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.

Matching Gift & Give-a-Way! - Village of Hope

**New Opportunity** We invite you to share a word of encouragement to our staff at Village of Hope-Guatemala. To do so, please comment on this blog or 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 Village of Hope-Guatemala,

Every child deserves a safe place where they can be a kid. A place where they can freely problem solve, use their imagination, develop physical strength, coordination and balance. A place where they can grow, dream, imagine, explore and gain a sense of self.

For many children in Guatemala this is nonexistent. Many of the children here lose their childhood too quickly due to the stress of just trying to survive.

 

(photo credit) 

 

The children who come to Village of Hope often have lived in desperate poverty and will for the first time have a safe, permanent place to call home. Our goal is to provide them with the opportunity to grow and develop into the humans the Lord intended them to be through providing a safe place to grow--as every child deserves.

One of our big needs here at Village of Hope is a safe place for the children to play.Because the facility is built in a mountainous area this isn’t as simple as putting in a swing set and a soccer goal. A large area will have to be dug out, a retaining wall put up to keep the mud from sliding and then the playground will be put in.

 

View from a different direction...

We have been blessed by a donor who has offered to match up to $10k for the ground to be dug out, a retaining wall constructed, a grassy area planted, and a playground for the children at Village of Hope.

Every $1 given between now and Sept. 6th it will be doubled! What a great way to invest in the kingdom and see your dollar stretched! AND to make this even sweeter--everyone who donates gets entered into a drawing for a chance to win a Kindle Fire!!!

To give to the $10,000 match please go to: Lifesong for Orphans and please indicate it's for "Village of Hope Guatemala--$10K Match".

Updates from Village of Hope & Gift Basket!

We are blessed to give you an update from Village of Hope/Lifesong Guatemala from missionary Christi Ucherek,

"It takes a village to raise a child!" - African Proverb

When God called us to start Village of Hope, we knew that HE would put together the pieces and bring those that He would have serve alongside us. We are completely blown away by all the people He has been sending our way... but, then again, we really shouldn't be blown away by how great our God is and how HE provides to bring His work to completion.

As we prayed and asked the Lord to provide for the first $20,000 needed for Village of Hope, God's people stepped forward to provide an incredible gift basket. From now until August 1st, you have a chance to win!

The gift basket includes: 

HOPE jewelry from Funky Fish Designs

Village of Hope t-shirt (your choice of color and size)

 

$100 TOMS gift card

$100 Amazon gift card

 

$100 iTunes gift card

How do you enter?

-share about this give-a-way on facebook, twitter, or blog: 1 entry for each time you share (you MUST contact us atChristi@lifesongfororphans.org to let us know that you shared)

-each $25 donation: 2 entries

-each $100 donation: 10 entries 

Village of Hope is a ministry of Lifesong for Orphans in partnership with Project Hopeful. The vision for Village of Hope was born out the knowledge that God has a heart for the least of these. Scripture reveals a God who is passionate about the sick, the widow, the orphan, the alien, and the poor.The purpose of Village of Hope is to provide family, faith and a future to the least of these by providing holistic orphan care to special needs orphans, primarily focused on those living with HIV/AIDS in a family-style setting. 

To donate to Village of Hope, please click here.

 

Introducing....Lifesong Guatemala!!

We are excited to announce a new orphan care initiative in Guatemala called Village of Hope where Dan & Christi Ucherek and Todd & Amy Block will be serving.

Aldea de la Esperanza (Village of Hope) seeks to minister by providing love and wisdom, for brokenness to be made new. Our prayer is that the hurting would come in and find hope in faith, family, and a future. Village of Hope is caring for special needs orphans in San Lucas, Guatemala by teaching them about the love of Jesus Christ. Village of Hope is also partnered with Manna Worldwide to provide a feeding care center to the children in the San Lucas Community. In addition, we are committed to community outreach.

The vision for Village of Hope was born out the knowledge that God has a heart for the least of these. Scripture reveals a God who is passionate about the sick, the widow, the orphan, the alien, and the poor.

"You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate" (Luke 6:36)

To learn more about Village of Hope/Lifesong Guatemala, visit our website.

Family Friday: Dan & Christi

I personally feel extremely blessed to share this Family Friday with you! Dan & Christi are so near to our hearts here at Lifesong for Orphans. Christi came on staff in the fall of 2009 and has been an incredible asset to our team while working with our adoptive families, church partners, and overseeing Lifesong's Communications & Social Media.

Dan & Christi have incredible hearts for the gospel, the orphan, and the glory of our Father God.  

Through a number of events, including a missions trip to Gautamala, they felt God's call to them to begin the process of adoption.  It was exciting for the Lifesong Staff to walk this journey with them and to watch them bring home their precious son last summer from Ethiopia.  Even though we work with adoptive families every day, we were able to experience up close and personal the incredible joy that is found in 'bringing the lonely into families' through their adoption.

But that's not it...God is continuing to work on this family's heart and is sending them back to where this whole spark started: Guatamala.  Dan & Christi will be serving with Eagle's Nest International full-time to follow their heart's desire to serve the orphan, to reach out to a lost community, to bring hope to the hurting, and most of all to bring GLORY to God our Father.

Dan & Christi,

It's been a complete joy to serve at Lifesong for Orphans with you and to see and experience God's spirit working in your familiy. We committ to lift you up in prayer during your time of tranistion and for the work that you will be doing in Gutamala. Praying that God's hand would continue to go before you and prepare your way as you serve Him in obedience. We love you!

Lifesong for Orphans team

To hear more of Dan & Christi's testimony or to follow them on their journey, check out their blog!