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.
๐๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ: “๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒโ๐ ๐ก๐ผ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ!” Hlina Wondwossen developed a heart for the overwhelming needs she saw growing up as a child in Ethiopia. Today, she has realized that calling by working with LSM, helping vulnerable young women who have been forced to make desperate decisions to provide for their families. Hilina and Paulos Mamo help our single moms find dignified jobs. LSM also provides counseling, educational opportunities, and local church support for our moms and their kids, empowering the next generation to break recurring cycles of poverty and desperation. “For me,” Hlina says “There’s no greater success than seeing someone find true hope!”
๐๐ผ๐ต๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐: ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ-๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ-๐ช๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ, ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ข๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐, ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฎ’๐ ๐ฉ๐๐น๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป Before becoming an incredible husband-and-wife ministry team for LSM in Ethiopia, Johney and Mekdes grew up as kids in a massive orphanage. They received food and education, but they were not prepared for the outside world, given the nurturing of a family, or introduced to Jesus. Both came to faith outside the orphanage. The pair reconnected and eventually married. Due to their history, Johnny and Mekdes have huge hearts for the single mothers and their children for whom LSM is providing educational help, counseling, small business training, and physical support. “A parent,” Mekdes says, “is like the loving shepherd who sacrifices their own life for their sheep.” We are so thankful for these two and their transformative work for families in Ethiopia!
I am a 33-year old single mother living in Ethiopia, and my family is a living testament to the faithfulness of our awesome God, who has walked with us through our darkest days. Our little family has seen many stormy times, and I can’t say that I’ve always understood the Lord’s plan. All I know for certain is that He’s never abandoned us, and His grace has always been enough.
From the beginning, my life never seemed to go as planned. I was born and raised in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Following cultural customs, I married at the young age of 17 and moved over 300 miles away from my family to a new town, where I gave birth to my first child. When my son was 6 years old, my husband passed away without warning. The pain of losing him was very difficult, but I pressed on.
Alone with my son, I moved back to Addis Ababa to restart my life. For two years, I worked hard and cared for my son. Every day was difficult, and I feared for our future. During this time, I met a nice man and remarried. A year later, I gave birth to my second child, a daughter. My husband worked hard, yet our growing family’s financial struggles began to strain our marriage.
I was desperate to help solve my familyโs financial problems, so I made the difficult decision to leave my two children and travel to the city of Dubai. I worked hard as a housemaid in order to give my kids an education and future opportunities. After five years, I returned to my family with money saved and a renewed hope for our future. Our lives were good for a short time. A year after I returned from Dubai, I gave birth to our third child. My husband and I planned to use our savings to start a business so our growing family could become more financially stable.
๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ง๐๐ฟ๐ป
But one day changed everything. Our house was robbed, and the money I had worked so hard for during my five years in Dubai was stolen. My hopes and plans for a better future evaporated instantly, and the painful sacrifice of being separated from my seemed to have been all for nothing. Adding to the devastation, my husband blamed me for the robbery. Our conflict spiraled, and soon my husband divorced me. I was once again left alone as a single mother, now with three children. Without money, I was unable to pay my family’s rent, and we were soon evicted. While we were homeless, I used the small amount of money I had to send my children to school. We slept on the street at night, hungry, scared and never knowing what the next day would bring.
But I soon learned that God had plans for my family! After living on a crowded street in the slums with my family for a number of weeks, I met LSM staff members Paulos and Hilina. They had been praying that God would direct them to vulnerable families like mine, and they could see my familyโs despair, as well as signs of the trauma we had endured. They showed us Godโs grace by taking us off the streets that same day and inviting us to stay at the Family Renewal office. I was humbled to receive help from strangers, but I was also grateful that my children could feel safe at last. Over the next 8 days, LSM’s Family Renewal staff helped me find a new home. I knew God was giving my family a second chance.
