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. There will undoubtedly be more to report.
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.
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 God’s sovereignty and faithfulness during these uncertain times!
“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
𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗙𝗲𝘄 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗦𝗠!
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!
𝗔𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗡𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲: 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹, 𝗡𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁
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 “controller,” she recognizes it’s 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!
𝗟𝗦𝗠 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀: “𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗼 𝗜𝘁!”
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 – 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?
𝗗𝗶𝗼: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲, 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲
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 – 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!
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝘆𝘀𝗲: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶
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!
𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
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!”
𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗰𝗮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗿
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.”
𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮: 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘀, 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
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.
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱:
- Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
- Sign up for our enewsletter by clicking here.
- Learn more about LSM Family Sponsorship.
- Give directly to support our work.
God’s Hand at Work
𝗨𝗦𝗔 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀: 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆!
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 – as well as a notes regarding a couple of crucial opportunities that are still available.
𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝗰𝗵: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗦𝗠 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽
“At 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. We’ve 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!” –Blaine and Alyssa Aschliman
𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
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!
𝗟𝗦𝗠’𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗳𝗳𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
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!
𝗘𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘆𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 – 𝟯𝟱 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿!
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!”
𝗕𝗼𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟰𝟬 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗦𝗠 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀
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!
𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝗻!
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!
𝗢𝗩𝗖 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲!
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!
𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶
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 – or even local power. Bon Appétit!
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱:
- Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
- Sign up for our enewsletter by clicking here.
- Learn more about LSM Family Sponsorship.
- Give directly to support our work.
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. Haiti’s 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 Haiti’s 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 LSM’s 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 LSM’S RESPONSE?
Moments like these provide a necessary reminder about the vulnerability of Haiti and the importance of LSM’s work to bring holistic transformation by investing in children and in business ventures that move the country forward! 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 are building the foundation for a future in Haiti that looks very different from what we see today.
Staff are also taking proactive measures. “Roof installation has stalled at LSM Tech because of store closures,” says Jose, one of our Project Supervisors. “But I’m proud of our workers, who have come up with creative ways to busy themselves, shift to other projects, and keep the site on schedule.” LSM continues to pursue exciting efforts in solar energy and other alternatives that reduce Haiti’s 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.
WHAT CAN I DO?
- Sign up for our email list and our our bi-monthly prayer emails to receive regular updates on this and other important issues affecting communities LSM serves around the world.
- Pray for the safety of our Home of Hope families and staff. Pray also for those who are suffering and for Haiti’s leaders, that they would seek wise solutions to end this crisis.
- Ask God to embolden believers in Haiti who are reaching out to their neighbors with the love and mercy of Jesus!
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 “system.” Kids in and out of care, parents who don’t 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 “no.”
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 – “But 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.”
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 don’t 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!