Family Friday: "...my heart was so full."

 

Please enjoy another Family Friday feauturing Evan, Carla and their new son, Ephrem, who they brought home into their FOREVER FAMILY this summer...

We were humbled and blessed to receive adoption support from Lifesong. Our adoption was quick because we were adopting a special needs child, which was amazing and also exhausting. We found the encouragement from Lifesong and Both Hands to be unexpected, but very welcomed support in our process. 

We began our adoption with $1,000 in the bank and a promise to ourselves to avoid going into more debt to finish our adoption. We didn’t know how we would do this, but we trusted in our God to provide. Only six weeks into the process, we received our referral for our son. Our agency said that they would expedite the process to get him home and into medical treatment. This was wonderful…and terrifying because it meant that we would have to pay the fees on a quicker timeline. Nevertheless, we trusted God to provide.

The financial support we were able to get from Lifesong/Both Hands was essential to bringing our son home. It provided for the travel costs (airfare, lodging) as well as some agency fees toward the end of the process. Without this support, we wouldn’t have gotten our son home in May/June without going into debt. When Ephrem and I walked out of security and got to hug Evan as a family of three for the very first time, my heart was so full. 

--Evan & Carla

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." Psalm 68:5

Tear Down That Tent!! - Lifesong Honduras

It's official! The 'extreme makeover' has begun for Tree of Life/Lifesong Honduras' new Multi-Purpose Building! This new building will be used as the primary assembly space, dining hall as well as gymnasium for our 550 students and staff. Our staff in-country are diligently posting day-by-day updates of the construction progress and we invite you to join in the journey! Simply click here to keep track of Lifesong Honduras' new makeover and look for updates on Lifesong's Facebook Page. We hope that you will join us in prayer for the safety of the workers, wisdom of the staff, and the future impact this project will have on our students!  The progress so far...    Last worship service in the tent  The tent coming down   Old foundation removed New space beginning to form! For more day-to-day updates...click here.

Summer Camp Success -- Lifesong Ukraine

**New Opportunity** We invite you to share a word of encouragement to our staff at  Lifesong Ukraine. To do so, please or comment on this blog or our Facebook wall and it will be forwarded to our staff. Thank you in advance for your kind words of support!   Please enjoy this end-of-summer update from Denis, Lifesong Ukraine Director... We trust our Father you are doing well and are working hard on behalf of the kids we work with in Ukraine. It has been a great busy summer season. Our last summer camp program has ended this past Monday and we are happy to present you a brief update on that program.  Overall we had 14 different programs May - August (both week programs and weekend) for over 440 kids from Kharkov, Zap, Chernigov and Sevsastopol areas. That's at our camp property only. Besides of that, we had 5 large camp programs at State run camps for over 320 kids. Our prayer is that all of those programs would bear fruit for His Kingdom. I would like to thank you all for a great support both with prayer and action in helping us to make these camps a reality. Also, I would like to praise God for our Ukraine team who did an exceptional job of leading those camps.  Alexei, camp program director  Morning Bible study Our equestrian side of the camp program remains a big hit among kids. It makes our program unique in the eyes of the State authorities. And, it's always great for the kids to be around animals. Please continue to pray for the young men and women who participated in our summer camps. Pray that God would bring fruit from the seeds that were planted this summer in each special heart.

Family Friday: "Adoption is hard...and worth it"

We find ourselves at yet another Family Friday! Please join me in praise with Greg & Charisa and their growing family and as they share the pure FAITHFULNESS God has shown them in their journey...

This adoption was an adoption of faith almost from day one!  We signed on with our agency in February and were excited to again add to our family through the miracle of adoption. Greg found out that his position was being cut and he would lose his job, along with the $5000 adoption credit his company would give. Yikes!

There were so many questions at that time—where would he find a job? Would we have to move? What about the adoption? Did we hear God wrong?  We chose to have faith and believe God had something in store for us and He did! Greg was offered our job with our local food bank which lines up with his heart for helping the vulnerable! We were blessed as he only had to go two weeks without a job.  

In March we received the referral of a beautiful baby boy whose name means “Praise.” We were excited and quickly fell in love.  The Monday of the week we were leaving, I received that DREADED phone call.  Our little one’s mother came to court and changed her mind and took him home.  My first emotional reaction? I am done. Adoption is too hard. I can’t stand the emotional roller coaster anymore.  I AM DONE!  

Even in the midst of this God was working and moving. My caseworker called my husband first and told him to come home. We cried, prayed, asked many why’s and just sat in silence.  

As we continued to pray God asked me, “Who is adoption about? You or the child that needs a home?”  I began to realize, (I knew it down deep but it finally rose to the surface of my heart) that this was a good thing.   If this little baby’s mom changed her mind and could raise him—than that is who he should be with! How could I be upset with that?  Was I grieving?  Yes—for the loss of the child who we thought would be our son. However, I was so happy that this child could be raised by the mother that carried him, named him, and loved him.  

Fast forward a couple of days and we received another referral of a tiny little boy, Teshale, whose name means “Better One.” I can’t even begin to tell you how that confirmed everything for us. God has blessed us immensely and looking back we can see how everything worked according to His plan.  

July 15th we were in Ethiopia for court and met our son. He was our son! The bond was immediate and we knew this was the child God had for our family. We came home September 10^th 2011 and are doing well. We are more than blessed.

Adoption is hard. It is emotional.  It is full of bumps, curves, and road blocks. It is worth it. 

I now have so much more of a picture of what Christ endured for me.  I have a glimpse of His heartache and passion.  As I sat and cried over that first little boy I imagined how God weeps over those that He longs to have as His children.

Thank you Lifesong for being part of our story. Your encouragement and affirmation played a vital role in our adoption journey.  We appreciate you so much!

-Greg & Charisa

Orphan's Table - Orphan Sunday

Experiences impact us more deeply than words.

On Orphan Sunday, share a meal eaten by orphans around the world.  Gather with family, small group or church for the meal, discussion and prayer.

When you request The Orphan’s Table, you will be sent:

--An easy-to-cook meal package—the same food provided to feed orphans worldwide.  (Prepare by boiling, instructions included.)

--An Orphan Sunday Prayer and Discussion Guide to help you make the most of this experience.

As you join in The Orphan’s Table, we pray God’s love for the fatherless will grow in your heart as well.

Order Here!

The cost is simply a donation of any amount.  $5.00 will cover materials shipping for 1 food packet.  Please indicate the number of food packet needed as each packet contains 6 meal servings.

We’re extending “The Orphan’s Table” internationally! If you live outside the U.S. and would like to participate in the Orphan’s Table for Orphan Sunday please email us at info@cafo.org for more information.  You will be asked to cover shipping costs, but the meals and materials will be provided free.

PLEASE NOTE:  the first shipment of Orphan’s Table packages will not be sent until approximately Tuesday, September 11, 2012.  After that date, they will be shipped approximately bi-weekly. Place your order by Friday, October 12 to ensure the arrival of your meal in time for Orphan Sunday on November 4!

(**information taken from www.orphansunday.org)