TA Update

We continue the wait for TA with no idea of when it might come.
We were given an exception to start the adoption process for Lilly on Elizabeth's paperwork in October.  Mostly this is due to Lillyanna's medical condition and her need for treatment.  But being the first isn't necessarily the best. (This is now something any family who has adopted within a year from China can do.) China has admitted making an error- we are unsure if it is in granting this exception OR not moving the paperwork to our current adoption. But until they fix their error our adoption is at a standstill. We ARE still adopting Lilly and their approval of us as her family IS NOT the error, thankfully.

• We need prayer for endurance- for us and the kids. Lillyanna now also knows that she has a family waiting for her, so for her little four year old mind to understand the delay.

• We need prayer that China quickly fixes the problem.

• I am specifically praying that God would work and that we would be able to travel on or about May 5th. That get's us a day past the coming April and May kids birthdays.

Honduras - Day 10

Well, it's day 10 of our blitz and we have a long way to go  to make our goal.  We have 40.5 commitments... can we get 59 commitments today?  It seems impossible... but we know that God can do great things.



We've seen Him do it this week!



We've seen it in people giving their best gifts.



We've seen it in the stories we've received of families eating tortillas in honor of our kids in Honduras. (by the way, we'd love to hear more!  Tell us about your Tortilla Tuesday experience HERE)



We know that God is at work, and pray that He will continue to move today!



Yesterday we talked about the difference Lifesong Honduras is making.  Today we get to hear a personal testimony of this difference made in one Escalon graduate, Victor Rodas:



The reality is that without your support stories like Victor's... stories like Edgar's and Tania's and Edmund's would cease to exist.



We have till the end of today.  Can we reach our goal?

Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitmentn AND tell them we sent you from our blog!

Your donation will be doubled thanks to a gracious giver!

The REAL "Tortilla Tuesday"

After our preemptive Tortilla Tuesday last week, I had been looking forward to "the real deal" on the 29th. I think the kids were looking forward to it as well. When Mr. Incredible arrived home and looked at what I was cooking, "oh, it's Tuesday" escaped with very little zeal. My wonderful Mr. Incredible was raised on "meat and potatoes" and does not like vegetarian meals. I however was raised on a mostly vegetarian diet, because we couldn't afford meat. The last fourteen years have been interesting trying to find a balance in our diet and we aren't there yet :)

The kids have loved (with the exception of one and he does like the tortillas!) having beans and rice with tortillas on Tuesday for the last couple of weeks. Tortilla Tuesday has also afforded me the opportunity to have ANY of our children come help stir the beans or make the tortillas. (not always possible with every meal) It's a nutricious and simple meal. (my life needs that right now :)) What an opportunity it has also provided to sit and eat a meal that so many others share ALL the time and reflect on how BLESSED our family is. Though the meal may not be Mr. Incredible's favorite, he does a wonderful job leading the kids in thinking outside of their world.

I actually managed to snap a few pics this week, ENJOY!

the effects of saying 'smile' 

At least he likes the tortillas!

Maybe no hot sauce next time...

 

Recovered from the hot sauce and back to charming the camera :)

With the preemptive Tortilla Tuesday last week both Mr. Incredible and myself ended up with heartburn. So I researched and tried a variation this week- no onions and added a little baking soda to the beans. Well the heartburn wasn't as bad this week, so maybe more baking soda next week because I think Tortilla Tuesday is going to hang around for awhile!!!

It's Tortilla Tuesday!!! Don't forget to send in your photos and stories to info@lifesongfororphans.org!


What difference does Lifesong Honduras really make in the lives of the 550 students we work with?

Nutritionally:  Every day students at Lifesong Honduras receive 3 balanced meals.  (Join us today for Tortilla Tuesday!  Confused?  Click HERE)

Educationally: The national average of students in public schools who go on to college in Honduras is around 1%.  At Lifesong Honduras, about 40% of students go on to college!

Economically:  In a country with a national unemployment rate of 70%, over 70% of Plan Escalon graduates have full-time jobs!

Spiritually:  2011 Vision Team member, Brian Kerz, speaks from what he saw first hand:

Isn't teaching the gospel message really what it's all about?  And after leaving Lifesong Honduras to live on their own, 90% of Escalon graduates still consider themselves Christians and 85% continue to attend church on a regular basis!

