Hope Ethiopia: 100

Hope Ethiopia from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo. 

Children at the Lifesong Ethiopia school are fed 2 nutritious meals per day, provided with a quality education, and taught the message of Jesus Christ. This gives kids like Beza the hope they need in order to break free from gripping poverty.

We currently have a need to build a 12-room expansion to our existing school, in order to reach more children like Beza. We have been blessed, by the generosity of a donor, to be able to MATCH all donations to the Ziway and Adami Tulu Schools between now and December 31st... up to $130,000!!!

This week, the 5^th through the 9^th, we invite you to join Hope Ethiopia:100. We are looking for 100 people to give a one-time $100 donation! We have currently raised $59,472.21 of the $130,000 needed, which is about 46%. 

Joining this team will not only give hope to kids like Beza, but your dollars will be matched AND you'll be entered into a drawing for a FABULOUS gift basket (details below).

Help us achieve the next $10,000 by being a part of our Hope Ethiopia: 100 Team!

*Gift basket includes: $100 itunes or amazon gift card, Lifesong t-shirt, Lifesong cookbook, Journey On CD, handmade necklaces & note cards by orphans in Zambia, handmade ornament from a child in Ukraine, 5 bags of Gobena coffee, Gobena coffee mug, Gobena t-shirt, and Gobena tote bag. This basket is worth over $250!

*To commit via check, please send an email to info@lifesongfororphans.org. Make check payable to Lifesong for Orphans, indicate 'preference Hope Ethiopia: 100' in the memo.

The PERFECT Gift for Teachers!! DOUBLED!!

I am SO excited to tell you about this SPECIAL opportunity to give to a teacher in your life. Aren't they hard to buy for? BE SURE TO KEEP READING... YOUR GIFT WILL BE DOUBLED!!!!

Are you searching for the perfect gift for the teachers in your life?  How about skipping the routine coffee mug or picture frame and make a donation to the Lifesong Schools in Ethiopia instead?  Teachers are guaranteed to love that you made such a thoughtful donation in their honor.

If you donate at least $10 in honor of your teacher, the Adami Tulu Team send you the card pictured to the left and below for you to give to your teacher. Isn't is gorgeous? I would LOVE to receive this as a gift during this season of GIVING!

"Several former teachers have told me that they would have loved to receive a gift like this. And, as a former teacher myself, I agree with them. Teachers get bombarded with coffee mugs, candy, and teacher do-dads at Christmastime. This year, give your teacher something truly meaningful instead; spread his or her love for education around the world." - Mary Beth Picker, Orphan Advocate

OK, now for the AMAZING part! As of last night, we have a generous donor that has stepped up to MATCH all donations to the Ziway and Adami Tulu Schools between now and December 31st... up to $130,000!!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited? What a GENEROUS way to make the most of your giving and bless the children and families in these communities! Let me tell you first hand, these schools NEED to be expanded... these children NEED an education... they NEED to be fed each day... they NEED to hear about Jesus! Lets give HOPE to these precious children in Ethiopia! 

Would you join us in prayer as we seek to make the need known? 

MAKE A MATCHED DONATION NOW!

***If you are giving a gift for a teacher and would like one of the cards mentioned above, As you donate, leave a note in the “Special Instructions” box telling us how many cards you would like.

I’m so incredibly thankful to these generous folks for their commitment to these kids in Ethiopia. For their belief in our shared vision of ending the global orphan crisis by keeping families together, breaking the cycle of poverty, and building self-sufficiency.

So I don’t know about you, but I’m incredibly enthused, excited and energized about this movement to change the world. I hope you’ll join us in acting today to maximize the impact of this generosity." - Aaron Klein, Orphan Advocate

Sewing for a Cause

Do you remember this post? Well, the Adami Tulu team continues to amaze us with their creative fundraising ideas!

This incredible team is COMMITTED to raising funds to expand the the Adami Tulu preschool and serving more orphaned and vulnerable children in need!

From Super Bowl parties... to Aspen overnight giveaways... their ideas are endless!

Now, Cassie Williams, founder of Twinkle Stitch is donating 100% of her Etsy shop proceeds to fund the school! Just in time for Christmas shopping! Check out her site here!

To read more about the Adami Tulu project, check out the team facebook page here.

Build a School = Skiing in Aspen?

Over three years ago, my husband and I began our journey to adopt our son from Ethiopia. And since that time, God has been filling our hearts with an overwhelming love and passion for the people of Ethiopia. We returned a year after our first adoption to bring our daughter home. After arriving home with her, we knew we had to do more!

We have been so blessed to team up with other adoptive families around the U.S. and with Lifesong for Orphans. Lifesong is doing some amazing work through a small nursery school that they support in Adami Tulu, Ethioipa. You can read more about Adami Tulu here. Last year, we, with five other families, raised over $40,000 to build a new building, restroom facility, and gate at the Adami Tulu school. In August, we got to return to Ethiopia to see the new building. We had an amazing trip, and have absolutely fallen in love with Adami Tulu. You can read more about our trip here and here.