LSM’s Family Renewal program has provided us with counseling, encouragement, and support in our time of desperate need. Besides my family, LSM’s Ethiopia staff is also reaching 40 other single mothers just like me who were on the brink of giving up hope. We thank God every day for LSM, and for this program, which is helping us restore both our dignity and our faith!
My three children are continuing their education. They attend LSMโs after-school tutoring program three days a week with a meal before lessons. Each Saturday, my children are given trauma recovery training, taught life skills, and provided with individual counseling sessions. Along with these tools, my children enjoy daily meals, Bible studies, and activities that empower them to build safe, healthy relationships with other children. When my children first came to LSM, they were often sick and had low self worth and poor hygiene. Now they are happy, healthy, confident young leaders who are performing well in school and who are hopeful about their future for the first time!
The Family Renewal program also provides my family with food support and medical care. I attend life skills and pre-business training, which is equipping me to start my own business! I never wanted to depend on charity, but LSM’s program does not feel like charity. Instead, Family Renewal is helping me build long-term independence. I feel like am regaining confidence every day. Above all, LSM is teaching my family that God is in control and that He knows everything our family has been through.ย Despite hardships, we are learning God has a purpose in our lives and that He loves us dearly. After years of desperation, my familyโs emotional and physical wellness is being restored. Hope is replacing despair. Dignity is replacing shame. God is showing us our worth in Him and planting seeds of hope in our hearts!
Sarah’s father died when she was young. Her mother, who suffers from a mental health condition, gave Sarah to another family as a restavek (child slave) and moved to Port-au-Prince. Sarah worked long hours carrying water, and her family beat her when she was tired. Thanks to the help of supporters like you, Sarah was rescued and welcomed into one of our Homes of Hope. Today, her future looks a lot brighter. She studies and works hard, and she is dearly loved by her parents and eleven sisters. We are all thankful to see Sarah’s heart healing and shining for Jesus!
Wilson grew up the youngest of eleven children in rural Haiti. His father was old and unable to provide for the family, so they ate just once each day. The family’s situation was so desperate that Wilson was in danger of becoming a child slave. Today, living in a Home of Hope, Wilson still counts himself as part of a large family (twelve boys), but everything else about his life has changed. He never wants for food, shelter, or educational opportunities. Wilson is known within his family for his gentle words and courteous attitude. He has a sharp mind and is pursuing a career in mechanical engineering!
Joseph’s father died when he was very young. His mother, who was unable to provide for her kids, often mistreated and beat Joseph. He was on the verge of starving or becoming a slave when LSM found him and welcomed him into a Home of Hope. Joseph is now five years old, and his life today looks very different. He has food to eat, his own bed,ย brothers to play with, and parents who teach him about Jesus. When we see Joseph’s beaming smile, it’s easy to miss signs of his traumatic history โ a powerful testament to God’s redemptive work in his life. By providing a quality education and trauma recovery programs, we are setting Joseph up to succeed and bless those around him.
Vanessa’s dad died of a fever when she was young, and her mother struggled to provide for the family. When LSM found Vanessa, she was thin and weak and had never attended school. Today, she lives in one of LSM’s Homes of Hope, where she excels in her literature and computer classes. She enjoys music and cooking and hopes to become a nurse. Vanessa’s favorite Bible verse is Psalm 27:7, “Hear my voice when I call, Lord. Be merciful to me and answer me.” At LSM, we want to help answer that prayer for Vanessa and hundreds of children like her by getting stories like Vanessa’s in front of as many people as possible.
Here are a few collected bullet points regarding LSM’s approach that are fairly unique within the world of ministry.
๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฎ๐: ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ด๐บ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป Haitian schools often rely on stock lectures and rote memorization. In contrast, LSM’s model emphasizes communication, collaboration, and problem solving. We believe kids will be best served in life by minds trained to work with others and find out-of-the-box solutions. That’s why half of our Homes of Hope receive supplemental educational training and the other half of our Homes attend schools operated by LSM. We’re trying to set an example of what education in Haiti can look like because we want to equip a new generation of innovators, problem solvers, job creators, entrepreneurs, engineers, and artists to build a prosperous future in Haiti!
๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต: ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ข๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ด๐ด ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ ๐ฎ ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป? Morning at LSM Tech in Haiti means it’s time to collect eggs!ย Someย ofย the eggs from LSM Tech go to Homes of Hope, where children we have rescued from lives of poverty and abuse will enjoy tasty omelets and scrambled eggs for breakfast.ย Some eggs will be sold inย a localย grocery store,ย where several of our older students recently had internship opportunities.ย The opening of LSM Tech brings the journey of our eggs full circle, as children who enjoyed eating our eggs in LSM Homes and sold eggs as store interns now collect those eggs as LSM Tech student workers. Thatโs the LSM vision in an “eggshell” – those who benefit from LSM giving back to the ministry and Haiti, itself. One egg, one vision, blessed by God, can bring life to an entire nation!
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ช๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐? One reason our sponsorship model is based on families, not individual kids, is that most child sponsor programs end after a certain age or grade level. We think in terms of family, which is a lifelong relationship. Rather than meet the basic needs of millions, we focus on the deep, whole person needs of the 240 kids we serve, believing this will have a farther-reaching impact. LSM sees our kids the way a parent sees a child – not as a name and age, but as a deeply known and loved family member. It’s difficult to succeed in Haiti whether you’re a child, or age 18 and up. As our kids grow, LSM walks alongside them, helping as needed as they become servant leaders, disciple others, and reach their culture for Christ!
๐๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ถ LSM operates a 10-acre Industrial Park in Haiti, which produces high-quality concrete products. We are using these products to build LSM projects and to raise revenue that helps us advance the mission. In October 2016, Haiti was hit by Hurricane Matthew, a horrible disaster that devastated Haitiโs infrastructure and that cut hundreds of lives tragically short, often due to structural collapse.ย Disasters have a greater fallout in places like Haiti because structures are poorly made and tend to crumble under stress or impact. The blocks LSM produces are built to withstand tremendous force, and therefore may save lives the next time a hurricane or earthquake strikes. LSM’s Industrial Park also provides a source of employment, commerce, and ministry!
LSM’s Indiana Auction was one of our most successful to date! President Doug Isch shared an update on LSM’s new Kinship Program in Haiti that will allow us to reach more hurting families than ever before. We were also excited to highlight the opening of our LSM Tech campus in Haiti and the in-depth spiritual training that students will receive there. Cheerful giving was displayed by all ages, including a group of young people who helped raise money again this year by selling candy to their peers. LSMโs Indiana Auction is made possible by a remarkable army of volunteers and businesses from Adams and Wells counties who come together each year to raise support for orphaned and vulnerable children. We thank and praise God for all who were involved!
LSM recently had an opportunity to invest in the next generation of advocates for vulnerable children and families atย 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!
Construction Project Manager Troy Leyse recently 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 are being 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 has been going up, and we expect the rise to continue. The unrest in Haiti a few months ago caused 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!
Classes are in session! LSM Tech, a project years in the making, has finally come to fruition. Below are photos from our opening ceremony, where LSM staff met with neighbors from the local area and with key representatives from the faith community in Haiti. An inaugural class of six young people from LSM’s Homes of Hope recently moved into our new residential dorms, where they will live and work while attending college classes. In addition, students will receive technical training and learn practical hands-on skills that will serve them well throughout life. The students’ technical work will also bring in revenue, providing sustainable funding for their ongoing education!
This past fall, protests and political unrest kept our kids from attending school. To catch up, many grade school students are attending school for extended sessions and even some Saturday classes. Our kids have seen dark days in Haiti, and they’re leaning into their studies as way to help ensure a brighter future by cultivating healthy hearts and minds. We’re seeing incredible dedication from LSM Tech students as well.ย Jean Wesly, LSM’s Dean of Students, walked through the campus this past weekend and was delighted to see that the students had gathered of their own accord to do some extra studying. This is exam season, so let’s pray for those, as well as other tests our children will soon face!
