Friday, September 24, 2010

     


Alvin was born in a Liberian refugee camp in The Republic of Ghana, Africa.  His mother fled there during the civil war in Liberia.  Sadly, while she was in Ghana her family was killed in Liberia.  Alvin’s father died in the refugee camp before he was born.


In 2007, When Alvin was 4 years-old, he and his mother returned to Liberia.  There she began attending church and quit drinking.  Two years later, a few days before Christmas, she began vomiting and was admitted to a hospital with malaria.  Soon after, she died.


Alvin now lives at Lifesong Liberia's Master's Home of Champions.


You can help a child like Alvin. You can feed a child like Alvin.


Our goal is 70 people. $28 a month. One year commitment.


We have 44. 26 to go!


Will you join us in bringing joy and purpose to orphans?


Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment! 

Thursday, September 23, 2010

  


Quita is 5 years old.  During the disarmament time, rebels came to her village and took all the men, including her father.  She never saw her father again.  Later it was discovered that these men were taken to a bridge where they were shot and thrown into the river.


Her mother ran to the Salala district with the other villagers for refuge.   There she later got sick and became paralyzed.  Last year Quita’s mother died and Quita was taken to the Lifesong Liberia's Home of Champions.  When she grows up she wants to be a medical doctor and help children.


Isn't it amazing that at 5 years old she's thinking about how someday she can help other children?


How can we help children today?


We're asking for a monthly commitment of $28 for one year.


Twenty-eight dollars...


- eating out at that new restaurant


- the shirt you've had your eye on


- a date night to the movies


- those pillows that would just look sooo good on your sofa.


I won't lie, making this commitment will require some sacrifice.  But trust me.  The sacrifice is always worth the reward.


What can you sacrifice for a child like Quita?


Our goal is 70 people.  $28 a month.  One year commitment.


We have 36 commitments, 34 to go!


Join us in bringing joy and purpose to orphans!


Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to commit! 

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

This summer our church had their annual VBS program. We had the kids raise money to support a Vacation Bible Camp at Lifesong Liberia. Well, the response of these 5-11 year olds brought tears to my eyes. We heard stories about kids doing extra chores around the house and emptying their piggy banks. One child even asked if this year's Christmas money could go to helping these children across the world! wow!


That week we raised more than double what we needed! That same week our Liberia director, Emmanuel Jones, discovered another orphanage that needed our help. Another orphanage where the children were starving. Another orphanage that we could help with extra money raised by children in Illinois.


Amazing! God's timing is so good, isn't it?


We announced to the kids that their money would not only give Liberian children a Bible camp to attend, but would also provide food and shelter for over 25 more children! Oh the cheers that filled the Sunday School room that evening. They whooped and hollered. I cried. God is good!



2010 Liberia VBS from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.





Over 360 children attended!


67 children dedicated their lives to Christ!


75 adults came, and 11 of them received Christ!


Bishop Emmanuel Jones writes:



It was heart touching and very moving to watch for three days. I saw the children change in a dramatic way in their relationship with God and with each other.


The camp was profound and the children left very encouraged and blessed. We have started a church in the community in order to continue discipleship and follow up with these new believers."



But this was only the beginning. Now, with more children we have more cost. Funds are tight and we need help.


Here's the exciting part. If we surpass our goal of 70 sponsors we can take in more children! Children who would otherwise be turned away!


Our goal is 70 people. $28 a month. One year commitment.


We currently have 25 commitments... 45 to go in just 3 days!


Can we do it? With your help we can!


Join us in bringing joy and purpose to orphans.


Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to commit!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Kemah never knew her mother. One day while she and her brother were sleeping, their home caught fire. In a desperate attempt to save his children, Kemah’s father ran into the house for them. After he rescued her brother, her father searched for Kemah as well. That day, the roof of their little house caved in, leaving Kemah’s foot badly burned and killing her father.


Now orphaned, 6 year-old Kemah and her brother found refuge at Master’s Home of Champions-Lifesong Liberia. Here she is gaining an education, is given daily, nutritious meals, and is learning the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Kemah can tell you that she loves Jesus and knows He loves her because He died for her sins. Someday she hopes to be a missionary so she can tell others about the love of Christ!


