Giving HOPE in Ebola’s Aftermath

"We have a new family and a new home and we are now back in school!"

-Famatta, child from New Hope Children's Home 

Ebola. The deadly virus that prowled West Africa last year, dominating the news and our newsfeeds. In Liberia alone, taking the lives of over 4,000, and leaving in it's wake sons and daughters to be orphaned and alone.

Meet three of those children: Famatta (14), Olbed (13) and Delight (8), son and daughters of George and Oretha Kanwah, whose lives were taken by the Ebola virus.

In response to this catastrophe, Lifesong staff in Liberia have established New Hope Children's Home, a home to not only provide shelter for 10 children orphaned by the Ebola virus, but also to give caregiver jobs to Ebola survivors.

Fametta graciously shares the devastation they have saw and felt, and of the hope that is slowly shining through...

"My father got the virus when a lady in his church was sick and he took her to the hospital. While at the hospital, the lady died and my father was sprayed with antiseptic and sent home. The next day he started getting sick and when he got to work, they told him not to come back. They also put us out of the company house where we were staying. One week later, my father died in his car and the Ebola burial team came and carried him to be burned in the fire.   

Few days later, our mother got sick and she couldn't eat, but cried all day. She was taken to the Ebola treatment center. Later, the center called our aunt and said our mother has died. 

My siblings and I were put into quarantine at the treatment center for 21 days. We did not get the virus, so the health workers took us back to the community, hoping someone will take us in. No one was willing. We were given a little food supply and some protective Ebola materials.

We were left alone in the community. Everyone is afraid of us. We were not allowed to play with other children or go to other people's houses or buy food from others with money from our hands. I am the oldest, so I tried to watch over my brother and sister.

But now we are have been taken in by Lifesong's New Hope Children's Home. We have a new family and a new home and we are now back in school." 

Please join us in praying for Famatta, Olbed, Delight and the other grieving children in our new home. Pray God would heal and soften their hearts to His Gospel of hope and redemption!

Learn more about our project in Liberia

Happy Chinese New Year

As we come to another Chinese New Year, it is amazing to look back on the year we have had.  Last year at this time, everything was so new.  We have now reached a new sense of normal and everyone is bonding much better.  We are now able to get involved in so many things.  

We are now even doing performances.

Do you want to build a snowman?

With the first snow fall of the year, comes the first snowman of the year.

Do you want to build a snowman? 

(ya, I just went there)

Merry Christmas

From our family to your

May you have a MERRY CHRISTMAS

and a FANTASTIC NEW YEAR!!

Orphan Sunday & Advent for Orphans

"Orphan Sunday isn't about charity; it's about the mission of Christ. I pray that every Gospel-transformed congregation will observe Orphan Sunday, calling all Christians to our mandate to image Christ by caring for his little brothers and sisters, the fatherless of the world." -- Dr. Russell Moore, author Adopted for Life

On November 2nd, Christians around the globe will stand together with one goal: to rouse believers with God's call to care for the orphan and what our role is in response.



Does your family, small group or church have plans for Orphan Sunday? There are so many ways that we can honor orphans collectively as the Body of Christ on Orphan Sunday. If you don't have plans or haven't heard of an event near you, here are 4 ways you can engage in this year's Orphan Sunday:

1. Advent for Orphans Calendar -- see explanation below.
2. Orphan's Table -- share a meal eaten by orphans around the world. Gather with family, small group or church for the meal, discussion and prayer.
3. Plan an Orphan Sunday event with a Partnership Package -- easy-to-follow Orphan Sunday event plan, enabling you to partner with an organization to create a simple event!
4. Contact your Regional Orphan Sunday Coordinator with questions, to seek ideas as you plan, or to let them know that you will be holding an event.

Be sure to also check out their other resources which include videos, prayer guides, sermon notes, t-shirts & more! Together, let's stand for the orphan!

To learn more about Orphan Sunday or find an event near you visit OrphanSunday.org.

Get your FREE Advent Calendar & celebrate with purpose! 

See how your family, small group or church can celebrate the anticipate the birth of our Savior in a special way that also shows love to orphans.

Limited supply of Advent for Orphans calendars available! Learn more & order your calendar today at www.lifesongfororphans.org/advent.

My why...part 2

My why for the day…why I enjoy having three home businesses.  Yes, I have three….Mama’s Bug A Boo, Pampered Chef, and Purium.  I do it so I can have the extra cash to pay for all those activities the girls do.  We couldn't afford to do dance classes and Chinese school with out it.  I work hard but don’t have any fancy titles, I just love what I do.  I love selling something to someone who will actually enjoy it. 

 I love the look on the face of a little girl who is wearing a super cool bow…

or finding out a family is eating around the dinner table because they saved time in the kitchen preparing it…

or someone who has taken control of their healthy and losing weight in the process.  

I enjoy seeing others with joy.  I feed off of it.  I know, it is not always a money maker.  I don’t make a lot…I am not a director of any of it and I barely make it most months.  In the last year I made a great deal of money with Pampered Chef, but what most don’t know, I donated over half to others adoption.  I had so much joy last year doing fundraiser for families who are now home with their children.  I have seen people change their lives with Purium.. not just the outward but the inward.  They feel better about themselves.  I feed off others joy…it is a high for me. 

So, remember me if you are in search of some cloth diapers or hairbows for your little ones…or in search of stocking up your kitchen for free…or you want to get healthy and maybe lose a few pounds….contact me.  And most of all, if you are doing a fundraiser…contact me because you will make my day.

My why....part 1

Recently, I had someone post this for a week…their why.  And up until now, I don’t think I really had a why…I just do what I do to survive, or so I thought.  So, here goes, my why for the day….why I enjoy being a stay at home mom.  Yes, there are those days that are hard…that I need a break…that I think my head got about 15 more gray hairs.  BUT there are also those days that I get to snuggle just a little longer with my girls…we can take an extra long lunch and start singing “Everything is awesome”…we can just go to the museum because going in the morning at 10am is so less crowded then going at 3pm. I don’t always have time to hang out with other moms because most of them don’t homeschool and they plan things for those with no kids .. that is ok, I get to have a facial by an awesome 7 year old and a fantastic arm beating (I mean a “massage”) by another 7 year old and a bomb digady hair up-do by a 8 year old.  I do not get paid with anything that could actually pay down the debt and I have those days that I don’t want to except that but when your 7 year old comes to you with a fishy face and says she wants to give you a kiss or your other 7 year old just comes up and give you a smile from ear to ear and hugs you or maybe the 8 year old finally (for a small moment) actually wants to sit next to you….it is all worth it.