Lives are being changed.  Lives can continue to change because of the difference being made by people like you!

Our goal is:

We have two days left.
We need 63 commitments!

Will you help us continue to serve children in Honduras?

Can't commit to $30 p/mo? Give your best gift today... we can all make one sacrifice and come together as the body of Christ to make a big difference!

Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment AND be sure to tell them that we sent you from our blog!  Your donation will be doubled thanks to a gracious giver!

Your support makes these stories possible!
All administrative costs are covered, so 100% of your donation will go directly to helping orphans.

Honduras - Day 8

Happy Monday, everyone!  Well, we are on day 7 of our blitz, with only 3 more days to go!
Today we're going to let Guy Henry, director of Lifesong Honduras, tell a little about Plan Escalon in his own words.

Plan Escalon from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

God is working in Honduras!  He is bringing up young men and women through hardship to a place of purpose and hope... and He is using the staff at Lifesong Honduras to do it!

But they can't do it alone.  Will you join us?
Our goal is:

So far we have 31 commitments.

We need 69 more.

That's about 23 commitments a day!

Please join us!  If you can't commit $30 a month, give what you can.  Let's come together to serve these kids in Honduras.  Let's change their lives.  Let's change their nation.

Don't forget to participate in tomorrow's Tortilla Tuesday! (Don't know what this is?  Click HERE)

Contact us at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment AND be sure to tell them that you came from our blog! Your donation will be DOUBLED thanks to a gracious giver!

Hear personal stories & follow the progress on our blog!
Your support makes these stories possible!
All administrative costs are covered, so 100% of your donation will go directly to helping orphans.

Edmund Gives Back from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

Edmund is just one example of many who have been helped by Lifesong Honduras, and are now giving back.  I love how he obviously cares for these kids and even gives what little he has away so they can have shoes!  What a great example.

Here’s a question for you… How many pairs of shoes do you have?.

10? 20? 30? (eek!)

The kids at Lifesong Honduras have one pair each… sometimes two (a pair of boots to serve in).  Wow.

This Saturday join us for Shoe Saturday.  Simply count your shoes… and get your kids in on it too.  Have them count theirs.  And then tell them about the children in Honduras.  Tell them about Edmund who sacrifices his own money so children in the village can have something on their feet.  Then as a family pray.  Thank God for His faithfulness and His blessings on your family.  Thank Him for raising up men and women and children in Honduras to care for the poor, the orphaned, the vulnerable.  Ask Him to continue to provide and watch over them.  Ask Him raise up supporters so Lifesong can continue to serve in Honduras.

We are reaching for a goal:

Please pray that we can reach this goal?   Maybe God wants to use you?  Will you prayerfully consider joining us?

Maybe you can't give $30 a month... Maybe you can give more.  Today we want to encourage you to give your best!

One commitment we've received was a one time gift... Another commitment was matched by the donor's employer... meaning his gift has now quadrupled!  We are so excited to see people rise up and give what they can!

Thank you to those who have committed so far.

We have 15.5 commitments.

Can we make 100?

We have 7 days... 84.5 commitments to go.

With your help we can do it!

Ok so... update

Our YUMMY beans and rice and homemade GF tortillas!  So good I made more tortillas and we had it again tonight with daddy!  (so glad he's home after his business trip) No it's not a really large bowl, it's a fairly small tortilla, but Mmmmm good!
Here's the recipe from cooks.com Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas

OK so...

I've posted twice about Tortilla Tuesday with Lifesong and I guess I was so anxious to remember my time in Honduras growing up, that I made tortillas and beans and rice for TONIGHT! Oh well, maybe we can start a tradition of every Tuesday is Tortilla Tuesday! Pictures to follow, hopefully.

Did you miss the post about what is going on at Lifesong Honduras? Click here.
Did you read about Tortilla Tuesday on Tuesday, March 29th? Click here.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Maybe some coffee?  Yes?

Maybe some rice and beans, with white cheese and tortillas?  No?

At Lifesong Honduras this is what a normal breakfast for the 550 kids we serve looks like.

For lunch they will get tortillas with either vegetable soup, pasta, or chicken with rice and vegetables.
For dinner they will eat rice, beans, cream (similar to sour cream) white cheese, eggs (2 times a week) and (you guessed it) tortillas.

