Introducing....Lifesong Guatemala!!

We are excited to announce a new orphan care initiative in Guatemala called Village of Hope where Dan & Christi Ucherek and Todd & Amy Block will be serving.

Aldea de la Esperanza (Village of Hope) seeks to minister by providing love and wisdom, for brokenness to be made new. Our prayer is that the hurting would come in and find hope in faith, family, and a future. Village of Hope is caring for special needs orphans in San Lucas, Guatemala by teaching them about the love of Jesus Christ. Village of Hope is also partnered with Manna Worldwide to provide a feeding care center to the children in the San Lucas Community. In addition, we are committed to community outreach.

The vision for Village of Hope was born out the knowledge that God has a heart for the least of these. Scripture reveals a God who is passionate about the sick, the widow, the orphan, the alien, and the poor.

"You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate" (Luke 6:36)

To learn more about Village of Hope/Lifesong Guatemala, visit our website.

Gardens, Garments and Graduation -- Lifesong Liberia

Bishop Emmanuel Jones shares about recent happenings in Lifesong Liberia:

During the dry season, much of the land was cleared and crops plantedat the Home of Champions, Marshall.  The older children worked so hard, and we enjoyed our first harvest of sweetcorn, okra, watermelon and sweet potato greens.  We learned alot, and hope to improve our gardening skills next year.  

Our two oldest girls (Nellay pictured below) at Rehab are learning how to sew!  They are being taught by our friend, Mr. Dapin, who is a tailor.  Presently they are mending tears and repairing the children's clothes.  Soon, we hope they will be able to cut and sew an entire dress! 

 

We are pleased to announce that 23 of our children will be graduating from kindergarten at the end of the school term in June!  This is a big milestone for them.  They will receive special clothing, and a certificate at the graduation celebration.  We are so thankful for the gift of education.

Thank you all for your continual prayers and support for the children at the Master's Homes of Champions in Liberia.

Family Friday: Cory & Cindy

We are pleased to share with you adoptive couple Cory and Cindy who adopted their little girl, Svetlana "Lana" Grace from Russian.  Cory and Cindy were awarded with a matching grant from The James Fund (in partnership with Lifesong for Orphans) and it was our joy to partner with them as they brought little Lana into their forever family. Listen in as Cory and Cindy share their hearts... 

Please share a testimony of your adoption experience with Lifesong...

Our adoption experience was very positive from beginning to end.  Lifesong was a huge encouragement both in terms of the matching grant and providing a legitimate, reassuring way for friends to contribute to the adoption with the benefit of their gift being tax-deductible.  The adoption was a team effort compromising so many people and perhaps what has been most rewarding is seeing how many people have felt wholly a part of this process from the beginning.  And of course we love our adopted, girl, Lana.  She is just right for us and our family. 

Can you name one God-thing (God's provision/hand in your adoption) that comes to mind? 

Having to make a third trip to Russia due to a change in the Russian law was a surprise to us and a potential financial burden.  We simply couldn't afford to make a third trip without risking going into debt.  In the few weeks leading up to our third trip and then immediately afterwards, we saw an unexpected $11,000 more come in to help us pay off all of our adoption expenses. 

Active Faith in Prayer -- Lifesong India

Listen in with Bob Stoll, Lifesong India, as he shares about his recent visit to India,

It is always a rewarding experience to interact with children who are obedient, respectful of authority and wonderfully outgoing. They are studious and have a strong, active faith in prayer. While we were there it was exam time at school and because they take their studies so seriously they were continuously asking for prayer "for our studies", expecting that hands would be laid upon their heads by those who prayed. 

Our children are hungry for an education because, in the villages where they come from, illiteracy has been the norm.  The photo below shows the record of monetary help this ministry gives to about 150 poor, aged and indigent villagers. Most of them are so illiterate that they cannot even write their own name, thus the thumb prints.

Would you continue to join us in praying for our kids in India? Pray that they would continue to be grow in their education as well as their relationship with the Lord. 

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, 

as working for the Lord, not for men" 

Colossians 3:23

Summit VIII Reflection from Rebecca...

Rebecca Maas, adoptive mother and orphan advocate, is part of our Lifesong Blogger Network.  We were excited to see her win our Lifesong Blogger Network contest and win a trip to the Summit this year.  Couldn't help but share her kind words and wisdom that she took from Summit this year.

I just wanted to thank you and Lifesong again for the wonderful opportunity to attend Summit VIII. What a great time of refreshment and encouragement for me. 

It was also a time God used to open my eyes to the realities adoptive and foster families are facing after placement.  I know that God had been slowly opening my eyes to families in my area who are struggling after bringing their child home. There is no support network set up for them.  The church is really failing in this area.  They are cheering for and encouraging families to adopt/foster children but are not educating and following through with the families once the child is in the home.  I truly think it is ignorance.  I don't think they realize that the hard work STARTS when the child comes home.  After five seperate adoptions I can honestly say adoption is not for the faint at heart.  It is a lot of work and takes a huge amount of faith.  Adoption is probably the hardest thing I have ever done and the most rewarding.  

Thanks again for the opportunity!

To learn more about Rebecca, follow her blog at www.thissideofeternityblog.blogspot.com.