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	<title>Lifesong for Orphans</title>
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	<description>Bringing Joy and Purpose to Orphans.</description>
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	<title>Lifesong for Orphans</title>
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	<item>
		<title>The Dignity of a Choice | Guatemala Update</title>
		<link>https://lifesong.org/2026/08/the-dignity-of-a-choice-guatemala-update/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cecilia Fulmer]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 15:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Country Update]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Guatemala]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifesong News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orphan Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Boutique]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dignity]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifesong.org/?p=1164824</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>At Village of Hope, healing can begin in unexpected places. For Maya, it started in a simple boutique where she was given something she had rarely experienced: a choice. Through thoughtfully provided clothing, compassionate care, and the restoration of dignity, Maya is learning that her voice matters, she is worthy of love, and God has a purpose for her story.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/the-dignity-of-a-choice-guatemala-update/">The Dignity of a Choice | Guatemala Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH3-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165411" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH3-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH3.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



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<p><em>At Village of Hope, we believe every child deserves more than basic needs being met—they deserve to be seen, known, loved, and treated with dignity.</em></p>



<p><em>We’ve seen how God can use even the smallest moments to bring healing. For Maya, one of those moments happened in our boutique, where a simple choice reminded her that her voice matters.</em></p>



<p><em>Her story is a beautiful picture of how dignity, hope, and healing can grow in unexpected places.</em></p>



<p><em>—Guatemala Team</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-maya-arrived-at-our-campus-in-guatemala"><strong>When Maya arrived at our campus in Guatemala,</strong></h2>



<p>she carried almost nothing. A small bag. A baby on her hip. And years of hurt. </p>



<p>Maya spent much of her childhood trying to survive ongoing abuse and neglect. By the age of 12, she was already a mother who had learned that her needs don&#8217;t matter and that her voice doesn&#8217;t always have a place.</p>



<p>But, with our team in Guatemala, she began to learn something different. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-she-matters"><strong>She matters. </strong></h3>



<p>And for Maya, that lesson began with something as simple as a choice.</p>



<p>At Village of Hope, donated clothing isn&#8217;t handed out from piles or bins. Every piece is washed, sorted, folded, and carefully displayed in our boutique. Dresses hang on racks. Shoes are organized by size. Children are given options, not leftovers.</p>



<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH1-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165412" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH1.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>So when Maya walked through the boutique, she wasn&#8217;t simply given clothes. </p>



<p>She was asked, &#8220;What do you like?&#8221;</p>



<p><strong>For perhaps the first time, someone wanted to know what she wanted.</strong></p>



<p>She chose the colors she loved. She picked out clothes that made her smile. She stood in front of the mirror and saw more than a survivor.</p>



<p>She saw someone whose choices matter. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-because-dignity-is-found-in-the-details"><strong><strong>Because dignity is found in the details. </strong></strong></h3>



<p>For children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect, so much has been taken from them—including their sense of identity and control over their own lives.</p>



<p>Providing food, shelter, education, and counseling is essential, but healing also means restoring dignity. </p>



<p><em>It means giving children a voice.<br>It means reminding them that their preferences matter. <br>It means helping them discover who God created them to be.</em> </p>



<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH2-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165413" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH2-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VOH2.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>Today, Maya is going to school, receiving counseling, raising her baby in safety, and continuing to heal. </p>



<p>And it all began with a simple reminder: </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-matter-your-voice-matters-you-are-made-in-god-s-image"><strong>You matter. Your voice matters. You are made in God&#8217;s image. </strong></h3>



<p>Thank you for helping create spaces where children like Maya can experience more than provision. Through your generosity, they can experience dignity, healing, and hope. </p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-pray-for-guatemala"><strong>Pray for Guatemala</strong></h3>



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<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for the healing and growth God is bringing in Maya&#8217;s life.</li>



<li><strong>Pray </strong>for continued healing from the trauma Maya and other children have experienced.</li>



<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for a safe place in Guatemala where children can experience dignity, love, and belonging. </li>



<li><strong>Pray</strong> that each child would come to know their identity and worth in Christ. </li>



<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for the opportunity to remind children that their voices, choices, and stories matter. </li>
</ul>



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<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Join our prayer team to receive monthly prayer requests &amp; praises from across our ministry.</strong></p>



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-left" id="h-will-you-help-orphaned-and-vulnerable-children-in-guatemala-experience-the-hope-of-the-gospel"><strong>Will you help orphaned and vulnerable children in Guatemala experience the hope of the Gospel?</strong></h4>



