LSM Child Snapshots

LSM CHILD SNAPSHOTS

𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁 | 𝗔𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮: 𝗔 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻

Aisha, nine years old, is part of LSM’s Family Preservation work in Ethiopia. When we first met Aisha, her single mom was working on the streets, and the family was in danger of running out of food or worse. Aisha’s mom loved her, but without job training and help providing for Aisha, the family’s future looked bleak. In situations where a single mother is committed to raising her children, LSM Family Preservation helps keep mothers and their children together by providing vital support to help them get on their feet. Aisha says learning about Jesus has inspired her to become a teacher, and she specifically has a heart for helping Ethiopia’s homeless children!

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗪𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲: 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗻,𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲

Meet Aaron, one of the kids in our Family Preservation program in Ethiopia. The world might make assumptions about Aaron based on the fact that he was born to a young mom on the streets of Ethiopia and that he spent his early years in poverty, his view of God distorted by trauma and a lack of hope. But today, we’re helping Aaron and his mom start a new chapter in their lives. Aaron is receiving supplemental educational training. His mother received job training and a loan, allowing her to start a culinary business. And both of them are receiving discipleship and spiritual training. For the first time, Aaron is learning what God says about him: Before the foundations of the earth were laid, God had Aaron’s picture hanging on his wall. And like Jeremiah, even before Aaron was born, God had appointed work for him to do (Jer. 1:5). Thanks to you, our supporters, for helping Aaron discover his potential in Christ!

𝗟𝗲𝘁‘𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗔𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿‘𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿

We first met Esther at age 4. Her parents lived in poverty, and she was malnourished, at risk of starving or becoming a child slave. Thankfully, you made it possible for Esther to join a Home of Hope! At first, Esther showed signs of trauma: she was emotionally distant and slow to trust people. Today, she is one of the healthiest, most wholehearted young ladies living in her Home. Esther has a sharp mind and scores extremely high on tests for creativity and problem solving. She tells us, “My prayer is to serve God as a nurse and care for orphaned kids!” You can send her an encouraging note and help us begin new stories of redemption in Haiti by becoming an LSM Family Sponsor!

𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰

Henri knows a guitar like the back of his hand. He can even play behind his back! Despite Henri’s youth, he often plays at his local church, in the community, and at LSM events. He says, “I lost my mother when I was young. I needed a doctor, but I had no money. My situation was desperate. Today, thanks to LSM sponsors, I have a loving family. I’m studying to become an engineer so I can help other children pay to attend school. Music makes me feel close to God, and I use it to share what he’s done in my life!” Many of our other children also sing and play music thanks to LSM’s Child Development Program. With the Psalmist, they’re worshiping God through life’s peaks and valleys, reaching hearts with music where words often fall short.

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱: 𝗔 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴

Ephesians 1:5 says God “adopted us into His family through Jesus Christ.” Few can appreciate this better than Joëlle, whose lack of a family once made it difficult to find her way in the world. Joëlle became orphaned as an infant and went to live with her aunt, who lacked the means to care for her and was often abusive. Joëlle grew up not even knowing whether she had biological siblings. Today, through the generosity of her sponsors, Joëlle enjoys the love of her Home of Hope parents and eleven sisters. She says she’s grateful for the change her LSM family and the family of God have brought about in her life. Now she’s sharing the blessing of family with others who are in need!

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲: 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Back in 2012, our donors made it possible for Caliste to join an LSM Home of Hope when she was 10 years old. A member of LSM’s Haitian staff recorded that Caliste’s family was very poor, that she suffered stomach pain due to hunger, and that she exhibited signs of depression and anxiety. In closing, the interviewer wrote “Caliste has very sad eyes.” Today, Caliste’s eyes tell a different story. She’s discovered a passion for music and says her dream is to tour the world. She also excels at school and has discovered a love for business. But she says the greatest change has been her acceptance of Jesus. She loves Psalm 100: “Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him with joyful songs!”