Buy a Brick...Build a Future - Village of Hope

Most of us can remember a time in our lives when we felt rejected. A time when we felt like we didn't matter. Whether it be the time we were chosen last on recess for the kickball game, or the time we didn't get invited to the birthday party that everyone else was invited to--we have all felt the sting of rejection. So what breaks my heart is when I think about how an orphan child living with HIV/AIDS must feel living in a society who constantly treats them as the least, the last and the lowest. Our God given vision here at Village of Hope is to give these children faith, family, and a future. Yet much work needs to be done in order for the vision to become a reality. But what we know without a doubt is that we are not just building buildings- we are building homes and we are building HOPE. Right now this very minute there are children waiting. Children who are living with HIV in a culture that rejects them. Schools do not want to accept them; most orphanages do not want to accept them either. And so they wait in hopes that one day someone will welcome them in, wrap their loving arms around them and tell them they are valued, cherished and loved. And we wait for the body of Christ to come together and make the vision of Village of Hope a reality for these children. Village of Hope still needs $184,500 for such things as homes for the first orphans and their house parents, retaining walls, perimeter walls, and gates for safety and protection. These things will provide safety, home and HOPE for these orphans. How can we do this? Little by little, brick by brick--together we can build the foundation these children need to come to know the one who loves them so much He CHOSE them. Little by little, brick by brick, together we can build HOPE for their future. What that will take is for you and I to realize that the God in heaven that is crazy about these children is crazy about us as well. What He wants for us is so much more than a new sweater, a new electronic toy or the latest isomething or other this Christmas. He wants for us is to quit wasting our time, our resources and our talents on the things in this world that do not matter- and invest in the things that do~ His Kingdom. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24 3-4 To help GIVE faith, family and a future to the children at Village of Hope please visit see our webpage here. Buying a brick in honor of a loved one is a GREAT way to give a gift of purpose this Christmas season!  *If you'd like to buy a brick as a gift or in honor of a loved one, a card will be sent indicating your gift.

Family Friday: "...more & more in love..."

Thankful to share yet another story of God's faithfulness of setting the lonely into a family.

We were blessed to partner with Greg & Angie as they organized a Both Hands Project to raise funds for the adoption of their new daughter Joy, from China.

Please join us in prayer for this family who chose to grow their family through adoption! Thank God for his steadfast love in adopting each of us!

There have been many challenges throughout our adoption process. We are finally moving past survival mode and are growing more and more in love with our daughter, Joy, every day. We cannot imagine going through the process without the help of Both Hands and Lifesong and the many, many prayers of our friends and family. We are so thankful for Joy and we can’t imagine life without her in our family. We are thankful for the help we received to bring her home.

--Greg & Angie

Mahesh, A Changed Life - Lifesong India

We invite you to share a word of encouragement, prayer, or a message to our staff at Lifesong India. To do so, please reply to this email or comment on our Facebook wall and it will be forwarded to our staff. Thank you in advance for your kind words of support!  Please enjoy this update from Lifesong India... Meet Mahesh. Mahesh came from a very poor Hindu family where food was scarce and they owned no land to profit from.  When Mahesh was in the first grade, he was able to move into our Chitty Memorial Home where he studied business, math and chemistry up until the 12th grade while also learning about the only true God. Thankfully, through the movement of the spirit, he and his family gave their lives to Christ!  Now at age 24, Mahesh works as a Conductor for a State Road Transportation Corporation.  He shared, "I don't want to think about what my life would be like if I didn't have the opportunity to live at that home (Chitty Memorial Home)..." His favorite memory from the home was when he was in the 11th grade. They fasted and prayed for 3 days praising God and thanking Him for all the people who came to Christ through daily prayers and devotions that year.  Mahesh's life would be so different had he not had the opportunity come to our school and hear the gospel of Christ! Thank you again for your prayers, support and interest in Lifesong India. We praise God for this one life that has been changed!

Family Friday: "..sew him into our family, Lord..."

Meet Justin and Jaymi...

Because of their involvement in their local church's adoption ministry, God began to work on their hearts and lead them towards adoption. Through this ministry, Jaymi saw a picture of a little boy from Taiwan that captured her attention.  She says, “I had looked at a number of photos of waiting children before, but this time was different.  He stole my heart and I took this experience as a green light for our family to being the process of adopting.”

We at Lifesong felt blessed to partner with this special family as they brought home little Zac from Taiwan this spring. Please join us in listening in to their testimony of God's faithfulness...

We prayed specifically for God to "sew" our son into our family, even before we met. People who didn't even know us prayed those exact words over our adoption! That could only be from the heart of our loving Father who knows us all! We have been home with Zac for 6 months and it feels like he has been with us forever. He is sewn in!

--Justin & Jaymi

Breaking the Cycle...

"I was looking for someone to understand me, to love sincerely...I received all this!"    -Natasha, 22 Breaking the Cycle from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo. As you heard Natasha share in the video, the orphanage took care of her basic needs -- food, shelter, clothing.   But she longed for more.  Belonging. Commitment. Love from a family. Hope for a future. Because we believe kids like Natasha need much more than their 'basic needs', the staff of Lifesong Ukraine are building relationships inside the orphanage walls to create what we call Constant Christian Presence (CCP).  The CCP provides mentorship and discipleship, improved living conditions, one-on-one counseling, group Bible study, job skills training, music lessons, and computer skills training. Instead of the common trend of orphans creating orphans, Natasha, because of her support through CCP, now desires to help other children who are in orphanages to give them the support she received. Orphans mentoring orphans...a cycle worth striving for! Child Sponsorship We are excited to announce that Lifesong Ukraine has recently launched a new child sponsorship program. If you are interested in helping build Constant Christian Presence by sponsoring a child like Natasha, please contact us. "...He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory." Isaiah 61:3