The Gift Basket

Well it's Day 4 of our Hope Ethiopia:100 Campaign. We feel excited and humbled at the response we have been given...

***Hope Ethiopia:100 update -- 55 out of 100 people, $8,910.05 raised

We have until tomorrow to get 45 more teammates to join us in our Hope Ethiopia:100 team!

100 people. 100 dollars. Hope given. Gifts matched. and GIFT BASKET...thought we'd give you an up close & personal view of the gift basket that each Hope Ethiopia:100 team member is entered into...check it out!

$100 iTunes or Amazon gift card (winner's choice!)...

Lifesong T-shirt (see store for color/sizes)

Lifesong 'Taste of Heaven' Cookbook

'Journey On' CD

Handmade necklaces & note cards made from our kids at Lifesong Zambia

Handmade ornament & note from one of our kids at Lifesong Ukraine

5 bags of Gobena Coffee (see store for varieties)

Gobena coffee Go-Mug

Gobena t-shirt (see store for colors/sizes)

Gobena tote bag

VALUE - - over $250

Join the Hope Ethiopia:100 team TODAY... 

Check out this week blog post & for more details on Hope Ethiopia:100 & to get to know some of our kids at Lifesong Ethiopia!

Big Build in Nashville, TN

It was an amazing experience to serve Dorsell, a widow and family in need, with our newly adopted children by our side.  It was James 1:27 brought to life for the Bojar family!"

Jim Bojar, volunteer

On April 16th, a group got together in Nashville, TN, along with founder, JT Olson and his wife, Sara, to serve Dorsell, a local widow.  Through this project not only was Dorsell served by the hands and feet of Jesus, but the money raised will go directly to serving orphans, whether it be through indigenous orphan care or helping families adopt!  Check out their video, or go here to find out more.

 

Family Friday (on Monday!): Tom and Tiffini

Tom and Tiffini adopted two brothers from Ethiopia, Lukas and Yakob. (look at those smiles!)

Here, Tiffini shares a little of their story:

I had been praying about adopting for 3 years.  However, my husband was not feeling the same call from the Lord.  So, I waited and prayed.  In November of 2009 God moved my husband's heart at a church men's retreat.  He made it clear to us both that now was the time to adopt... siblings!

We started the process immediately, but when we found out how high the cost of adopting siblings was, I admit that I experienced some fear and panic.  But even though we did not have the money we knew that God had called us to this.  So we moved forward, trusting that God would provide.

When I found out about Lifesong and Both Hands I was so excited.  This idea was straight from God!  My husband and I were both sure that this was God's answer and His way of providing for us.  We told family and friends and applied to Lifesong to begin a Both Hands project.

Totally unexpectedly, on February 22nd, the same day I sent in our applcation to Lifesong, we received a referral of two precious little brothers... only two weeks after getting our paperwork done!  Wow.  We were overwhelmed and so amazed of God's plan.

But wait.  Now we had to come up with a huge chunk of money much sooner than we'd expected.  I contacted Lifesong and told them our story.  We no longer had time to complete a Both Hands project.  Our need was immediate.  On March 4th I was contacted by Lifesong to tell me that an anonymous donor had promised a $4,000 matching grant to our family!

We immediately began sending out fundraising letters and within 3 weeks the Lord had provided the entire $4,000 in donations!  Not only that, but donations continued to come, and in the end almost half of our adoption expenses were covered as a result!

Lifesong was extremely instrumental in making our adoption a possibility.  We cannot express our gratitude.  Looking back on this experience, we saw God's hand move in miraculous ways over and over again.  May He get all the glory!

Thanks Tom and Tiffini!  Lifesong is blessed to be a part of your story!

You can read more on their blog HERE!

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.

Let's Do the Twist

We've talked before about Kids Caring 4 Kids and their Dance 4 Lifesong fundraiser. (don't know what I'm talking about? click here to find out)

I love this idea.  What do you think?

If dancing isn't your thing, what are some other kinds of marathon fundraisers your kids could do?

Here's some ideas we had:

1. Have a movie night and charge for admittance and popcorn. (not a marathon, but still FUN)

2. Host a 5 hour game night and require that at least one person must be jumping rope (or hula-hooping if your really daring) at all times during the event. 

3. Bible-bowl! (any Adventures in Odyssey fans out there?) Have a Bible trivia competition.  Competitors can get sponsors and you can charge admittance. (that's what we like to call a double-whammy)

What are your ideas?  Or if you've held a Dance 4 Lifesong event, how did it go?  We'd love to hear from you!

Also, don't forget to comment on Christi's post yesterday for a chance to win a free t-shirt!  The deadline is by the end of this Friday.