Next Tuesday, March 29th join us for Tortilla Tuesday as we eat rice, beans, and tortillas for the day and provide tools for you to use in sharing with your family… in order to further teach out children about the lives of others.

Enjoy a meal at work or with your family or friends of tortillas, rice, and beans.  This is a great way to not just talk about life for kids in Honduras, but to actually experience it, if only in one small way.

We want to encourage you to use this opportunity to share the need in Honduras with your kids, friends, and co-workers.

Here are a few facts and conversation starters:
1. Honduras is one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere

2. Last year approximately 75% of new students coming into Lifesong Honduras were malnurished, their weight and height way below average, and needed extra vitamins and supplements.  Pictured below are three 7th graders from this group:

"The reward comes in many forms... to watch them grow and their appearance change, knowing that you played a part in that.  It is hard explain, but when you take one of our graduates and compare them to someone of the same age, from their own villages, even though the differences may range from ever so slight to obvious, it is visible."

-Lifesong Honduras staff member

3. There are innumerous un-reached mountain villages that still do not have electricity or running water, children without clothing or shoes, and families without food to feed their children.

- Homes are barely constructed of mud, sticks, cardboard and whatever material they can use to cover themselves.

-Many villages have no organized church, nor a pastor, nor a church building in which to meet.

-Students at Plan Escalon spend part of their education giving back… visiting mountain villages, where many of them came from, to bring food (rice and beans) and minister to the people.

- Imagine what it would it be like to live in a mountain village in Honduras… What would it be like?  Would you feel hopeful of your future?   How would you survive?

4. At Lifesong Honduras they have to make 3,500 tortillas made every day… on only 3 stoves!

- Can you imagine making that many tortillas every day?  Think about how you would interact with others in the kitchen.  How easy would it be trying to accomplish this with only 3 stoves?

*Be sure to have your camera ready for Tortilla Tuesday! Please send Lifesong a photo of you and your family or co-workers (or whoever you invite) participating in Tortilla Tuesday, your location, and a short story about the impact it made and the conversations you had to info@lifesongfororphans.org! If you have a blog or facebook, consider sharing it!

Our goal is:

Will you join us?  Every dollar will make a difference!  Every dollar will be doubled for the sake of orphans!

So far we have 4 commitments.  Thank you!  We still need more.  Together we can do more for the children and the future of Honduras!

Contact Lifesong at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment AND be sure to tell them that we sent you from our blog!

Hear personal stories & follow the progress on our blog all this week!

Honduras Blitz from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

(Pause the music at right to hear the movie)

What if every time you gave a dollar to orphans it became one more? 

One more dollar towards food, education, shelter?

One more dollar towards sharing the Gospel and providing Biblical mentorship?

One more dollar towards changing the life of a child?

I love to use this platform to advocate for those in need... and thanks to a generous donor every dollar given to Lifesong Honduras will be matched… up to $120,000!  We praise the Lord for this amazing gift and invite you to be a part of it.

Over the next 10 days we are teaming with Lifesong and are hoping for 100 1-year commitments of $30 a month.  Just think, for about $1 a day a life in Honduras can be forever changed.

Partnering with Tree of Life Missions in Honduras, Lifesong for Orphans is able to work toward providing hope to the hopeless, help to the helpless and healing to the hurting.  TOLM reaches kids through a program called Plan Escalon.  (Escalon is translated "escalator" and is used to describe the children's escalator out of poverty/brokenness.) 
Through this program we strive toward:

• Providing an education to the poorest of youth
• Providing food to the poorest of youth
• Providing vocational training & micro-business opportunities
• Providing free medical and dental clinics to those in need
• Training young people to give back to their communities
• Reaching people in the jungles of the Mosquito Coast 

Stay tuned for stories, personal testimonies, and fun ways to spread awareness and instill a heart of giving in your kids!

Our goal is:

Will you help us?  100 commitments in ten days is no small feat, but with God it is possible.  We have seen Him move mightily in His people to serve orphans and we pray that this ten weeks will be a testimony of that!  Together we can make a difference in the lives of these kids!  Together we can do more to bring joy and purpose to orphans!

Contact Lifesong at info@lifesongfororphans.org to make your commitment AND be sure to tell them that we sent you from our blog, poormanponderosa!

Hear personal stories & follow the progress on our blog all this week!

