I’m excited to have guest blogger, adoptive-mama & Ethiopia Advocate, Mary Beth Picker, share in a special Mother’s Day post. Her family is actively involved in the Lifesong Ethiopia Child Sponsorship Program and plan to travel to Lifesong Ethiopia this summer for several months.  Enjoy… The first time I traveled to Ethiopia, I wasn’t traveling as a tourist or a missionary or a philanthropist, I was traveling as a mother.   So when the heights of Addis Ababa broke through the clouds and I peered through the airplane window to get my first view of Africa, I wasn’t thinking of a land or a people.  I was thinking about my son.  He was there . . . somewhere.  A little six-month-old baby who was legally my child and who needed me desperately.  I was there to become “Momma” to him.   But when I left Ethiopia after my first trip in 2009, … Continue reading →

We’re excited to have guest blogger & Ethiopia Advocate, Terry Waggoner, share why he and his family participate in the Lifesong Ethiopia Child Sponsorship Program. Enjoy… Sponsorship: What does it mean to the Waggoner Family? It’s priceless!  Our sponsorship journey started with our youngest daughter picking out the first two kids that we decided to sponsor through my business. My 3 1/2 year-old daughter was Ethiopian born and is the youngest of 6 children. We opened up the link to the Lifesong Ziway/Adami Tulu Project and started looking at the children. My daughter, Anna Tihun Waggoner, pointed to a young girl and said, “Her!”. We looked at her name and to our surprise her name was Tihun. My wife and I looked at each other with tears in our eyes and said lets pick one more child. The next child she picked was a boy. We looked at his name … Continue reading →

I’m excited to share with you a special guest blog post from one of our adoptive families. We were able to bless Brad & Sharon in their second adoption of their son Asrate (Ethiopia) with a matching grant. Please listen in as Sharon shares her heart of on an ordinary day four months after bringing Asrate into their forever family.  Last Wednesday Brad and I spent the day alone with our two youngest.  We had a lot of time to sit and just be with them as we were in a waiting room for a few hours. I sat watching the two of them playing kitchen together.  Imagining.  Having their own little conversations.  One of them gave orders because she was, ahem, clearly in charge. It struck me so clearly that just four months ago they didn’t know each other at all.  I am quite sure that no one in the … Continue reading →

Erik and Erin’s journey to their son Austin is extremely unique…one that doesn’t involve flying around the world or waiting to one day meet their future son. This story is different, but just as beautiful as they stepped in to help a family member in need by providing Austin with a stable and secure family. To hear their whole adoption testimony, read there blog post, “How Could We Not?”. We were thankful to come along side this family and share in their journey. Listen in as they share their heart & experience in adoption funding with Lifesong: Having a non-profit agency that would collect our funds and distribute them to as needed was so helpful in our adoption. It kept us “above reproach” knowing that those who donated could rest assured that their money was going towards Austin’s adoption and Austin’s adoption only. It is amazing to me that every … Continue reading →

 We invite you to share a word of encouragement to our staff at Lifesong Honduras. To do so, please comment on the blog or on our Facebook wall and it will be forwarded to our staff. Thank you in advance for your kind words of support! Please enjoy this update from Lifesong Honduras/Tree of Life Ministries… For a couple of years Lifesong Honduras/Tree of Life has been qualified for the governmental licensing requirements for an elementary school and an orphanage for younger children.  Last year was the first year that we had the ‘elementary school’, which consisted of a ‘one room school’ concept with six students. This year we have more than doubled in size with 15 students, ranging from 3rd to 6th grade.  This is a slow process, as each year the goal is to add a few more children, as space and staffing allows.  Lifesong Honduras/Tree of Life is also celebrating the near … Continue reading →

                      UPDATE: And the winners are: Jeanne and Erin! Thanks to each of you who commented. We love hearing about your heart for orphans. Hopefully each of you will have a chance to read Orphan Justice! We’re exited to share with you a book released last month by our good friend Johnny Carr, from Bethany Christian Services. As an adoptive dad and orphan advocate, Johnny acknowledges that we as Christians are called by God to care for orphans.  Realizing that not all 153 million orphans and vulnerable children in the world need to be adopted, just like not every couple needs to become adoptive parents, Johnny takes it a step further. In his book, Orphan Justice, he discusses ways that we, as the Church, can care for orphans beyond adoption addressing issues like child trafficking, HIV/AIDS, racism, abortion and others. No one can … Continue reading →

Lifesong Guatemala Supporters and Advocates, Thank you so much for supporting the Buy a Brick Campaign and for praying for the children the Lord will send to Lifesong Guatemala:Village of Hope. We thank God for each of you and the way you have sacrificially given to give HOPE to children living with HIV/AIDS in Guatemala. May He bless you for the sacrifice you’ve made.  With joy,Lifesong Guatemala: Village of Hope Staff Learn more about Lifesong Guatemala: VIllage of Hope ‘Buy a Brick Campaign’ and how you can help build a future for children in need.