Medical Response
We’re partnering with other ministries to respond to profound needs in southern Haiti. Please pray for the relief effort.
Shattered Lives
Please join us in praying for those who lost homes and family members in the recent earthquake.
Though the Earth Give Way
Dear LSM Supporters,
As you may have heard, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the Les Cayes area of Haiti on Saturday morning. We have been in contact with our program directors and are thankful to report that, as far as we know, all of our staff and Home of Hope children are accounted for. However, some of our staff members lost family members in the tragedy. Also, LSM sustained structural damage at some of our properties. We continue to closely monitor the situation and will keep you updated on any significant developments.ย There will undoubtedly be more to report.
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Saturday’s disaster came on the heels of a political unrest following a presidential assassination. And now the country braces for the arrival of a new calamity: Tropical Storm Grace.
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Though our staff members maintain their strong faith in the Lord, many are feeling understandably discouraged. They will greatly appreciate your prayers and support in the days ahead. May we all take refuge in Godโs sovereignty and faithfulness during these uncertain times!
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“Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth give way, and though the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” Psalm 42:6
Faces of LSM
๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ !
Our LSM staff is a large, international ensemble of dedicated, hard-working professionals that in many ways reflects the diversity of the Kingdom itself. Below are a few short stories, testimonies and blurbs about the wonderful people who challenge and encourage us every day and who work passionately week after week in our shared mission of serving the last, least, lost and lonely. Many of these friends of ours reflect important qualities of God’s character, and we hope that their examples inspire you as much as they inspire us!
๐๐ป ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฒ: ๐๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐น, ๐ก๐ผ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐
Nehemie serves the important role of accountant or “controller” for LSM in Haiti. Responsible use of funding is key to everything LSM has accomplished, and optimization through accounting is a subject Nehemie has cared deeply about since grade school. But even as โcontroller,โ she recognizes itโs God who ultimately knows what’s best for each of us. When Nehemie needed a job, she took her prayer request to church. Her pastor, our own Wilfrid Remonvil opened the door for her to work at LSM. Next, Nehemie wanted to get married. Unable to resolve this herself, she simply attended to the task before her: helping LSM run effectively, serving as many vulnerable children as possible. Along the way, she fell in love with Evan Forges, a member of LSM’s business staff. The two married, and this summer, they celebrated the birth of a girl. As the name “LSM” reminds us, no matter the control we may or may not feel, the Lord is our shepherd. And because He loves us, we can trust that our true needs are never far from His attention or His Heart!
๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐: “๐ฆ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ ๐๐!”
When Jean Noel first agreed to direct our Welsh School in Haiti, the school was not under LSM management. They couldn’t even afford to pay him, but Jean Noel agreed to help because when he looked around his community, he saw a cycle of uneducated kids growing up to become adults without hope or opportunities โ like their parents before them. “The school had no money to pay me, but I knew if I didn’t act in faith, then nothing would ever change. Someone had to step up in faith for these kids, and I couldn’t say no!” Since that time, LSM has acquired the school, and Jean now receives a living wage for his work. During this Season of Giving, let’s pause and reflect on Jean’s favorite Scripture: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). How is God asking you to step out in faith?
๐๐ถ๐ผ: ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ, ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ช๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐บ ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ
Talking to Dio, LSM’s Vehicle Manager, one is struck by his smile, his compassion, and his deep care for others. You would never guess the hardships he’s endured. Four years ago, he lost his family’s farm and house to Hurricane Matthew. Dio also lost his father around that time and was the victim of a severe car accident. The oldest of six, he was left alone to care for his mother and siblings โ but his injuries confined him to bed. Undeterred, Dio read books and taught himself English during the recovery. Soon after, he learned about a job opportunity at LSM, and Dio’s mechanical skills, as well as his new ability to speak English, earned him the job. Huge thanks to Dio for helping us keep essential LSM vehicles on the road!
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๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ: ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐จ๐ฝ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ’๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ
In his first letter to Thessalonica, Paul reminds the church to “encourage each other and build each other up.” The person on LSM’s team who knows the most about physical building is Troy Leyse, our Construction Manager. Troy is the primary staff person responsible for managing construction of our new Homes of Hope and businesses in Haiti, as well as installation of other key features such as wells, security walls, bridges, and solar panel arrays. But as Troy would be the first to tell you, his biggest responsibility is overseeing the building up of people, not structures. In everything LSM does, our goal is to equip local workers and to empower local leaders who God is raising up to help usher in a new dawn for Haiti!
๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐
Micheline Taverne, LSM’s Impact Program Coordinator, says a big part of her role is encouraging our children and empowering them to reach their full potential. She helps the children track individual progress and reach academic and behavioral benchmarks so that they can unlock advanced educational support through LSM’s new Impact Program. “Working together, LSM staff and Home of Hope parents are creating an environment for these kids’ hearts and minds to be transformed,” Micheline says. “We want them to achieve their potential so they can share that success with others and bless Haiti, beginning with those around them.” Micheline’s favorite Scripture is Col. 3:23: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men!”
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฎ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐น๐ธ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ
Rebecca Webb, LSM’s Administrative Assistant, wears many hats. As she puts it, a big part of her job is “creating and maintaining a good first impression of LSM.” Anyone who’s ever visited or called our U.S. office has almost certainly interacted with Rebecca, who besides serving as a public face, manages our gift shop, supports our effort to record gifts and stay in touch with donors, assists with event planning, manages our supply inventory, schedules the staff calendar, and plans our recurring “Lunch and Learns,” which have become a highly anticipated tradition for the team each month. She says: “My heart’s been touched to learn about dire situations in Haiti and Ethiopia, as well as the promise of a brighter future.”
๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฎ: ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐น๐ผ๐, ๐ฆ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ฑ’๐ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐
Paulos Mamo, one of our dedicated program managers in Ethiopia, has served LSM for more than ten years, helping children and their single moms break cycles of desperation and poverty through our business, education, trauma healing, and discipleship programs. Early in Paulos’ ministry, he still remembers the first time he and LSM helped a young mother who was on the verge of resorting to prostitution to feed her kids. A decade later, Paulos has collected hundreds of similar stories. The work is difficult, but also inspiring. Paulos says he has “no greater joy” than helping our moms become business owners and seeing the kids achieve their full, God-given potential.
God’s Hand at Work
๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐: ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ด๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ฑ’๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ข๐๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐!
While many of the stories we tell come to us from Haiti and Ethiopia, the addition of the BrickHouse program to our LSM family has given us more to talk about on the domestic front. The BrickHouse program provides structured foster care services to hard-to-place young people living in Northeast Indiana and offers free counseling services to area foster and adoptive families. Our BrickHouse farm store helps fund our efforts by selling delicious, reasonably-priced meat and eggs, and all for an excellent cause. In addition to BrickHouse, we must also remember that God is working through LSM family sponsorship and service opportunities to touch the hearts of those here in the U.S. who are freely giving and volunteering. We often tell the stories of those who are recipients of generosity, but sometimes the stories of how God transforms and touches the heart of the giver are equally important. Here are several stories of generosity and ingenuity that have come out of the U.S. recently โ as well as a notes regarding a couple of crucial opportunities that are still available.
๐๐ถ๐๐๐น๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ต: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ
โAt the heart of LSM Family Sponsorship is the idea of a lot of people doing a little bit. For us, budgeting to give to LSM each month is something we can do fairly easily. It hardly changes our lives. And yet we see that for those hurting or in need, our giving truly can make a life-changing impact. We appreciate how LSM takes the long approach, not just in terms of sustainable change, but also eternity. Weโve been particularly impressed by how LSM uses business as a tool for ministry, and we always look forward to Ed’s updates. But fundamentally, we know that the focus remains on helping vulnerable children and families. We love the concept of families helping families for God’s glory. Glad to do our part!โย โBlaine and Alyssa Aschliman
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๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฝ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ
The best person to guide any of us on our path to obtaining a new quality of character or new set of skills is a mentor, someone who has walked the path ahead of us. Mentors are particularly crucial to the hard-to-place foster youth in our care at LSM BrickHouse, who often need a little extra help in finding their way to the path that is possible for them. Do you have a skill that you would like to teach our children, such as leadership or public speaking? Maybe something hands-on like servicing a vehicle or playing a musical instrument? Contact Adam Carroll, adam@loving-shepherd.org, to learn how you can step up and change the course of young lives!
๐๐ฆ๐ ’๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด, ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ ๐๐น๐๐ณ๐ณ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐
LSM BrickHouse offers structured foster care for hard-to-place foster care youth living in Northeast Indiana. At our girls’ home in downtown Bluffton, Kevin and Michele Mechling provide a loving home, plus valuable mentorship opportunities, skills training, and life experiences to help the girls reach their God-given potential. Do you know a couple in the Bluffton area who might be a good fit for our program? LSM is seeking foster parents to take residence at our 40-acre farm and provide a home for hard-to-place boys. After empowering vulnerable children in Haiti and Ethiopia for years, we’re excited to see God bring similar restoration and redemption to our own community here in the United States!
