Local family, the Woolards, are hosting a "Pay-by-Donation" yard sale from 8 a.m. until close Saturday, May 13 in the parking lot at Somewhere in Time Antiques to help defray expenses associated with their adoption of a child from India.
Brandon Woolard, business banking relationship manager at Commerce Bank, and his wife, Ashley, eighth grade science teacher at Poplar Bluff Junior High School, along with their three daughters: Maddison, Jacquelyn, and Charlotte are in the process of adopting a child from India. Brandon graduated from Twin Rivers School, Three Rivers College and Southeast Missouri State University. His wife graduated from Puxico High School, Three Rivers College, and Southeast Missouri State University.
Their adoption story begins several years ago when they felt led to adopt a child as a witness of the love and hope of Jesus. The family attends the Puxico First Baptist Church. The Woolards desire is to welcome a child into their family and to encourage others to act on their father and follow the example Christ has set for the Woolards.
Brandon Woolard said, "At first, we weren't sure about how to get started or what all it involved and it wasn't until we were able to see a very dear family to us go through the process that we realized, like with any of our other kids, the timing would probably never feel perfect and that the important thing was to not hesitate and let this opportunity to pass us by."
Among their biggest decision was from what country should they adopt and should they adopt a boy or a girl. They wrestled with the first decision a long time, until they learned the need was very high in India and that many of the children there were absorbed into the child trafficking and sex trade. India was calling. As for the sex of their adoptive child?
"Since we are blessed with three wonderful girls," Brandon said, "we decided to adopt a boy who will be named Isaiah."
The family is aware this adoption will bring many challenges, but they trust God will glorify the process. The Woolards don't want this to just be their family adopting a child. "We want this to be a witness to God's mercy," Brandon explained, "for all of us because he has adopted us into his family through Jesus."
The family invites their community to get involved in any way they feel led because "we're not just bringing this child into our home, we're bringing him into our community where we know he will be accepted and loved," they said.
Ashley keeps a blog of the family's progress in the adoption process. The link for the blog is BringingHomeIsaiah.blogspot.com.
Throughout this process there will be other fundraisers. Currently, the family is having a T-shirt fundraiser; shirts may be ordered at bonfire.com/the-woolards-are-adopting-from-indi/.