Sioux Center Magazine

“Learn to do right; seek
j u sti Defend c e . the
ts
plead the case of the
oppressed. Take up the
cause of the fatherless;
widow.” ISAIAH 1:17
Katelyn’s Fund Orphan Ministry is funded through donations from
individuals, churches and businesses. To learn more about this 501 (c)3
check out their website at katelynsfund.org.
traveled to Guatemala to pick
up their new daughter, Maria.
Little did they know that this
Twins weren’t what they were
expecting, but they were very
excited to be welcoming two
Total Grant Count: 511
Total Grant Amount: $1,457,000
Children Adopted: 637
Cities Involved: 328
States Involved: 49
Countries Adopted From: 43
little girl would open up their
new daughters into their world.
world even more and the worlds
Just about when they were
Take up the cause of the fa-
it amounted to $15,000. Ten
of the people around the De-
headed down to Guatemala to
therless; plead the case of the
years later, in 2016, they were
Jongs.
pick up the twins, they received
widow.”
able to give 63 grants to help
“When we adopted Maria
a devastating phone call. Eliza-
The way they decided to help
86 children in the amount of
there weren’t that many people
beth was very sick and Katelyn
the orphans was to help oth-
$177,000.
in N’West Iowa adopting in-
had died on July 4, 2005. The
ers adopt. The cost to adopt
“It’s been unbelievable. The
ternationally at that point. We
De Jongs were saddened and
internationally can range from
Lord has really transformed
started talking with friends and
confused. But they were also in-
$20,000-$60,000. They de-
our community and our hearts
family and with people from
spired after they brought home
cided if they could make the
by expanding our world view,”
church. They saw us and we
Elizabeth in October 2005.
financial burden even a little
Sheila said.
were just a normal family,”
That is when Katelyn’s Fund
lighter, more families would be
In total, Katelyn’s Fund Or-
Sheila said. “It was an oppor-
Orphan Ministry got its start.
able to experience the same joys
phan Ministry has given 511
tunity for growth for many peo-
They held their first board
of adoption.
grants to help families adopt
ple. The Lord was using it as an
meeting in November 2005.
In August 2006, they made
637 children. The children
opportunity, but we just didn’t
Their core mission is simple.
their first grant. Their goal was
were adopted from 43 different
realize that.”
They believe that every child
to give out one grant per fam-
countries and came to live in 49
After one year, they started
deserves to be loved and to be in
ily per month in the amount of
different states in the U.S.A.
the process of adopting again.
a family. They chose Isaiah 1:17
$3,000. They soon far exceeded
“Our view of what the Lord
In May 2005 they were con-
to represent their cause:
that goal.
has done is very humbling and
tacted about adopting twin
“Learn to do right; seek jus-
In 2006 they gave five
very exciting. I say with great
sisters Elizabeth and Katelyn.
tice. Defend the oppressed.
grants to help six children and
humility that I am in awe of
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