LSM staff members Paulos Mamo and Hilina Wondwossen recently launched a second location for ourย Family Preservation program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We’ve acquired a compound in one of the poorest slums of the city, and the program has grown quickly to meet needs, currently serving more than 60 children and their single mothers! For the first time in their lives, children are receiving educational enrichment, their mothers are receiving business training, and families as a whole are receiving the tools, discipleship, and sense of stable community they need to thrive. Thanks to your generous support, our work in Ethiopia continues to grow, making a multi-generational impact, mother-tested and child-approved!
In previous posts, we’ve shared about the fuel shortage and political unrest in Haiti. Nevertheless, our building crew at LSM Tech continues to push forward in spite of challenges. Project Managerย Jose Delpecheย recently provided the team with a great example of servant leadership by picking up a shovel and helping to dig a footer for the foundation of our latest project: an apartment forย Jean Wesly, the Dean of Students. It’s rare to see a supervisor laboring in the trenches, but extraordinary challenges call for extraordinary, Christlike leadership and humility. We’re grateful to have a team that mirrors His heart and example!
In case youโve missed some of the incredible stories from this year on the blog, we wanted to share a few of our favorites. There are many testimonies praising Godโs faithful work here at LSM – from volunteers in the States to staff in Ethiopia and an orphaned child in Haiti. Their stories are a beacon of hope. Each life touched is precious and each life is connected to you. It takes money, sacrifice, love and prayer to make this ministry possible. That has come from all of you!
The beauty of this ministry is seeing lives changed, as well as watching the Body of Christ come together with genuine love on behalf of the vulnerable children and families we serve. You are the life blood of LSM โ and we hope that youโll be deeply encouraged by these stories today. And if youโre not feeling connected, weโd love to bring you closer into the LSM family this coming year so you can witness these miraculous stories first hand.
All around the world Christmas is one of the most important and highly anticipated holidays of the year. But the way Christmas is celebrated often varies from country to country. Here are some holiday traditions from Haiti and Ethiopia, where LSM operates.
WORSHIP AND FAMILY TOGETHERNESS IN HAITI
Haitian families celebrate the birth of Jesus by decorating their homes with candle-lit paper lanterns called “fanals” and candles called โpetas.โ On Christmas Eve, Haitians traditionally attend church and sing songs like “Minuit Chretien,โ their version of โO Holy Night.โ After church, families return home to celebrate Christmas together. Children enjoy playing “wosle,” a game similar to jacks. Popular food items at these gatherings include pumpkin soup and โkremasโ or eggnog. Haitians rarely exchange gifts for Christmas. Time spent with family and worshipping God are activities Haitians tend to value most.
Last year, the staff at our grocery store in Les Cayes played an important part in the seasonal landscape. More than a place to find fresh produce, vegetables, and dry goods, our store serves as a source of hope and community for locals. To further this mission and shine a light on the reason for the season, our staff got in the holiday spirit by holding a raffle and decorating the store, inside and out. Check out this video of their work. Didnโt they do a fantastic job?
GAMES AND FAMILY FESTIVITIES IN ETHIOPIA
Ethiopians follow the Julian calendar, which means they celebrate Christmas a bit later than we do. On January 7, they observe their version of Christmas called, “Gena,” meaning โthe birthday of Jesus.โ They attend church services on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, and then return home. Children often play games like โYe-Gena Chewata” which is a combination of hockey and soccer. Families also gather to enjoy their favorite Ethiopian dishes, such as โwot,โ a spicy Ethiopian Christmas stew. Like Haitians, Ethiopian families do not usually exchange gifts. Instead, they dedicate their time to family togetherness and thanking God for sending his Son to earth!
