Jonathan and Mandy Gurney’s Adoption

Hi there!

My name is Britany. I’m Mandy Gurney’s big sister. I’m fundraising to help Mandy and Jonathan with expenses related to building their family with the blessing of adoption.

But let’s take a step back…

I met Jonathan at MVNU. He came up to me during the first day of an accounting class and asked me when I would be starting the final project due at the end of the semester. He laughs with me about this now. Thinking back, I’d never met someone more driven and focused. I could tell he cared to succeed. Best of all, he cared to surround himself with people that helped build each other up.

Jonathan was on MVNU’s basketball team. I loved going to the games. But one day, when my “no interest in sports” sister asked if I’d go to the school’s game with her I knew something was up. When she asked if we could sit behind the team to stay out of the “crazy student section” I was highly suspicious. And when Jonathan Gurney stretched around during a timeout and pretended to “happen to notice” my sister in the stands, I smacked her on the arm and said, “Ah ha! I’m on to you!”

And the rest is history.

I’ve watched for years as Mandy and Jonathan have loved on my children with attentive energy and excitement.

Strangers see how Mandy, an educator, engages with children and they are literally in awe.

Mandy and Jonathan love the children and community around them. They invite neighbor kids over to sled and play with chickens. They throw harvest parties to pick pears and apples and line up the kids to sit and watch as cars drive by and smash the rotten fruit in the road. Laughs echo through the Granville hills. They show up for birthday parties and school plays and do it with sincere joy.

Having their own biological children has been difficult. They are beginning their adoption journey; eager to build their family and give children who need a home and a family a new start in life.

Adoption comes with tremendous expenses and unknowns. In addition to agency fees, etc. they will need to build a nursery and have everything ready to bring home child(ren) of a broad potential age range. There might not be time for a shower in advance as so many of us benefited from. But we can help now!

All my life, my little sister has cheered me on and lifted my burdens. I know she’s done the same for so many of you.

Will you think back to the ways the Gurneys have been a blessing in your life and join in me in supporting them financially, in return? You are quite literally helping finance dreams they’ve been carrying in their hearts for so long.

If you cannot give, your prayers would be so appreciated. We know God is greater than any obstacle Mandy and Jonathan have faced.

“But God’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.” - Isaiah‬ ‭30‬‬:‭18‬ ‭MSG‬‬

All the best,

Britany Martindale