See what Both Hands has been up to!

Can you believe we're 3/4 of the way through 2010? Take a look at what Both Hands has been up to!!!

16 projects completed & $184,641 raised!

Featured Story: Redwine project:

 To read more about Clint & CJ's adoption journey, click here.

 Wow, can you believe we have done 35 projects in 13 states since we started! If you have invested in Both Hands at some point in the last 3 years, I hope you are pleased with your return. If you haven’t, we’d love for you to get on board as we keep ministering to orphans and widows in need!  – JT Olson, Founder of Both Hands Foundation

View more Both Hands projects. View more Both Hands videos.

A Note of Encouragement

Back in July, 14 year-old Addisyn wrote on her mom's blog.  She challenged parents to teach there kids to think about others as they shopped for school supplies.  She challenged them to give to Lifesong Ehtiopia's preschool so children there could have books and uniforms:

My challenge for you is to talk to your child. Tell them. Teach them. They won't know unless you do- I didn't. Teach them something far more important than what they will learn the entire year at school. Challenge them to go without one of those items thrown into your cart and instead send that money to Lifesong for Orphans and for Adami Tulu preschool. Show them how to think of others. Help them develop a heart for giving. Show them how to think outside of their own wants. Teach them to make their lives count. Develop in them an awareness for others. Teach them how to care.

One family took her up on her challenged and their daughter, Kensley, was excited to reach out to other children across the world.  Check out what she sent to Ethiopia with her money:

Kensley, we love your heart!  Thank you, Kenny and Donna, for teaching your children to care for the fatherless!

and our winner is...

Well... we'll get to that in a minute.

First I want to share with you a story of a young couple who desired a family of their own.  A young couple who had plans.  A young couple who were given new plans designed by God.

Meet Matt and Christie

 

When Matt and Christie decided to have children they experienced a series of miscarriages and infertility.  And so the adoption process began, a decision made easier by the support of friends who had already adopted and an interest-free loan provided by Lifesong.

They originally decided to adopt a Caucasian newborn domestically, but when they discovered a greater need to adopt non-Caucasian babies, they felt God prompting them to move in that direction.  Meanwhile they also discovered they were pregnant!

Knowing that God had placed adoption on their hearts for a time and purpose they decided to continue with their adoption process and on August 13, 2010, they were given little Micah Aaron.

Now Matt and Christie are experiencing God's fullness (and business) with their new baby boy and a baby on the way in October!

Congratulations Matt and Christie!  We are blessed to be a part of your story!

And now, on to the winner of 1 Gobena t-shirt and 1 Journey On CD...

The winner is...

Joy Bass Ohler!

Congratulations, Joy!  

You can email leah@lifesongfororphans.org with your information and we will send you your prize!

Empowered to Connect conference

Coming soon to Nashville, TN...

Dr. Karyn Purvis and Michael and Amy Monroe (Lifesong partners through Tapestry) will be speaking encouragement and sound Biblical advice to adoptive and foster parents at their Empowered to Connect Conference on September 10-11.  Hosted by Show Hope this will no doubt be an event worth attending.

I have had the great privilege of hearing all three of these speakers only to be left (a little teary eyed) challenged and well equipped.  Want to know more?  

Take a look:

Empowered To Connect from Tapestry on Vimeo.

You can also go to empoweredtoconnect.org for more materials like study guides, articles, and videos!

Have you heard Dr. Purvis or the Monroes speak at a conference?  Maybe you've read The Connected Child or even gone through the Created to Connect Study Guide.  Leave a comment and share with us what you learned!  We'd love to hear from you!

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What can you do for Orphan Sunday?

Orphan Sunday is coming up on November 7th!  It's time to start planning what we can do to make this Orphans Sunday one to remember!

Here are some ideas!

- Have your pastor preach a sermon series on orphan care or adoption

- Plan a special Sunday School program or activity

- Get a prayer group together

- Serve Gobena coffee

- Host a Both Hands project

- Launch a Church Adoption Fund

Whether your event is big or small let's make this Orphan Sunday a time to reflect, worship, and inspire the church to care for the fatherless!

Check out more ideas at orphansunday.org