Family raises funds for international adoption

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By COLLEEN MCCARTHY
sdnedu@bellsouth.net [2]

Wes and Meaghan Gordon have been working for months to bring a boy they know in their hearts is their son from the African nation of Ethiopia to his “forever home” right here in Starkville.
“My husband, Wes, has always wanted to adopt. We started looking into it and talking to other families that have adopted. We just realized that was God’s plan for the rest of our story,” Meaghan Gordon said. “We started looking into different countries — every country is different, has different requirements based on age, how long you’ve been married. We had such a heart for (Ethiopia) to begin with and then we qualified, so it was like that’s where we’re supposed to be.”
The Gordons have a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son, and have qualified for a boy 2 years old or younger. They are not yet finished with the paperwork which will allow them to be put on a list, but they already have a name for the son they haven’t yet met: Max.
“We have already named him Max because both of our kids’ names start with ‘M.’ We’re going ... keep his Ethiopian middle name,” Meaghan said. “We went ahead and named him just because we feel like that gives everybody a chance to pray for him by name and it becomes more real, you know?”
International adoption is very expensive, and the Gordons have looked to their community of family and friends to help bring their son home.
They are working to raise the $30,000 needed to complete the adoption.
Last night, Coldstone Creamery donated 20 percent of its profits from 5-8 p.m. to the Gordon family to help the two reach their goal.
“We’re raising money for our adoption, but it’s also about adoption awareness. We thought what’s more fun than ice cream? That’s our family’s favorite treat. Coldstone graciously and generously agreed to let us have this fundraiser,” Meaghan Gordon said. “We’ve had so many friends and family come out tonight — just all kind of people. We’re raising awareness for adoption and orphan care, and we’re raising for our travel needs to go to Ethiopia.”
The money they raise will help fund the two trips they have to make to Ethiopia, fees for paperwork and other expenses.
In the last four months, they’ve raised approximately $10,000 through fundraisers, a garage sale and generous donations from friends and family.
“It’s difficult, but we’ve been fortunate. They’ve bent over backwards to help us tonight, so that’s big,” Wes Gordon said.
It is unclear how long it may take for the family to adopt him, but the Gordons write about their journey to bring Max home on their blog at http://www.thewesgordonfamily.blogspot.com [3].