In years past, our Ethiopian staff has marked the Christmas holiday with parties for the children, including crafts, lessons, food, singing, and giveaways of clothes and school supplies. One year, we celebrated by sharing the Gospel with locals and by handing out food and aid.
REMEMBERING THE REASON FOR THE SEASON
Itโs fun to learn how Christmas is celebrated around the world, as well as the different traditions and values that are emphasized by various cultures. But no matter how we celebrate the season outwardly, whatโs more important โ and universal โ is the celebration that takes place in our hearts. Merry Christmas from our LSM families around the world. As we celebrate, letโs keep Jesus first!
WHAT CAN I DO?
You can learn more facts and statistics about how Christmas is celebrated around the world at WhyChristmas.com. And while learning about the countries and peoples of the world, perhaps use the site as an opportunity to pray for them. Ask God to move in their lives.
Finally, open your Bible to Luke 2 for a great reminder of what the season is truly all about. How does God sending his precious son to earth inspire and compel us to live differently? Perhaps in 2020, you have a new idea for how you would like to partner with LSM as we spread the hope of Christmas to all by serving the worldโs most vulnerable. Tell us your idea, and letโs work together to shine the light of Christmas around the world in 2020, starting in the darkest places!
We can say โthank youโ with our mouths and type it out here so you can read it on your screen, but a true heart of thankfulness comes from within.
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to say, โThank you.โย You have given to LSM through the years, and your gifts have transformed the lives of many desperately vulnerable children in Haiti and Ethiopia. This year, weโre also expanding that reach to right here in the U.S. as we open our arms to care for vulnerable teens through the BrickHouse Program.
THANKS FROM A VULNERABLE TEEN IN FOSTER CARE
โThank youโ from the young boy whose addictions cost him everything. He lost it all and thought there was no one left to care for him. He is waking up today free from bondage and with more blessings than he can count.
MESI FROM HAITI
โMรจsiโ (thank you in Haitian Creole) from the Home of Hope children who were once abandoned, lonely, hungry and afraid but now have a mom and dad who love them and care for them. They are happy. They are safe.
โMรจsiโ from the Home of Hope parents whose once empty arms are now full of children to love. They are joyfully making memories together and praising God for the gift of family.
โMรจsiโ from our Haitian staff who have stable jobs and can provide for their families, too.ย Theyย are pursuing their own God given talents as they daily serve on behalf of our Home of Hope families.
โMรจsiโ from the communities who are benefitting from the Gospel Kits that our Home of Hope families are giving out. They are hearing about the Good News of Jesus!
แ แแฐแแแแ FROM ETHIOPIA
โ แ แแฐแแแแโ (thank you in Amharic) from single moms in Ethiopia who are off the streets andย are now running their own small businesses. They have the ability to provide food, education and a home for their children that they desperately love.
โ แ แแฐแแแแโ (thank you in Amharic) from the vulnerable children in Addis Ababa who are going to school for the first time and have enough to eat every day. They know that without you, they wouldnโt survive, much less thrive as they grow into adults. Because of your support for them and their moms, today they are dreaming of big things for their future!
These smiles are because of you!
With all our hearts, we want to say, โThank you!โ Your giving has changed entire lives, families and communities. We feel truly blessed to partner with you in this ministry that is so close to the heart of God! ย May you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
November 10 is Orphan Sunday, a global day that churches and individuals set aside to pray and advocate on behalf of the orphan. We hope your church or family takes a moment this weekend to learn more and to get involved as well!
John 14:18 teaches that all believers are former spiritual orphans who have been adopted by God. This means that Godโs special affection for the orphans in our world is the same love that prompted Him to send His son to die for us. For this reason, helping and advocating on behalf of orphans is a cause that should resonate with each us personally.
Christian Alliance for Orphans estimates that there are 140 million orphans worldwide. Here in the U.S., 112,000 foster children are waiting to be adopted, some of whom are classified as โhard to place. โ The term โhard to placeโ can be due to several factors. Some children have experienced trauma, neglect and abuse, leaving them with PTSD and detachment disorder. Trust is difficult for them. Sibling groups and children with special needs are also difficult to place.
