Please pray for Saphira...

Listen in as Luke Gudeman, Lifesong Zambia missionary, shares the story of Saphira,

Two months ago, Saphira, a 31 yr old widow and one of our farm employees, asked for a salary advance.  I usually don’t like this (people asking for salary advances) but this time was different.  Instead of needing money because she misspent her previous salary, she wanted transport money to bring 3 of her relatives’ children to come live with her.  ‘WOW, that’s great,’ I said to her, amazed at how she desired to help others. God had blessed her with an income and now she was using it to bless these disadvantaged children.  An income of $80/month and she is going to change the lives of 3 children.

Two weeks ago Saphira’s 6 month old baby died from asthma/malaria.  It was and is so hard for her and for the farm and school staff.  Just when things were starting to look sunny…this is tough.  Please pray for Saphira as she recovers.  Pray that this can bring the farm staff closer together and that God can use this for his glory.  Also, pray for Saphira’s heart that she can continue to bless others with what she has.

-Luke Gudeman, Lifesong Zambia, Farm Manager

Please join the Lifesong staff in lifting up Saphira in prayer...

"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16

Both Hands: Beautiful Things...

Excited to share with you another Both Hands Project! Check it out....

Want to know more? Visit the Both Hands Foundation website to see how YOU can live out James 1:27!

Both Hands Celebration

We are rejoicing with Both Hands Foundation as they had their yearly Celebration last month to reflect on last year's success and to look forward to 2012.  Over 130 people attended which included 7 Both Hands adoptive families and 3 widows that have been served through this ministry. We join them in praise for the $20,000 they raised at this special event. 

My favorite moment was looking into the crowd to see so many friends who have sacrificed time, treasure, and talent to make Both Hands a reality and to have them say it’s been worth it! To be able to thank them, recognize them, and challenge them to do more, was a thrill for me. - JT Olson, founder of Both Hands Foundation

Both Hands in the News!

 Both Hands Reaches Great Milestones!

149 orphans served!

137 widows served! 

Over 3000 volunteers!
 

106 families served!

 ....in only 3 years!!

Message from the Founder:

What would it feel like if your favorite professional football team, basketball team, and baseball team, as well as your college team….all won their respective championships…on the same day!!  Take a minute, close your eyes, and imagine that.
 
That’s how I feel with Both Hands hitting all these milestones in one month. If you’re reading this, you were one of the many who helped make it happen and I’m so grateful for your obedience.  Too many to name…over 3,000!...just stand with me in awe of the King!

-JT Olson

Both Hands 100th Project
in Smyrna, TN! 

Jason and Kelly Stewart's project was featured in two local newspapers. Their story and video is powerful! Grab a box of tissues and click here to see their video.  

Featured Project: The Zuzunaga Family   

“It really was a great experience as we were able to share God's love for this really needy woman.  I am so amazed at all that God has done during our adoption process, including the Both Hands project....  

              ...Because we chose to answer God's call to adopt, He has also given us the opportunity to minister to other people, including Louise, who we might otherwise, not have met.  We serve a really BIG God and I'm so glad He can see the BIG picture because mine is definitely too narrow."

-Luis & Gentry Zuzunaga

Santa Barbara, California

Both Hands Hires First Full-Time Employee!

Aimee Hawtrey joined the Both Hands team as the Operations Manager at the beginning of August.  

"I am so excited to be part of the Both Hands team working together with Lifesong! What an amazing opportunity to practice pure religion- assisting the orphans and widows- on a daily basis. God is so good to have opened the doors for me to join this mission."

-Aimee Hawtrey 

Click HERE to GIVE to Both Hands Foundation!

Prayer Leads to Action

Wow!  Thank you for all of your responses this week!  So many great ideas.  Keep 'em coming!  You still have until 11:59 Sunday night to have a chance to win a new t-shirt!  ... oh the excitement of it all.

Recently we received an update from Ginny Stoller, one of our missionaries in Ethiopia.  I want to include a little excerpt from what she wrote.  I'll warn you... it's heart breaking... and oh so common...

Last week I had a young mother sit in the school office and beg us to take her seven year old son—not to merely register him, but to literally take him... for adoption—something we are in no way equipped to do.  Her eyes were pleading and hopeless.  A widow, she had lost her husband about three years ago, and has three children.   Her landlord gave her a week to get out of her home. Because she must care for her children, she cannot hold a job and earn money to support the family.  One child is already up for adoption in a town to the south, and the youngest is a three year old strapped to her back—too scared to even look at me. The 7 year old is recovering from TB, and has been on medication for four months.  He was registered in another school but has to take his medication with food, something our school provides for our students.  We were able to register him in kindergarten and ensure he can be fed, but this doesn’t solve his mother's desperate situation, and she’s terrified of having to live on the streets.

I also recently found out one of our 3^rd grade students lost her mother after a long illness (probably HIV).  Her father died a while ago.  Her uncle and his wife brought her in to discuss their living situation.  They were trying to keep her mother’s house to live in, but were unsure if they would be allowed to stay there. She sat quietly behind them, her head down.  Surely the loss of a mother and the threatened loss of a home is more than any child should have to bear.

I know that God has a plan for each of us.  I believe He loves and cares for the destitute.  I have faith that His heart breaks when He sees another family... another child thrust out on the streets.  

I also know that He desires to use His body to help protect the weak.  He wants to raise up His church to do powerful things... will we let Him?  

I won't pretend to have the answers.  When I look at situations like this I feel overwhelmed and small.  But i know God is faithful!  I KNOW it!  And HE has the answers.  He is not overwhelmed or surprised by any of this.  He is not small or weak.  He is BIG and mighty!

Will you join my in prayer this week? Pray that God's body will rise to the occasion of caring for the vulnerable.  Pray that He will give clear insight and direction.  Pray that we will take hold of His grace that is so sufficient and respond when we feel the Spirit move.

Pray... and then act!