Already blessed with two daughters, Heath and Meghann Nelson felt their family wasn’t yet complete. Last November they decided they wanted to adopt a child from China.

They applied with the adoption agency CCAI (Chinese Children Adoption International), which helps people in the United States adopt children from China. They were accepted, and began receiving files of children needing families.

“Originally we wanted to adopt a child under the age of three,” said Meghann Nelson. “But we saw the picture and watched the video of this five year-old and felt this was the little boy God had chosen for our family.”

They gave him his American name, Tobias, which means ‘God is good.’ Like most children coming out of China, he was born with some congenital defects. Because of the country’s two-child law, when a baby is born with any type of special needs they’re often abandoned, left anywhere from a field or garbage can to a doorstep of a nursing home (which is where Tobias was found).

Unfortunately, the couple hadn’t actually started the actual adoption process yet, and were dismayed to find they needed a completed home study which could take up to five months. The adoption agency only had Tobias’ file for a month, after that he wouldn’t be available.

“We prayed about it and said if this is meant to be God will find a way to make it happen,” said Nelson. “Our home study was completed in a week and a half. It was an awesome testament of how God can do anything.”

Because adoption is so expensive, the Nelsons decided to apply for grants and came across the non-profit organization Both Hands, a Christian organization out of Tennessee that helps couples who are adopting children raise funds by performing a service project for a widow in their community.

The process works similar to a walk-a-thon or golf fundraiser. The adopting couple gets together a group of people to help perform the service project. Each of them send out letters to their family and friends asking them to sponsor them during their day of service.

The Nelsons put together a core team of 15 people, and a neighbor of a Becker widow in her 80s, Valerie (Val) Anshus, suggested her as the recipient of the service project.

On Sept. 28, a group of 40 youth and adults spent the day working at Anshus’ home. Inside they deep cleaned, fixed some electrical issues and replaced her worn out air conditioner with a new one donated by the Nelson’s church, Evangelical Free Church in Becker. Outside they redid the landscaping, refinished the deck, freshened up the house paint, removed some rotten steps, built an awning over the steps, replaced outside light fixtures and cut down five trees.

“It’s been really fun getting to know Val for the last month and a half,” said Nelson. “It feels like we’ve known her for a lot longer.”

All the needed supplies were donated by local businesses. Sherwin-Williams in Monticello donated the paint, Brigg’s Nursery donated the landscaping materials, Farrell Equip. and Supply in Woodbury donated materials, and lumber supplies were donated by Country Lumber.

Westin Plumbing and Heating installed the new air conditioner, Wruck Sewer donated a port-a-potty for the team to use, Heath Nelson did the electrical work, volunteers brought cleaning supplies and one person made lunch for everyone. 

“The really cool thing was there were people who just showed up,” said Nelson. “Neighbors saw what was going on and came over to ask if they could help.”

The fundraiser was a success, raising just over $8,000. The Nelson’s goal is to raise $20,000.

“We’re hoping to bring Tobias home before the end of the year but we’re not sure yet,” said Nelson. “We’re super excited and trying to get ready for him.”

The Nelson’s fundraising page on the Both Hands website will stay open until their adoption is complete. To donate visit bothhands.org/project/nelson-590. Both Hands is entirely funded by donors around the country, so they’re able to give 100% of the money raised during their fundraisers to the adopting families. All donations are tax deductible.