<p class="has-text-align-left">When you give to Lifesong, you show orphaned and vulnerable children they are <em>seen, known, and loved</em> through Gospel-centered holistic care<em>.</em> Thanks to TMG Foundation, <strong>100% of your gift goes directly to helping orphaned and vulnerable children. </strong></p>



<div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<div class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-red-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button" href="https://give.lifesong.org/lifesong/village-of-hope" style="padding-top:20px;padding-right:40px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:40px" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>GIVE TODAY</strong></a></div>
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<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/the-dignity-of-a-choice-guatemala-update/">The Dignity of a Choice | Guatemala Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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		<title>Faith That Keeps Moving Forward | Welcome Home Haiti Update</title>
		<link>https://lifesong.org/2026/08/faith-that-keeps-moving-forward-welcome-home-haiti/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cecilia Fulmer]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:45:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Country Update]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Haiti]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifesong News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orphan Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Survival]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifesong.org/?p=1146558</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Lucson’s story is a picture of steadfast faith and perseverance. Through education, employment, loss, and uncertainty, God has continued to shape his life and provide opportunities for him to grow. Today, Lucson is using what he has learned to serve his community, support his family, and build a hopeful future while trusting God with what comes next.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/faith-that-keeps-moving-forward-welcome-home-haiti/">Faith That Keeps Moving Forward | Welcome Home Haiti Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh3-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165381" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh3-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh3.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



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<p><em>Lucson’s story is one we are grateful to share. We have watched him grow from a young student into a dedicated employee, university graduate, and provider for his family. His journey has not been without hardship, but through each season, we have seen his faith and perseverance shine through. We invite you to see how God has been working in <em>Lucson</em>’s life and shaping his future.</em></p>



<p><em>—Haiti Team</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-for-much-of-his-life-lucson-has-known-what-it-means-to-keep-going"><strong>For much of his life, Lucson has known what it means to keep going. </strong></h2>



<p>Born in Haiti, Lucson grew up in a family of six children. His father worked as a fisherman, and his mother ran a small shop in their community. Money was often tight, and sending every child to school was difficult.</p>



<p>But through the support from a family in the United States, Lucson was able to complete both primary and secondary education.</p>



<p>During his teenage years, he also made the decision that would shape the rest of his life: </p>



<p><strong>He accepted Jesus and was baptized in his church.</strong></p>



<p>His faith became an important foundation as he continued to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.</p>



<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh4-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165382" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh4-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh4.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>After finishing school, Lucson began working with our team in Haiti, making compressed earth blocks.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-but-his-journey-didn-t-stop-there"><strong>But his journey didn&#8217;t stop there. </strong></h3>



<p>Through the education program, Lucson attended university for four years and earned a degree in administration.</p>



<p>After graduating, he continued developing his leadership skills through a program offered by his church. </p>



<p>Today, he helps manage important responsibilities for our ministry in Haiti. From visiting the bank and receiving shipments at the airport to purchasing supplies and vehicle parts. </p>



<p><strong>The path hasn&#8217;t always been easy. </strong></p>



<p>Lucson&#8217;s family has experienced threats and opposition in their community. At one point, people chased and threatened his brother, forcing him and his friends to flee to safety.</p>



<p>Then, last year, Lucson experienced another heartbreaking loss when his mother passed away after an illness.</p>



<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh2-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165383" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh2-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/whh2.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-still-he-continues-to-move-forward">Still, he continues to move forward. </h3>



<p>Today, Lucson is focused on creating opportunities not only for himself, but for his family. He is working to grow the business at his home so that his siblings can earn an income and provide for themselves.</p>



<p>He hopes for a family of his own someday. He is praying that God will bring a godly woman into his life and trusting Him with what comes next. </p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><em><strong>“Lifesong&#8217;s team has done so much for my family and for me. I cannot imagine where I would be without this ministry.”</strong></em></p>



<p>Through education, employment, loss, and uncertainty, Lucson continues to trust God and build toward the future.</p>



<p>His story is a picture of steadfastness; remaining faithful, continuing forward, and trusting that God is still at work.</p>



<p><em>*names changed to protect the identities of the children we serve</em></p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-pray-for-haiti"><strong>Pray for Haiti</strong></h3>



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<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for providing Lucson with the opportunity to receive and education and earn his university degree.</li>



<li><strong>Pray </strong>that God would bless Lucson&#8217;s efforts to grow his family&#8217;s business and create sustainable opportunities for his siblings.</li>



<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for the ways Lucson is now able to serve his community and use his skills to support the ministry.</li>



<li><strong>Pray</strong> for comfort and strength as Lucson continues to grieve the loss of his mother.</li>



