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Andy and Jill Lehman family

Entries in Lifesong for Orphans (198)

Wednesday
Oct122011

Build a School = Skiing in Aspen? 

Over three years ago, my husband and I began our journey to adopt our son from Ethiopia. And since that time, God has been filling our hearts with an overwhelming love and passion for the people of Ethiopia. We returned a year after our first adoption to bring our daughter home. After arriving home with her, we knew we had to do more!

We have been so blessed to team up with other adoptive families around the U.S. and with Lifesong for Orphans. Lifesong is doing some amazing work through a small nursery school that they support in Adami Tulu, Ethioipa. You can read more about Adami Tulu here. Last year, we, with five other families, raised over $40,000 to build a new building, restroom facility, and gate at the Adami Tulu school. In August, we got to return to Ethiopia to see the new building. We had an amazing trip, and have absolutely fallen in love with Adami Tulu. You can read more about our trip here and here.

The school is changing the lives of so many vulnerable children in the area by offering them a wonderful education and two nutritious meals a day. We've returned home with the knowledge that we have so much more to do in Adami Tulu. So we've agreed to continue our work with Lifesong by raising funds for another school building on the Adami Tulu campus. This will enable the school to expand to include 1st and 2nd grade. More details will be coming soon, but we're anxious to get a jump start on fundraising. We know that this project will cost at least $50,000. But, for these sweet faces, we'll do anything!"

-Mary Beth Picker, Adami Tulu Team (www.caseypicker.com)

 We are very excited to announce our first fundraiser for our next phase of the Adami Tulu project: another Aspen Giveaway!

 

Our Aunt and Uncle have, once again, generously donated toward our fundraising efforts. Only this time they've offered us not one but FIVE stays at the Hyatt Grand Aspen.

Any one of these November stays might make a great early-Thanksgiving get together for you and some friends or family! We will begin the giveaways today and draw winners on October 15. To enter, donate $20 by clicking the link for the stay that you're interested in. For every $20 you donate to Lifesong for Orphans, you will get one entry in the drawings. By the way, 100% of your donation will go to our work in Adami Tulu.

Here are some details and pictures about the Hyatt stays: Hyatt Grand Aspen has complimentary continental breakfast, a pool and hot tub, fitness center, fire pit, daily room cleaning and nightly turn down service complete with chocolates. There is even a little hut by the hot tubs where you can hang your robes to keep them warm for you! The hotel is within walking distance of lots of shops and restaurants in Aspen.

The retail value of each stay is approximately $2,500.

To get to Aspen, you could fly into the Aspen airport. The hotel will pick you up and, since everything is within walking distance, you can go without a car during your stay. Or you could fly into Denver and rent a car to drive to Aspen.

Or, of course, you could also just drive to Aspen.


Hyatt Stay Giveaway #1:

  • Sat.- Sat. November 5-12 (full week stay)
  • Studio Unit (Like a nice hotel room with small kitchenette.)

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #1, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:


Hyatt Stay Giveaway #2:

  • Sun.- Thurs. November 13-17 (five days/ four nights)
  • Two Bedroom Unit (Two Bedrooms and Bathrooms, Kitchen, Livingroom, Dining Room, Washer and Dryer, etc.)

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #2, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:


Hyatt Stay Giveaway #3:

  • Sun.- Thurs. November 13-17 (five days/ four nights)
  • Three Bedroom Unit (Three Bedrooms and Bathrooms, Kitchen, Livingroom, Dining Room, Washer and Dryer, etc.) Maybe a family could do an "early Thanksgiving get together" in this one.

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #3, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:


Hyatt Stay Giveaway #4:

  • Tues.-Sat. November 15-19 (five days/ four nights)
  • One Bedroom Unit (All the things a two bedroom has but only one bedroom and bathroom)

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #4, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:


Hyatt Stay Giveaway #5:

  • Tues.-Sat. November 15-19 (five days/ four nights)
  • Two Bedroom Unit (Two Bedrooms and Bathrooms, Kitchen, Livingroom, Dining Room, Washer and Dryer, etc.)

To enter the drawing for Giveaway #5, donate to Lifesong for Orphans here:


Just imagine, you could win a stay in Aspen, just for donating $20. What a deal! Plus, you get to be part of this amazing project to help these precious kids in Adami Tulu. If you are unable to use one of the stays, you could donate your entry to a friend, or minister, or someone who could really use the time away. Help us raise money to expand the Adami Tulu school and spread the word about our giveaway. Please repost on twitter and facebook! Thank you!

