So... why is adoption so expensive?

We have had several people ask us lately about the cost involved in international adoption (not just inquiring about our adoption, but contemplating adoption themselves) so we just wanted to lay it out for everyone to see.  Back in 2000 when our oldest son, Noah was born, I think we paid a co-pay of $150 and that was all the expenses we had.  So when we first began looking into adoption we were initially floored by the cost.  So here is the list of our expenses for this adoption and they are very similar to when we adopted Meili three years ago...

Adoption Agency Application Fee- $300
Fingerprints for agency approval- $110 ($55each)
Passport Photos for Adoption- $40 ($20 each)
Required online adoption classes- $145
Homestudy- $500 (this is usually around $2500 but our home study agency used part of our last home study...praise the Lord!)
USCIAS Application/Fingerprints- $875
Certified Birth Cert./Marriage Cert.- $50
Getting Dossier Authenticated and Certified- $665
U.S. Processing Fee- $3,000 (To the adoption agency facilitating the Adoption)
Adoption Program Fee- $11,500 (The majority of this goes to the orphanage the child is coming from along with other in country fees/visa/passport for the child as well as supporting the childs cost during the wait for the adoption process to be completed)
Travel to China and home w/child- $10,000 (2 roundtrip airfare, 1 one way airfare, hotels for 2 weeks, in country travel, and food).
Post-Placement Home Study- $1,000 (required)
Estimated Total cost of Adoption- $27,720

In bold is what we have already paid (which totals $5,685).  Please be in prayer as our next big expense will be the US processing Fee which we will submit probably before Christmas.

Current Fundraising Numbers:
Garage Sale- $300
Homeschool Co-op Snackshack- $1,100
Given in Celebration Designated- $7,020
Random Gifts- $260
Given through adopt together online giving- $400
Total raised as of 01/18/13- $9,080

Thank you everyone for your support through prayers, encouragement, and financially.  Many of you have just taken time to ask how it is going and that means more than you know.

Some people may wonder...is it worth it?   Here is a video of our little Meili... around 8 months after we had arrived home from China...

It is so worth it.  If you feel led to adopt and would like to talk with us about it we are always available!