Hope Tizita Lehman

"God sets the lonely into families..." Psalms 68:5,6

We are excited to introduce the newest member of our Lifesong family, Hope Tizita Lehman. Hope was adopted by our vice president, Andy Lehman and his wife Jill. When they went to Ethiopia to bring their new daughter home, they had the privilege of meeting Hope's biological father, Abayneh. At this emotion-filled meeting, Andy and Jill handed Abayneh a double hinged frame that had a picture of their family on one side and a picture of Hope on the other.

When the interpreters told Abayneh that this is the family who will be adopting his child, he immediately brought the frame to his face and began kissing the pictures repeatedly as tears of gratitude filled his eyes.

Abayneh's wife (Hope's mother) died from malaria and typhoid just 4 days after giving birth. Abayneh named his daughter Tizita which means "memories" in honor of the woman who gave her life.

Before they left, Andy and Jill were able to share with Abayneh
their faith in God, their hope in Christ, and their desire to raise Hope to love and serve the Lord. When asked if there was anything they could do for him, Abayneh responded by saying, "What you have just shared with me about your faith and goals for Tizita is all I need to know."

Once again we are amazed at God's love and pursuit of a little girl born in a thatched roof hut in the bush of Ethiopia. Because of obedient hearts, Hope now lives with a loving family where she will one day have the opportunity to be adopted into God's eternal family through Jesus Christ.