Adding Fun into School Days - Lifesong Liberia

We invite you to share a word of encouragement to our staff at Lifesong Liberia. To do so, please comment on the blog or on our Facebook wall and it will be forwarded to our staff. Thank you in advance for your kind words of support!   Keith & Kay Knapp, Lifesong Liberia liaisons, share updates from Liberia: "Thanks to a grant from RetailROI, the kids at the Master's Homes of Champions have something new to do.  You can hear laughter and squeals of joy as the jungle gyms, sliding boards, swings and teeter-totters are filled with children.  The residents of the homes, as well as school children from surrounding communities, are having a great time enjoying their new equipment.    School began again this month, and all 86 of our children received new uniforms.  Another exciting development is that we will begin some instruction in computers at the Rehab location.  Our schools are full, as many families from the communities are sending their children, and placing a high value on education.  We are thankful for this opportunity to bless others.  Please pray that the students would be attentive and diligent in their studies.   We extend our gratitude for your faithful support of the work in Liberia!"

Prayer, Praise & Fasting - Lifesong Liberia

**New Opportunity** We invite you to share a word of encouragement to our staff at Lifesong Liberia. To do so, please comment on this post and it will be forwarded to our staff. Thank you in advance for your kind words of support! 

Director Bishop Emmanuel Jones shares prayers and praises in Lifesong Liberia:

"Praise report:  We are seeing real godly fruits being produced among the children at Rehab.  Can you imagine....every Friday is fasting from 6 to 10 am, and the kids spend those hours praying for other kids around the world!

Prayer request:  For the children's health at both homes, especially during this heavy rainy season.  Please pray for the safe delivery of Pastor and Finda Gunter's baby (directors at Marshall). Also that the children will use their vacation time wisely. 

Lifesong Christian Academy ended the school year with commendation from the Honourable Minister of the Interior, Mr. Ambullai Johnson, guest speaker at the graduation ceremony.  He spoke on the topic:  "Teach Me to Fish".  He commended the school for taking the challenge of transforming the community through education and the gospel, and challenged all to take education seriously."

   

Here is a sweet letter we received from JB, an unsponsored nursery student, to his future sponsor. There are so many JB's in the world longing for commitment and love! To learn more about sponsoring kids like JB in Liberia, please visit http://tinyurl.com/libsponsor.

"You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." 

Matthew 5:14,16 

Gardens, Garments and Graduation -- Lifesong Liberia

Bishop Emmanuel Jones shares about recent happenings in Lifesong Liberia:

During the dry season, much of the land was cleared and crops plantedat the Home of Champions, Marshall.  The older children worked so hard, and we enjoyed our first harvest of sweetcorn, okra, watermelon and sweet potato greens.  We learned alot, and hope to improve our gardening skills next year.  

Our two oldest girls (Nellay pictured below) at Rehab are learning how to sew!  They are being taught by our friend, Mr. Dapin, who is a tailor.  Presently they are mending tears and repairing the children's clothes.  Soon, we hope they will be able to cut and sew an entire dress! 

 

We are pleased to announce that 23 of our children will be graduating from kindergarten at the end of the school term in June!  This is a big milestone for them.  They will receive special clothing, and a certificate at the graduation celebration.  We are so thankful for the gift of education.

Thank you all for your continual prayers and support for the children at the Master's Homes of Champions in Liberia.

A Day in the Life -- Lifesong Liberia

Meet Andrew.  Andrew was 9 years old when he came into the loving care of Lifesong Liberia 'Home of Champions' School & Orphanage.  Andrew was rescued from the Belle Forest, a 'refuge' where many Liberians ran to during the 14-year civil war that ended 9 years ago.  A war that took the lives of over 500,000 Liberians.  Inhabitants of the Belle Forest still believe that the war is going on and because of their fear have never left it's barren bush.  This has left many hungry, uneducated, fatherless children...children like Andrew who come to the home in a terrible condition... starving, lost and alone.

But we know that beauty can come from ashes. Joy from the place of mourning. Praise instead of despair. Home instead of a wasteland. Family replacing loneliness. Isn't this how our God works? Andrew is just one more example of how our God delights in transforming a life through His great love for us and for the splendor of His own glory!

"...he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning,  festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory..." Isaiah 61:3

Learn more about how YOU can sponsor a child like Andrew today! Click here.  

2011 Highlights & Year-End Giving

Lifesong projects impact 3,000+ orphaned & vulnerable children each year.  

The Lord has continued to lead Lifesong this year in ways that we could not have imagined!  

Here is a glimpse:

·       Created 45 jobs for orphan’s caregivers through micro-lending & sustainable Strawberry Farm in Zambia

·       Installed 59 computer systems in Honduras, giving skills to break cycle of unemployment thank you RetailROI!

·       84 children now have their FIRST school in 14 years (due to civil war) in Marshall, Liberia

·       Completed 100^th repair of a widow’s home & hit $1,000,000 mark in adoption funding through Both Hands partner

·       Helped 638 children become adopted into US Christian families, removing financial barriers through Adoption Grants & Loans (disbursed over $3,500,000 in adoption funding)

·       Our joy to partner with 167 churches through Adoption Funds & Orphan Care initiatives in 32 states

·       Launched Adoption without Borders (indigenous adoption) in Ukraine and have helped 120+ Ukrainian orphans become adopted by Ukrainian Christian parents

·       Helped Sergey, Andrei and several other Ukrainian orphans launch a landscaping business w/ over 1,000 plants (job skills & sustainability)

·       Sveta and 835 other children have been mentored through Constant Christian Presence

·       Now helping 550 orphans & vulnerable children through education & feeding programs in Ethiopia

·       Renovated 15 foster agency waiting rooms to help foster kids feel loved through“Project Sunshine”

Thank you for prayers, giving & your heart for orphaned and vulnerable children around the world.

You can DONATE NOW! (tax-deductible), a year-end gift before 11:59pm on December 31st! 

100% of your donation goes directly to orphan needs – absolutely ZERO administrative costs are deducted (paid for by TMG Foundation). 

2011 Gifts of Purpose from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.