๐๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ง๐ผ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป โ ๐ฏ๐ฑ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ!
In 1985, our founder, Ed Schwartz, who was a church minister back then, traveled to Haiti for the first time to help build a school. That trip planted the seed for what would become LSM’s work in the country 20 years later. On his 1985 trip, Ed met a hard-working young man named Sylvain, a former orphan who was being helped by the two missionaries overseeing the repair project. Fast forward to 2019 when Sylvain, now an experienced supervisor, was hired to join our construction team. He recently played a significant part in our construction of the new steel building at LSM’s Industrial Site: “I never dreamed I’d work with Ed again. It is only by God’s grace!”
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐ฝ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐
In the summer of 2020, a group of local Boy Scouts donated their time at LSM’s BrickHouse farm in Bluffton, IN. Projects included stacking nearly 180 bales of straw, mulching around and cleaning the interior of the farm house, cleaning out pens and a feeder wagon, and washing vehicles. During the group’s lunch break, Adam Carroll led a short training on the importance of positive thinking. When their projects were completed, the boys celebrated their hard work with a water balloon fight. Our farm exists to help bring vital foster care and counseling resources to hard-to-place youth in the area. August Stettner, 13, says, “Volunteering at BrickHouse was a great chance to work with friends and to help others at the same time!” Thanks for lending us a hand, Troop 140!
๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ธ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ป!
In the summer of 2020, Kevin and Michele Mechling moved into LSM’s BrickHouse property in downtown Bluffton as foster parents. Together, the two of them provide the love of a Christian family for up to five hard-to-place teenage girls! LSM BrickHouse also provides additional support by helping to equip these young ladies with valuable life skills, including emotional and spiritual counseling, preparing them to thrive and positively impact our community for Christ! Thank you for your continued support as we pursue these exciting avenues for helping vulnerable teens in Adams and Wells Counties and engage with the needs here on our own doorstep!
๐ข๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ: ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐น๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ!
IN early 2020, LSM received an opportunity to invest in the next generation of advocates for vulnerable children and families at Taylor University’s Care Conference, hosted by TU’s Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) office. We had numerous exciting encounters throughout the scheduled lineup of speakers, panels, and breakout sessions, including Keegan, a junior at TU who was mentored years ago by an LSM staff member that shared with him our Business Development Plan for Haiti, inspiring him to attend TU and study OVC and Business Development. Seeds planted today may bring a harvest in generations to come!
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐จ๐ฝ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ
In early 2020, Construction Project Manager Troy Leyse used our office studio to record a video for Haitian Home of Hope parents in which he explained and demonstrated some exciting new cooking equipment. A rice cooker and warmer, two induction burners, and a set of compatible pots and pans were shipped down to nearly all of LSM’s Homes of Hope to replace more expensive and less reliable propane burners and equipment. The cost of propane was going up, and we anticipated that the rise would continue. Also, unrest in Haiti at the time was causing a supply shortage that further escalated the issue. Our solution uses electrical solar panels, meaning our Homes will be able to cook effectively and inexpensively without propane โ or even local power. Bon Appรฉtit!
RUNNING ON EMPTY: HAITI’S FUEL CRISIS
There is a severe fuel shortage in Haiti. For years, Venezuela has provided Haitians with subsidized gasoline and diesel. However in recent months, Venezuela has become less accommodating due to the rise of a humanitarian crisis in their own country. Haitiโs President, Jovenel Moise, and his government owe Venezuela $100 million, which they are unable to repay. The situation has created an extreme fuel shortage, further stoking political dissent and protests. Those most affected in times of crisis tend to be Haiti’s youngest and most vulnerable.
Rationing gas at the pump means Haitians are often prevented from filling their tanks. As a result of this shortfall, the Haitian black market has moved in quickly to run up prices and score a profit. Scarcity of fuel is preventing children from attending school, and transportation of people and commercial goods in Haiti is rapidly grinding to a halt, causing stores and businesses to shut down.
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT LSM?