Check back often to hear personal stories and get updates on the progress.  Please join us in prayer as we ask the Lord to raise up 100 commitments!

Proving Ground

The last three if not four weeks of our lives have been hard beyond measure. Glorious in some ways seeing God's provision and utterly discouraging in others as we cycle through the valley of bickering, contention and a child who is unable to be reasoned with.

My pastor said on Sunday that a tree's roots only grow stronger and deeper by being blown by the wind. This is one of those times in life when the "rubber meets the road" or "being stretched to the limit" is almost an understatement.

We still have no word on TA and it is looking like May will be our travel date, if then... so many factors, so many uncertainties... and I've heard ticket prices are soaring. I don't have the strength to look, not today.

My trust is that He is still there, but this is one of those days where I cannot base that trust on feelings, but by looking back and seeing how God has been faithful.

A Chance to Make a Difference!

Tortilla Tuesday!!

Next Monday we will be kicking off an exciting 10 day blog-a-thon to spread the word about what's going on at Lifesong Honduras.  We will be sharing personal testimonies from changed lives, peeking into everyday Honduran life, and giving some tools to spread awareness in your families.
One of these tools is a little something we like to call (da-daDAAA!):

Tuesday, March 29th we will be dedicating 1 meal to eat what the children in Honduras eat on a daily basis... and we want you to be a part of it!  We will also provide some great topical questions and discussion guides for you to share with your kids on what life is like for children in another culture.


Would YOU join us?

We'll share more as we get closer to the 29th, so mark your calendars, get your camera ready and head to the store to get tortillas, rice, and beans for the whole family!

The Worry Tries to Come

This past week has been fraught with turmoil.  One child is really struggling.  Trying to organize and resettle.  Bickering between the boys.  Mr. Incredible was gone to help his mom move... After days of basically no mail, the bills have started arriving.  Carrying two mortgages and two utilities... 

I start to worry and the what if's try to crush me.

There's something wrong with our dossier in China and the government there is trying to fix it.  We have no idea what the problem is, but the blackout dates of April 8-30th for travel are looming overwhelmingly large.  I guess it is encouraging that they are not asking for us to redo something, but it is maddening that our Travel Approval is waiting only on one person's signature and there is some issue that we are powerless to resolve. 

We are powerless, but God is not. 

The devotion for today in "Jesus Calling" ends with, "Be still, and know that I am God".  God is God and I am not.  No amount of worrying or anger is going to bring Lilly home sooner.  My attitudes toward all my children need to reflect God's love and not the uncertainty over timing that I feel.  We may be in China a month from now or we may be updating our homestudy and planning on travel in May or June.  Whatever comes God is in control.  My faith is in my Father.  My hope rests in Him.  By His grace we continue on.

To Fill You In

We still do not have TA.  We found out today that there is some "issue" with our dossier that China is working on...  still waiting for that signature...  Travel is not going to be permitted after April 7th until some time in May due to Chinese holidays and a trade show in Guangzhou.  We so need TA right NOW!

Mr. Incredible left today, driving, for OH.  To move his mom to NC...  Praying that she will want to move, she will move and that she will improve with a change in environment...


So the kids and I are four days without daddy...  I am looking forward to more reading, still don't know what to make for dinner tonight though.  Maybe I should work on that?! :)

Our lives are so incredibly full right now.  It kind of is life imitating our garage.  Oh to have a clean garage, oh to have an uncluttered life, but God brings us through the mucky muck to the other side and we look a little more like gold. :-)

So It's Been A Little While

Circumstances haven't permitted daily blogging, or pretty much anything routine!  I have been amazed at how God has been with our family and though one may get sick we have yet to all be sick at the same time or even near the same time.  This has been one of those special blessings that our family has needed in order to be able to get through the last couple of weeks.  Due to the sensitive nature of a couple things, I can't fill you in on everything, but Elizabeth is recovering well from her surgery yesterday (to have tubes in her ears, again).  After several days of no internet I am enjoying "feeling connected" again.  Though I noticed my productivity was MUCH higher when there wasn't email, blogging or facebook to distract me.  Life is taking on a more normal schedule and we are anticipating getting our Travel Approval any day now.  It seems that our TA is once again waiting for the top directors approval and has been for over a week... weren't we here 19 months ago?! 

Well the day the must begin!