Love Made a Hard Decision - One Changed Life

The rusty old door in the fence was opened by the little girl with huge brown eyes.  Maybe it was her warm coat that she wore on this hot day that hid any fears that she might have had.  Did she know that her life was about to change forever?

Elshaday is a small six year old girl in the Upper Kindergarten class at the Lifesong School in Ziway, Ethiopia.  She has lived with her elderly grandparents ever since she became an orphan at two years old.  Her favorite subject is English and she spends much of her free time jump roping.

Her elderly Grandpa’s love for her was evident, but his poor health kept him in a bed or chair.  The meager wage her Grandma makes washing clothes by hand and spinning cotton has the family still depending on charity to survive.  

The Grandpa begged us to find a home for his granddaughter.  He was old, unemployed and felt helpless to care for dear Elshaday.  Academically, Elshaday was  at the bottom of her class and the Grandpa told us he couldn't teach her things he didn't know himself.  He desired his granddaughter to get a good start in life, but he knew he could never provide food, education or health. 

Love made a hard decision.

Elshaday has now moved into a forever family with a new Mom and Dad to love, protect and provide for her.  She is now living at Samuel’s Home, a vision project by Misgana Ministries, with nine new siblings.  Samuel's Home is designed for vulnerable children, like Elshaday, who no longer have family that can care for them.  She now has a permanent, Christ-following family and hope springing into her future.

Elshaday...One Changed Life!

"God places the lonely in families..." Psalm 68:6

(Thanks to Ann Meyer, Ethiopia Vision Team Member, for relaying this story)

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 

Serving the ONLY true God - Lifesong India

**New Opportunity**  We invite you to share a words of encouragement, prayers, or message to our staff at Lifesong India. To send a message, please comment on the blog and it will be forwarded to our staff. Thank you in advance for your kind words of support!

Listen in with Bob Stoll, Lifesong India, as he shares about the baptisms he witnessed while in India,

"One of the greatest joys as believers in Christ is to see others converted and saved. In our local churches and on the mission field, the resulting baptisms are a time of rejoicing and thanksgiving to God. This is especially true in India where idol worship is so prevalent. 

During our visit to Lifesong India earlier this year we witnessed the water baptism of many new converts to Christ.  

Baptism in India has great significance. It is a public statement to a multi-god community that the person has received Jesus Christ as the ONLY true God. This testimony does not come without a price as the converts are now part of a minority community and sometimes suffer persecution in their villages and also in their families. Nevertheless, even with many obstacles, your prayers and financial support of this ministry are continuing to bear much fruit. This is because our village pastors and the children's home staff are faithful in their responsibilities as teachers of the word of God.

Only your faithful support makes this fruitful ministry possible. Thank you for helping. Please pray for our newly baptized brothers and sisters."

"Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you." Psalm 51:13  

Family Friday: Cory & Jamie

Here we are for Family Friday again!

Three months ago, Cory and Jamie brought home Zion and Isaiah into their forever family from the Democratic Republic of Congo.  We Care for Orphans Adoption Fund (in partnership with Lifesong) were able to come alongside this family and offer an interest-free loan as well as fundraising support to help overcome some of their fananical costs.    

Listen in as Cory and Jamie share what God taught them through this journey and the unepected ways He provided for them!

God used this adoption journey to open our eyes to His heart for the least of these – orphans – in this world.  He placed in us a love and purpose – to care for, adopt, and give Life to orphans.  We see Him building this Life within us daily, to then give His Life to our children – both our biological children and our precious sons through adoption.

God worked each detail out exactly. Right before our boys came home, we needed to buy car seats and much more.  Our total cost was $500.  We were going to take it out of our family’s grocery budget, which was not going to work so well, especially in December when we tend to spend more on food.  

My husband and I hung up from a discussion about it, followed by a prayer.  Seconds later, we received an unsolicited email from a friend who said God had put it on their hearts to set aside $500 for us at this point in the adoption (most other adoption bills had been paid at this point).  It showed us how God provides EVERYTHING, down to the last detail of car seats and high chairs, cribs and clothes and diapers.  He is completely faithful and a good Father.

-Cory & Jamie

Vote for Lifesong and help orphans!

"RK Dixon, is a market leader when it comes to copiers, printers, networks, and pure drinking water systems."

As an office, Lifesong for Orphans have used the products of RK Dixon to enhance our technology and internal network.

RK Dixon is featuring a "Make My Non-Profit Run Better" contest and offering an office technology make-over! We couldn't help but apply. Who doesn't love winning contests, right?

Would you help us by going to their website and voting for us? With your vote, we have a chance to win technology that will help us meet needs that would allow us to run more efficiently as we work towards bringing joy and purpose to orphans!

How to vote:

-Click here!

-Select the circle to the left of "Lifesong for Orphans".

-Push vote on the right side of the screen. (yep, it's that easy!)

-You can do this daily from now until July 25th to help Lifesong for Orphans as we serve God while loving orphans!

Thanks for your help!