Family Friday: Keith and Tana

Meet Keith and Tana and their four little ones (three of which are within 15 months of each other!!!)

Aliyah Faith (Ludmia) and Christela Hope came home to Denver, CO from Haiti last January... 12 days after the earthquake.  In the midst of sorrow and devastation, God chose to work good for two precious little girls, who otherwise would have waited for another 1-3 years to come home to their forever family.

Today, instead of waiting for a home, Aliyah and Christela are thriving with two brothers and a mommy and daddy who LOVE them!

We want to thank Lifesong for Orphans again for your support of us in our adoption process!  

We are so thankful to have our girls home... to see their smiles and laughs.  And we know that the Lord has given them such a life of hope now... and a family that loves them.  

Your support was huge for us... both financially and as a confirmation that we were hearing the Lord correctly.  Even though we didn't have the funds to bring these two precious girls home, He did!  And He provided!

Keith and Tana

Thanks, Keith and Tana!  We at Lifesong are blessed to be a part of your story!

 

Family Friday: meet James and Ellen

It's time for

Meet James and Ellen... and their MIGHTY clan!

4th row (yes, this family takes up 4 rows!): David, Ryan, James, Ellen

3rd row: Christy, Molly, Emily, Will, Kelly

2nd row: Amy, Kate

1st row: Meg, Ahna

Hello! (Ellen speaking)

James and I prayed for a year and a half wondering if the Lord wanted us to adopt again.  We had already adopted seven children and five had special needs including hearing impairments, cleft lips and palates, ADHD, and a learning disability.  By the world's standards, we had already done more than our share.

However, after learning about the plight of children in Russia, we decided to pursue a sibling group of two children.  Long story short, the Lord had other plans.   

Another agency told us about a group of five children.  Five children?  Did they think we were crazy?  But James asked me to request the pictures, so I did.  The children were beautiful, but there were so many of them!  In addition, the eldest boy had Dandy-Walker Syndrome resulting in water on the brain.

Our process to adopt these kids was difficult from the beginning.  One of the boys wanted us to adopt him, but was afraid of America.  He asked us to move to Russia.  Though we couldn't do that we fought to adopt him, but the courts denied our request.   We knew, however, that God was the advocate for all of us, so we continued with the adoption of the other four.

Our adoptions became finalized six days before adoptions ended in Russia.  I ended up traveling to Russia alone, not knowing the language, and in an extremely frightening environment.   It wasn't a good situation.  The little girls also struggled with a lot of anger and would hit and kick me every chance they could.  It was an extremely difficult time and I couldn't wait to get home.

A few months after bringing the children home, our new son required emergency brain surgery for a failed shunt.  He should have gone blind, been paralyzed, or died.  But he didn't.  The Lord spared his life.  

Our great God provided a future and hope through the donations that you provided.  We were totally out of money and had no idea how we could have ever found $100,000.00 to pay for the expenses. 

We still have loans to pay off, but without your generosity, there would have been four more children dumped onto the streets of Russia. 

Together, we snatched children out of the hand of the enemy.  To God be the glory!!!"

Wow!  James and Ellen, you guys are amazing!  The journey you have chosen has not been easy, and I'm sure there will continue to be some great challenges in the future, but praise the Lord for His faithfulness and thank you for your obedience to His calling!  The staff here at Lifesong is blessed to be a part of your story!

What a blessing!

We just wanted to say thank you once again for helping us bring these incredible children home.  It was an adventure to say the least, but we are so blessed that you helped make the impossible, possible!!! 

 In Him,

 Chris, Carrie, Colin, Mykah, Madeline, Jackson, Gracen Elliott

Summit VI Registration now open!

Registration is now open for the Christian Alliance for Orphans’ Summit VI in Minneapolis, MN! 

Summit has become the national focal point for Christians committed to adoption, foster care and global orphan care ministry.  Join organizational leaders, grassroots advocates, pastors, and ministry entrepreneurs that share your passion.  Encounter the unparalleled hub of orphan ministry partnership, networking and inspiration for service.  Build your knowledge, resources and practical skills via more than fifty workshops and unforgettable plenary sessions.  Featured speakers will include John Piper, Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman, Al Mohler, Patricia Arzu, Tom Davis, Stephanie Fast, Doug Sauder, and others!

Any individual, church, or organization member of the Alliance will receive a discounted registration rate of $99.  Non-member registration is $149.  (To apply for membership and receive the discounted rate, visit the Alliance membership page first.) 

Visit Christian Alliance for Orphans to register for Summit today!

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Miracle in Franklin...

Not a lot to add to this one... wow!

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