christian, like-minded families are committed to a Christ centered education. All the families use Tapestry of Grace curriculum for a specific cycle (so that they are covering the same material at home), and then they get together once a week for fellowship, discipleship, and building off the blocks that were covered at home in a classroom setting. The kids do Hands on History activities, Classical Conversations Foundation memory work, discuss literature, and perform historical skits. The kids will write speeches and practice public speaking and debate. They also work together on a grammar program, assigned map work, biographical studies, world view, Latin, and writing activities.

This co-op is such a blessing because it provides opportunities that home schooling kids wouldn't normally have. The kids (and parents) have accountability to help keep them focused and on task. The kids get a limited classroom type environment with their peers while still being part of a tight knit family environment.  The moms have fellowship and spiritual encouragement as well, and they can work together to share their gifts with other home school children.

We are ECSTATIC about this opportunity. We know that as a large family we are a big undertaking to add to any program, and we are so grateful to the board of Trillium that they are willing to bring us in and help us in our home schooling experience.

We had the privilege of attending Trillium's end of the year banquet this past week, and our kids got to meet the other children that they will be attending with next year; plus, our family got to witness first hand the results of the children's hard work. We were very impressed!

Is it weird that we are excited about NEXT year's school, but we haven't even finished THIS year's school?

Thankful to God for next year's co-op! 

Thursday, May 9, 2013

FARM FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER

A fellow homeschooling mom with a heart for orphans has decided to help organize a FARM FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER at our Farm on May 25th! Here is her write up:
"We would be honored to have you join us for a trip to the farm to raise money for a local family that is in the process of adopting a sibling set of SEVEN children! As Christ followers, we are called to care for orphans. What an amazing and fun opportunity this is for YOU to get involved in bringing a BUNCH of precious children to their forever home!

The $20 per family (or donate more if you feel led!) farm tour will include:

-LIVE music with Southern Gospel group COLLISON TRIO!!!! 
-Spending time checking out the farm scenery
-Enjoying the animals (cows, goats, ponies, horses, pigs, chickens, bunnies, quail, and baby chicks)
-Horse/pony rides

-Hay Rides

Please feel free to invite a friend or two or four or more!


There will also be LUNCH AVAILABLE to purchase (hotdog, chips, drinks), jumpy house, face painting, dunk tank, and local farm products...so bring cash!

Please RSVP to give us an idea how many people are coming. You can send an email: the.bestul.family@gmail.com or reply to the event on Facebook under Facebook.com/FaithGrownFarm

***If you are interested in helping coordinate or volunteer at this event, please let me know! Thanks

Be in prayer for BEAUTIFUL weather to enjoy the farm, God's blessing on this fundraiser, and His provision for our adoption.

If you are unable to attend this event but you would still like to get involved, you can make a tax-deductible donation to help with the expenses of this adoption.

CHECK DONATIONS:
"Christian Adoption Services"
Please write "Dustin & Andrea Bestul's Adoption" in the memo field to ensure it is applied towards this adoption.
Mail to:
Christian Adoption Services
624-134 Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
Their phone number is: 704-847-0038

ONLINE DONATION:
ChristianAdopt.org (click on the left where it says "Donate.") Please write "Dustin & Andrea Bestul's Adoption" in the purpose box to make sure the funds are credited towards this adoption."

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Thankful in ALL Circumstances


"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

It is fairly easy to be thankful when things are going "well" and things are easy, but we are to be thankful in ALL circumstances.

We are extremely blessed in so many ways, but at times, we do come under attack which has been the case in the last few weeks.  We had a fox kill several of our laying chickens, our turkey, and 9 of our young hens; plus, one of our bee hives died. Next, the transmission went out in our 15 passenger van (which was over $2,000 to fix). After that, there was issues with the well pump that we had to pay someone to come fix. Then, as we are seeing the numbers going in the opposite direction that we want as we fundraise for our adoption, my adoption agency contacts me to let me know that there are some additional travel expenses that I hadn't take into consideration when I wrote my blog entry about how much money we still needed. I'll admit it, when I hung up the phone, I cried. Sometimes life can make us feel overwhelmed. But, thankfully, my cry didn't last long because I can find comfort in my Lord and Savior. He is there for me when it feels like no one else is.

Whenever something bad happens there is this temptation to try to understand "why" it happened, but the reality is we will never fully comprehend all the reasons that God allows things to happen and how He uses them for His glory. Still, that question creeps in of "Why God?" But, it has been my prayer for some time that I would stop questioning why. After all, who am I to ask God why? He doesn't owe me any answers. It makes me think of Job 38:2-12 where God asks Job "Who are you to question my wisdom with your ignorant, empty words? Now stand up straight and answer the questions I ask you. Were you there when I made the world?..."(for the rest of this chapter in Job..click here )

God has a plan, and I choose to trust in it. I have learned through my life that often the "struggles" and the "hard times" bring about tremendous spiritual growth, and I learn lessons that draw me even closer to Him; so I say, "Thank you"

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

Lord, we thank you. We thank you for the trials and tribulations that we endure in this life because we trust in You. We know you are sovereign Lord; we trust in your plan, and we know that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28).

I am reminded of a song we sing at church (by Matt Redman):


"...Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though theres pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name..."

When things are all wonderful, we bless Your name, oh Lord, and when things are difficult, we bless Your name, Lord, because You are ALWAYS worthy of praise! 

Monday, May 6, 2013

DOSSIER COMPLETED

Just a quick post to say our USCIS approval came back which was the last thing we were waiting for before sending our dossier.

So, OUR DOSSIER is IN COUNTRY!! Alleluia! Praise God!

Next phase is waiting to be matched. Matching can take anywhere from 2-6 months, but we know God's timing is PERFECT!

Please pray that God's hand would be on our paperwork and that it would go smoothly with no complications. That the officials would look favorably on our file. That God would continue in preparing the hearts and minds of all our children (in our home currently and our children in the orphanage), and that God would continue to provide the provisions necessary to bring our children home.

Thank you for your prayers!

May God bless you!