The school is changing the lives of so many vulnerable children in the area by offering them a wonderful education and two nutritious meals a day. We've returned home with the knowledge that we have so much more to do in Adami Tulu. So we've agreed to continue our work with Lifesong by raising funds for another school building on the Adami Tulu campus. This will enable the school to expand to include 1st and 2nd grade. More details will be coming soon, but we're anxious to get a jump start on fundraising. We know that this project will cost at least $50,000. But, for these sweet faces, we'll do anything!"

-Mary Beth Picker, Adami Tulu Team (www.caseypicker.com)

 We are very excited to announce our first fundraiser for our next phase of the Adami Tulu project: another Aspen Giveaway!

 

Our Aunt and Uncle have, once again, generously donated toward our fundraising efforts. Only this time they've offered us not one but FIVE stays at the Hyatt Grand Aspen.

Any one of these November stays might make a great early-Thanksgiving get together for you and some friends or family! We will begin the giveaways today and draw winners on October 15. To enter, donate $20 by clicking the link for the stay that you're interested in. For every $20 you donate to Lifesong for Orphans, you will get one entry in the drawings. By the way, 100% of your donation will go to our work in Adami Tulu.

Here are some details and pictures about the Hyatt stays: Hyatt Grand Aspen has complimentary continental breakfast, a pool and hot tub, fitness center, fire pit, daily room cleaning and nightly turn down service complete with chocolates. There is even a little hut by the hot tubs where you can hang your robes to keep them warm for you! The hotel is within walking distance of lots of shops and restaurants in Aspen.

The retail value of each stay is approximately $2,500.

To get to Aspen, you could fly into the Aspen airport. The hotel will pick you up and, since everything is within walking distance, you can go without a car during your stay. Or you could fly into Denver and rent a car to drive to Aspen.

Or, of course, you could also just drive to Aspen.

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Hyatt Stay Giveaway #1:

• Sat.- Sat. November 5-12 (full week stay)
• Studio Unit (Like a nice hotel room with small kitchenette.)

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #1, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:

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Hyatt Stay Giveaway #2:

• Sun.- Thurs. November 13-17 (five days/ four nights)
• Two Bedroom Unit (Two Bedrooms and Bathrooms, Kitchen, Livingroom, Dining Room, Washer and Dryer, etc.)

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #2, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:

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Hyatt Stay Giveaway #3:

• Sun.- Thurs. November 13-17 (five days/ four nights)
• Three Bedroom Unit (Three Bedrooms and Bathrooms, Kitchen, Livingroom, Dining Room, Washer and Dryer, etc.) Maybe a family could do an "early Thanksgiving get together" in this one.

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #3, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:

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Hyatt Stay Giveaway #4:

• Tues.-Sat. November 15-19 (five days/ four nights)
• One Bedroom Unit (All the things a two bedroom has but only one bedroom and bathroom)

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #4, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:

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Hyatt Stay Giveaway #5:

• Tues.-Sat. November 15-19 (five days/ four nights)
• Two Bedroom Unit (Two Bedrooms and Bathrooms, Kitchen, Livingroom, Dining Room, Washer and Dryer, etc.)

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #5, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:

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Just imagine, you could win a stay in Aspen, just for donating $20. What a deal! Plus, you get to be part of this amazing project to help these precious kids in Adami Tulu. If you are unable to use one of the stays, you could donate your entry to a friend, or minister, or someone who could really use the time away. Help us raise money to expand the Adami Tulu school and spread the word about our giveaway. Please repost on twitter and facebook! Thank you!

a Reason for Praise!

Last September Aaron Klein joined our vision trip to Africa, (read his guest post HERE) and when visiting Lifesong's Adami Tulu school he was immediately drawn to it.  In his own words,

When I stepped onto the grounds of the Lifesong school in the tiny little village of Adami Tulu in Ethiopia, I instantly knew that something was different.

I wasn’t sure why. This was the last of many Lifesong projects I had visited.  It wasn’t the one I was expecting would capture my heart and imagination.

But it did."

At the end of 2010 Aaron and his wife, Cacey, decided to take on the task of raising funds to build Adami Tulu a new 4-room school house.  They developed a fundraising team, sold t-shirts, and gave presentations.  They even got creative with a National Super Bowl Party! 

And by March they were two-thirds of the way there... until one generous donor wrote a check to cover the remaining need!  Wow!

Thank you Aaron and Cacey for your creative and dedicated service to this project!

Thank you to the individuals who have joined the Kleins in raising these funds!

Thank you to everyone who gave, big or small!  Your support has made a difference!

Most of all, thank you, to our Heavenly Father Who refuses to forget the forgotten and Who is using His people to change the lives of children!

If you want to find out more about this project check out Aaron's blog HERE.