In developing countries, the plight of an orphan can be even more dire. Twenty percent of the worldโs young people never attend school, and eight percent of the world lives on less than two dollars a day. These realities disproportionately affect those living in developing countries, especially the most vulnerable. A childโs nation of origin may even determine their chances of living past 5 years old. Tragically, about 15,000 children in the world die daily from preventable causes, especially in developing countries.
But the wonderful news is that since 1990, that number has been cut in half! Global poverty has also been reduced by more than half in the last 20 years, due largely to the united efforts of governments, nonprofits, and advocates like you.
Among other examples, international and domestic adoption have provided a tremendous benefit to the world. CAFO reports that over the last decade, more than 112,000 domestic and 103,000 international adoptions have occurred here in the U.S. And many vulnerable children who havenโt been adopted are being reached in their home countries through ministries like LSM.
Not all orphans and vulnerable children will be adopted. This is especially true with some governments closing their borders to international adoption in recent years. Itโs crucial that we provide comprehensive, in-country support in the parts of the world where we see the greatest needs. Here at LSM, weโre working hard to create generational change through Family Sponsorship, Child Development, Trauma Healing, Vocational Training, and much more.
Thank you for partnering with LSM to help ensure that every child is given an opportunity to achieve their God-given potential!
WHAT CAN I DO?
Learn more details about the realities facing vulnerable children around the world by viewing research compiled at un.org, brookings.edu, and cafo.org. Talk to your church or family about ways you can do more to help orphans and vulnerable kids around the world.
Join churches around the world on Orphan Sunday (Nov 10) in praying for the vulnerable. And ask God how heโs calling you to help.
If you believe God may be calling you to meet these needs by considering adoption or foster care, weโd love to help you start gathering information. Please visit our free Adoption Resources page.
We are thrilled to be expanding our care for local foster and adoptive families through the LSM BrickHouse program. This summer, LSM gained a new arm to our domestic work with the merge of BrickHouse Family Ministries. (Read more about it here.) As we reimagine this program, weโve considered how we can best support foster youth in our community โ and the families that welcome them home.
FREE CHRISTIAN COUNSELING FOR FOSTER & ADOPTIVE FAMILIES
Itโs clear that foster and adoptive families often face unique challenges as they bring healing to children from hard places. Even if a child has been in the familyโs care since they were very young, there are often attachment issues that they bring with them since before birth! Add on the complexities of racial integrations, neglect or abuse a child might have faced, and thereโs a myriad of difficult scenarios to navigate through. We want to offer help!
Adam Carroll, LMFT-A, is our first Christian counselor on staff โ and heโs excited to be able to provide free counseling for local foster and adoptive families as he has availability. Weโd love to offer this critical support for families in the Bluffton, IN area. If you know of a local family who is currently or who is considering adoption or fostering, please share this with them! To learn more, please email Adam at adam@loving-shepherd.org
ADOPTION RESOURCES
In addition, we continue to serve hundreds of families each year through our free adoption resources program. The road to adoption is complicated and sometimes eligibility within certain countries is not clear. Our staff can help answer those questions for you, break down the costs and coach you on the right questions to ask โ all free of charge. Itโs our prayer that these tools will empower you as you seek to care for the vulnerable child God has for you!
Whether God has called you to be a foster or adoptive parent, or youโre best suited to financially support others raising vulnerable children, we believe everyone has a place in His work! As we serve together, we want to thank you because none of this is possible without your prayerful support. You are enabling us to help care for these families โ and the vulnerable children they love.
GET INVOLVED
Pray for foster and adoptive families โ and the children they are raising! We pray their stories can be testimonies of His goodness despite the brokenness of this world.
Help us provide free counseling and adoption resources for families answering His call. We canโt provide these resources without your help! GIVE HERE.
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