Little Ephrem

Ephrem from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

 “What first drew me to this little boy was his sweet round face.  Obviously, he has suffered a great deal from malnutrition.  When we visited the school he and the rest of the children were so focused on their meal.  It’s amazing to see how Lifesong was changing their lives.  After lunch, I found myself surrounded by children playing a name game.  He reached out and kissed my hand.  My heart melted... I think of him daily.” 

Jenny Anderson, Orphan Advocate

Sometimes it can be hard to imagine the hardships that go on around the world.  We sit in our comfortable homes, with pantries full of necessities, and it seems strange that most of the world doesn’t have a pantry, let alone food to fill it.  But for millions of children in Africa this is their reality.  Hunger is a part of their daily lives.  Then add the fact that many of these children are also orphaned, either by death or abandonment… it’s almost more than we can bear.  It’s hard to go there mentally and we protect our hearts by pretending it doesn’t exist.  But it does.  Children are suffering.

Little Ephrem is one of those children.  Born in Ethiopia, his father is now dead and his mother disappeared years ago.  He was taken into his grandmother’s care, but she has struggled to provide for him.  At 4 years old, Ephrem is extremely small for his age, and most likely suffers from a type of growth disorder, though the lack of specialized medical care keeps us from knowing for sure.  And since he has been malnourished most of his life, it is no wonder his health is affected.

Praise the Lord, Ephrem is now enrolled in Lifesong’s Adami Tulu Nursery School, where he is getting two meals a day and seems to be flourishing under the care of his teachers.  His sweet demeanor and precious smile easily capture your heart.

 

Family Christmas looks Different than it Used to

Last week we had our big family Christmas (where my sister, her husband and I had the great privilege of giving Grandma and Grandpa a gift of purpose towards the Lifesong School in Zambia.  They LOVED it!)  

As we do every year, we gathered in a large circle to sing Christmas carols and open gifts.  Let me emphasize, right now, that I don't use the word "large" lightly.  This year's circle was made up of:

2 grandparents,

their 6 children including spouses,

18 grandchildren including their spouses,

39 great-grandchildren (plus one on the way),

and 2 great aunts (sisters of my grandpa).  

So yes, when I say large, I mean LARGE.

And here's the cool part.  As I looked around at those 39 little kiddos I saw 3 Guatamalans, 1 Chinese with Cerebral Palsy, and 3 bi-racial foster kids.  

I thought about how all 7 of these beautiful children could have gone through their lives not knowing real love... being labeled the foster kid, the girl with special needs, the orphan.

Instead their labels include Suhny-love and Laylee-lou.  Instead they are a part of a family Christmas where they can sing and laugh (and sometimes even get a good scolding or two), knowing full well that they are loved... a LOT.

I am so thankful to my grandparents for passing down a legacy of love towards our Heavenly Father, towards our family, and towards others.  I am so thankful that their son, my dad, decided 8 years ago to transfer his title from "business man" to "orphan advocate."  I am so thankful that Lifesong for Orphans has become what it has to not only my family, but other families too.  I am so thankful that my great God, my Daddy set the ultimate example of adoption when He adopted me!

I am so thankful that my family Christmas looks different than it used to.

How about our adoptive families out there... How has your Christmas changed since adoption became a part of your story?