Abdias Victor travels to our Homes of Hope to take pictures and assist with Child Development. He reports that Haitiโs fuel crisis and the resulting riots have affected our ability to reach the children with supplies and training, as well as the general safety of the neighborhoods where our families reside. Many of our kids are missing school due to the riots. On a recent trip to one of LSMโs Homes, Abdias even spotted a violent riot, including burning tires which can produce toxic fumes. Our staff reports that the difficulty of transporting workers and supplies has slowed construction at LSM Tech and also contributed to a shortage of sand at our Industrial Site. We pray that God will protect our staff and our Home of Hope families during these uncertain times!
WHAT IS LSMโS RESPONSE?ย
Moments like these provide a necessary reminder about the vulnerability of Haiti and the importance of LSMโs work to bring holistic transformation by investing in children and in business ventures that move the country forward!ย While gas stations lock their doors and protesters fill the streets, our children continue to study hard as best they can and grow in their daily walk with Jesus. They areย building the foundation for a future in Haiti that looks very different from what we see today.ย ย
Staff are also taking proactive measures. โRoof installation has stalled at LSM Tech because of store closures,โ says Jose, one of our Project Supervisors. โBut Iโm proud of our workers, who have come up with creative ways to busy themselves, shift to other projects, and keep the site on schedule.โย LSM continues to pursue exciting efforts in solar energy and other alternatives that reduce Haitiโs dependence on fossil fuels, foreign assistance, and even the stability of its own government. In the future, a fuel shortage in Haiti may have far less of an impact.ย
WHAT CAN I DO?ย
- Sign up for our email listย and ourย ourย bi-monthly prayer emailsย to receive regular updates on this and other important issues affecting communities LSM serves around the world.ย
- Pray for the safety of our Home of Hope families and staff. Pray also for those who are suffering and for Haitiโs leaders, that they would seek wise solutions to end this crisis.ย ย
- Ask God to embolden believers in Haiti who are reaching out to their neighbors with the love and mercy of Jesus!ย
LEARNING TO LISTEN
excerpt from page 159, Glimpses of Hope, a collection of devotionals
by Gabriel Walder
When my wife Lindsay and I decided to become foster parents, I was excited, nervous, skeptical, and afraid. She came to me with the idea out of nowhere one day. I knew very little about foster care and even less about what it was like to become a foster parent. I mainly had negative images in mind when it came to the โsystem.โ Kids in and out of care, parents who donโt care, or do care but cannot overcome their problems, under-resourced agencies, a faceless governmental structure that at the end of the day just wanted to do what was easiest, not what was best. So needless to say, when she approached me about whether we should become foster parents by initial gut reaction was โno.โ
At the time, I worked for Loving Shepherd Ministries and I care about vulnerable kids, but to invite them into my home to live with me, eat my food, mess up my living room and sleep schedule was a next level calling.
Nevertheless, I agreed to go to the training sessions just to see what it was like. After hearing about the intensity of the need in my own backyard and the lack of good homes, the weight of the problem began to lay on my shoulders. I knew I was being called to stand up. I knew we had a God who cared about the afflicted and fatherless and He was calling me to care alongside Him.
Psalm 10:14 โ โBut you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.โ
After a whirlwind of training sessions, physicals, home studies, and background checks we received a call for our first placement before we had even received our license in the mail. On the other end of the line they said there was a little boy named Isaiah who was four months old at the hospital that needed a home. We had 30 minutes to decide. Lindsay drove to pick him up. When she arrived, she was surprised to find a little boy named Martell who was only two months old. It brings tears to my eyes to say that this little boy is almost three years old now and has been my officially adopted son for the last six months. He is one of the biggest joys of my life and I donโt want to imagine my life without him in it.
The moral of the story is that if God (and your wife) are calling you to something, you would be wise to listen.
GET INVOLVED:
- Learn more about foster care and adoption here.
- Pray for the families considering adoption and foster care in your church and community.
- Order your copy of Glimpses of Hope here.
National Adoption Month: November
November is National Adoption Month. Through the next few weeks we will be sharing resources, stories and insights from our adoption team and other partner organizations. As we talk about the different facets of adoption, please join us in prayer for families who are considering adoption. Through well-researched information and the support of the local church, we pray that many more vulnerable children will be brought into a loving family through adoption!
Let’s take a look at the broad adoption picture:ย
Memories Already Being Made at VBS!
18 Home of Hope families have gathered at the Cancer Redemption Campus for Vacation Bible School! As the kids arrived onย Saturday morning, you could see the excitement in their eyes. This long anticipated week is full of renewing friendships with kids from other families, playing new games, singing, variety shows and even bible contests.