Wow... What an amazing response to the Gospel from a young child who's already experienced more pain than many of us will experience in a lifetime. But Kemah is not alone. There are other children... so many children... who need our help!


We're asking for a monthly commitment of $28 for one year to help cover the costs of caring for 70 orphans in Liberia. This donation will cover food and water, and other necessities, such as coal and kerosene, toothpaste, bathing and laundry soup, and hair oil.


A typical grocery list at Lifesong Liberia for 1 month includes:


- 8 bags of rice


- 5 gallons agro oil


- 2 bags of cornmeal


- 1 bag of sugar


- 20 gallons of red cooking oil


- 1 carton of cooking salt


Sometimes powdered milk and flour will also be purchased, but not every month.


Every 1-2 days cassava, various vegetables, fish and occasionally chicken are purchased for soup.


Typically the children at Lifesong Liberia will have cornmeal porridge for breakfast and rice with soup for lunch and dinner.


Will you help us feed and care for these children? Children like Kemah?


Our goal is 70 people. $28 a month. One year commitment.


We have 17 commitments. That means 53 to go in just 4 days!


Join us in bringing joy and purpose for orphans!


Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment today!



Monday, September 20, 2010

Hey all! Check out this link:
http://lifesong.squarespace.com/home/2010/9/20/we-have-5-days-lets-make-them-count.html

James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Good morning my bloggy friends! After seeing that its been two months since I've blogged, I'm feeling quite guilty. Yes, I am still alive and yes, God continues to shape and mold me through this little thing called life.
About eight weeks ago, I began having major pain in my neck, left shoulder, and left arm. When I say major, I mean not going to work, laying in bed all day kind of major. After trying chiropractor care and lots of different kinds of drugs without relief, I saw a neuro surgeon on a Friday and had neck surgery the following Monday (August 23). So, its been almost 4 weeks since my surgery and I am happy to say that I felt immediate relief and continue to recover well.
During the time of my recovery, I've had lots of time to spend with God. Our time together has been so precious and I've learned so much. In the whirlwind of a life I typically live, I find myself always looking for a quick fix to any problem I may encounter. I mean, who has time to deal with problems??? God placed me in the first three chapters of Proverbs for about two weeks to show me the importance of seeking wisdom. In James 1:5, God offers wisdom to those who ask for it. Proverbs shares the blessings of seeking wisdom and the consequences of not. God helped me realize that I must seek wisdom in everything. I must seek wisdom first, not after I've tried my own thing and screwed it all up. God is willing to give it to me - all I have to do is seek it and then actually obey once He gives it to me. Simple enough, right?
Well, my problem is taking the time to seek it. Will you pray with me that we will take the time to listen for God's wisdom?

Our small group has been reading the book Radical by David Platt and I have to say it has opened my eyes to many things. I highly recommend it. One thing it has led our group to do more of is - see a need, meet the need. We began by serving in our community by helping some people with home repair and gave school supplies to some needy families. Then, we became aware of a need outside our community.

Join our small group (a group of young adults in Central IL) as we seek to find 475 people who will give $20 each in order to build a well for the kids at Plan Escalon campus in La Entrada, Honduras! WILL YOU CONSIDER GIVING $20?What is $20 to us today, in 2010 in the US... well, I could think of a lot of things and if we each make one sacrifice, we can make this happen!

If you would like to join us go to www.lifesongfororphans.org and click on donate and make sure you put Honduras Well in the description box. You can also find out more about Lifesong for Orphans, the children they provide for, and other opportunities for you to serve along side them at the website. And if you are on Facebook, check out our group at Godabuildawell.

Also, check out this amazing post at our friends, Dan and Christi Ucherek's blog
http://godetchedyourname.blogspot.com/2010/09/while-we-wait.html

God is on the move!
God is working in so many lives!
God loves you no matter what is happening around you!
God is good all the time and all the time God is good! (even when you don't understand!)

Are you saying yes to His calling? Or is fear keeping you safe in your comfort zone? I can say from experience that He can be trusted. He is faithful but how will you know until you say yes? Say yes before you even know what He is going to ask and get ready for an amazing adventure!

Are you afraid? Do it anyway!!

OK, I've said my piece for now. Have a great day!

Living fearlessly in Christ
Christie