Tuesday
Oct112011

Orphan Sunday 2011

Orphan Sunday is JUST around the corner! As we talk with families and churches across the US we are thrilled to hear how God is orchestrating all kinds of events to raise awareness and advocate for the fatherless around the world!

How can YOU be a part of this growing movement and give voice to the voiceless? Kim Smith at Calvary Church shares how they were involved last year,

We did a prayer vigil the Friday night before Orphan Sunday followed with deserts & coffee where we had tables displayed with ways to take care of orphans & foster children . At the prayer vigil we had guest speakers for each segment: foster care, orphan care, and adoption, followed with a special prayer. We also had a special musician from our church who played adoption & orphan songs. 

One of our special speakers was from Malawi, Africa who shared about his work with orphans. It was a great night!

Need more ideas?

Host a prayer group. Teach a Sunday school lesson. Encourage your pastor to preach about orphans. Host a gathering or lecture at your college campus. Take part in a Both Hands project. Serve Gobena Coffee at your church. Launch an adoption fund or Adopt an Orphanage program at your church.  Orphan Sunday Partnership Packages are provided online for more ideas and help on how to utilize resources provided by orphan care ministries throughout the country.

We can't wait to hear how hearts are moved to action in your community!

 

Thursday
Oct062011

School Dedication - Lifesong Liberia

Please enjoy this update from Lifesong Liberia:

(Written by Keith Knapp, Liberia Liaison to Greg Buzek, Retail ROI)

"I just wanted to send a note to say how well the school is going at Marshall, Liberia.  Retail ROI's generous gift will change the lives of many children in Marshall. This is a community that did not have a school. Currently about 60 children are attending but many more would like to come. Kay and I were greatly blessed by the school dedication!

Since this is the rainy season, we were concerned if anyone would come to the dedication but the Lord granted us the most beautiful day that I have ever experienced in Liberia. There was a cool breeze and bright sunshine, which made the day really pleasant with about 60 children and 40 adults in attendance. As I spoke to the community leaders, I encouraged them to take pride in their community and help change Liberia.

This would not have happened if it were not for you!"

In His Name,

Keith Knapp

Tuesday
Oct042011

Giveaway Winners!

Thank you so much for participating in our fun giveaway over the last week! We are SO excited to bless our 2 winners:

1st PRIZE: We are giving away a 1-night hotel stay for the LIVE ORPHAN SUNDAY event in Kansas City!!! Let me just tell you, this event will be FABULOUS!!!

2nd PRIZE: We are giving away FREE Gobena Coffee for 1 year - 2 lbs per month shipped straight to your home.

 

Ready to see the winners.... or should we make you sweat it out a bit?!?!? :)

Here we go! Had 28 entries (including the ones that were emailed to us)...

The 1st prize winner is:

#25 is Betsy!! Congrats Betsy! We will be emailing you today to make arrangements for your FREE night in Kansas City... enjoy!

*If the 1st prize winner is unable to make it to the Live Orphan Sunday event, a new winner will be drawn.

The 2nd Prize winner is:

 

#2 Brian! Congratulations! We'll email you today to set up delivery for your FREE Gobena Coffee for 1 year! Woohoo!

Check back often for more fun giveaways! If you have an idea for a giveaway or conversation starter, let us know by sending an email with 'Idea' in the subject line to christi AT lifesongfororphans DOT org.

 

Tuesday
Sep202011

Upcoming Events

Hello bloggy world,

Here's a few upcoming events that may catch your eye. For more events, check out the Lifesong calendar frequently!  

Empowered To Connect, together with Show Hope, hosts the Empowered To Connect Conference — a two-day conference for adoptive and foster parents, ministry leaders and professionals designed to help them better understand how to connect with children from hard places in order to help them heal and become all that God desires for them to be. The next Empowered To Connect Conference will be on September 23-24, 2011, in Nashville, Tennessee at Brentwood Baptist Church.

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Connecting Community Crafters for Global Good! 

Crafts for a Cause is newly established initiative. The structure is simple! The booth fee, silent auction proceeds, and concessions are all donated to our sponsored cause!

 

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Join us October 21-22 in Phoenix for Together for Adoption Conference 2011. Over 1,200 people will gather together at Redemption Church (Gilbert Campus) to explore the theme Missional Living, the Gospel and Orphan Care. One of our primary objectives for this year’s conference is to create a forum to consider the good news of the Gospel, explore its implications for how we think about and implement orphan care strategies, and discuss how we can move toward greater collaboration as the people of God for the sake of orphans worldwide.

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The Tapestry Conference is completely free!  But even though it is free, we believe the breadth and quality of the conference is truly outstanding. 

 

We can't wait to see what the Lord has in store through these fabulous events!