Far from Completion - Lifesong Ukraine

Listen in as Denis Poshelok shares an update from from Lifesong Ukraine,

"We always enjoy sharing updates on great achievements of our team and nice projects we have done together.  But with updates like that, the picture of Ukraine orphan care will not be complete...it would look like we have achieved all we wanted and ready to retire! Well, a lot of work is still ahead of us.

 

Even though we have done a lot, it seems that the work is still far far away from completion. One kid at the time, each who is priceless and very special to his Father.

 

We would like to share with you photos of the living conditions at the orphanages we work with...they surely tell a story. May these pictures encourage you to do even more for His glory through this ministry.  Try to imagine yourself or your kids being in such living conditions without hope and look in the eyes of those kids. Kids that are trapped and it's not their fault.  We need to help them out...

 

 

Thank you for all you do in support of our work. Glad to be in one team with all of you!"

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.

 

Score!

Red Card Kids was designed to raise awareness about children at risk and inspire a reaction among families in the church

(Don't know what I'm talking about?  click HERE or check out their website HERE)

One 11-year-old boy took what he learned in this 8-week class to heart.  When Jacob found out that more children die from malaria than AIDS he wanted to come with a way to help.

As a soccer player, he asked people to donate money for every goal his team made that season.  The money Jacob was raised would then go towards buying mosquito nets for children on the other side of the world. 

Wow, Jacob, this is really awesome!  Keep it up!

If you want to know more, here’s a link to an article from the Denver Post highlighting Jacob’s story.

 

We have 5 days... Let's make them count!

2010 Liberia Video from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

This week we are inviting our faithful readers and supporters to step up and help us in a time of need for Lifesong Liberia.

Liberia is located on the west coast of Africa, between Cote d’Ivorie and Sierra Leone. After 14 years of civil war, the country’s infrastructure was destroyed. A peace agreement was signed in 2003, though significant issues still remain. Currently, there is an unemployment rate of 80%.

Lifesong has partnered with The Master’s Home of Champions orphanage and is providing a loving and safe home to many destitute and abandoned children, some of whom are deaf. Bishop Emmanuel Jones and his wife, Ramona, are passionate about rescuing and caring for such children. They seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and are focused on the goal of raising up champions for the good of Liberia and glory of God.  Three months after Lifesong got involved with The Master's Home of Champions Bishop Jones sent us this update:

You should see the children now!  They are beautiful!  When you were here, they didn't look good because they were malnourished, pale and some were sick.  Now they look completely different!

This summer, another orphanage was in dire need, and  thanks to an unexpected donation (story to come) Lifesong was there.  Praise the Lord we can help more children!  But now, we need help too!  We need your help to make sure these children are fed every day!  We need your help to care for the fatherless!  Will you join us?

70 sponsors in one week is a tall order.  We know this.  We also know that we serve a big God who has told us that caring for the poor and vulnerable is at the very heart of who He is!  We believe we can make this happen! We pray that God will call hearts this week and we trust that you will answer!

Our goal is 70 people.  $28 a month.  1 year commitment. Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to commit!

Join us in bringing joy and purpose to orphans!

Equip Yourself to Take a Stand-Pt. 4

As a follow up to this post introducting Red Card Kids, we're highlighting lessons 5 and 6 in the Red Card workbook!

Lesson 5: Child Laborers

-Missions of children are forced to become laborers at a young age. They are denied the education needed to improve their family's situation.

-Pray for God to protect these children from physical and emotional harm.

-Memorize Psalm 72:12 - "For he (God) will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help."

Lesson 6: Children of War

-Adults wage war, but children become its youngest victims. They experience horrors that their tender hearts and minds cannot process.

-Pray for God to restore children who have experienced the painful trauma of war.

-Memorize Psalm 91: 2b, 5 - "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust... You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day."

To learn more, check out the introduction, lessons 1 & 2, and lessons 3 & 4.