<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for the long-term impact of education, employment, and discipleship in Lucson&#8217;s life.</li>
</ul>



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<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Join our prayer team to receive monthly prayer requests &amp; praises from across our ministry.</strong></p>



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-left" id="h-will-you-help-orphaned-and-vulnerable-children-in-haiti-experience-the-hope-of-the-gospel"><strong>Will you help orphaned and vulnerable children in Haiti experience the hope of the Gospel?</strong></h4>



<p class="has-text-align-left">When you give to Lifesong, you show orphaned and vulnerable children they are <em>seen, known, and loved</em> through Gospel-centered holistic care<em>.</em> Thanks to TMG Foundation, <strong>100% of your gift goes directly to helping orphaned and vulnerable children. </strong></p>



<div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



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<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/faith-that-keeps-moving-forward-welcome-home-haiti/">Faith That Keeps Moving Forward | Welcome Home Haiti Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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		<title>From Forgotten to Loved | Zambia Update</title>
		<link>https://lifesong.org/2026/08/from-forgotten-to-loved-zambia-update/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cecilia Fulmer]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:57:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifesong News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifesong.org/?p=1164802</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Mason came to our school carrying the weight of feeling forgotten, but through consistent care, community, and the love of Jesus, he began to discover hope. Today, his story shows how God can use a loving community to transform a child’s life and remind them that they are seen, known, and never forgotten.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/from-forgotten-to-loved-zambia-update/">From Forgotten to Loved | Zambia Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mason1-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165275" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mason1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mason1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mason1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mason1.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



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<p class="has-text-align-left"><em>When Mason first came to us, he carried more than a difficult story. He believed he had been forgotten. But when we welcomed him into our school and walked alongside him, we saw hope begin to grow. Today, Mason reminds us that when we surround a child with love, care, and the truth of God’s Word, we can help hope take root and transform their life.</em></p>



<p class="has-text-align-left"><em>Thank you for helping us bring hope to children like Mason. Through your prayers, generosity, and partnership, you remind children that God sees them, loves them, and has not forgotten them.</em></p>



<p><em>—Zambia Team</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-left" id="h-some-children-are-born-into-loving-homes"><strong>Some children are born into loving homes,</strong></h2>



<p>others are born into survival. For Mason*, childhood was defined by survival.</p>



<p>Born out of wedlock, Mason was abandoned at a young age and left to live on the streets. He begged for food just to make it through the day and slept on the bare ground at night.</p>



<p>No child should have to wonder where their next meal will come from. No child should have to face the night without someone to protect them. <strong>But this was Mason&#8217;s reality. </strong></p>



<p>The streets came at a devastating loss; Without shelter or medical care, Mason contracted tuberculosis.</p>



<p>Years of hunger, neglect, and exposure left his body week and vulnerable. To the world, he may have seemed forgotten. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-but-god-had-not-forgotten-mason"><strong>But God had not forgotten Mason.</strong></h3>



<p>In 2023, our team in Zambia welcomed Mason into school. For the first time, he found people who chose to care for him day after day and hope began to take root.</p>



<p>Through Lifesong&#8217;s feeding program, Mason began receiving consistent, nutritious meals. His body was finally given the nourishment it needed to recover from tuberculosis and years of deprivation.</p>



<p><strong>But Lifesong&#8217;s care went beyond meeting his physical needs. </strong></p>



<p>A dedicated caregiver began walking alongside Mason, giving him the love, stability, and encouragement he had never known.</p>



<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mason3-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165276" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mason3-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mason3-800x534.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mason3-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mason3.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Then came education. </strong></p>



<p>Mason had a lot of catching up to do. But his teachers patiently walked with him, helping him discover that he was capable of learning.</p>



<p>The little boy who once spent his days searching for food began to discover something new.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-but-perhaps-the-greatest-change-wasn-t-happening-in-the-classroom"><strong>But perhaps the greatest change wasn&#8217;t happening in the classroom.</strong></h3>



<p>It was happening in his heart. </p>



<p>Through Lifesong&#8217;s discipleship program, Mason encountered the love of a Heavenly Father who had never abandoned him. Mentors prayed with him, encouraged him, and faithfully shared God&#8217;s Word with him.</p>



<p>The boy who once believed he was forgotten began to see that God had never forgotten him.</p>



<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mason2-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165277" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mason2-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mason2-800x534.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mason2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mason2.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>Today, Mason can look back on where he came from and see how God has been faithful. Mason shared,</p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><em><strong>“I used to think nobody cared if I lived or died, now I know God loves me, and I have people who love me too.”</strong></em></p>



<p>His story is a reminder that sometimes, hope begins with something as simple as a meal. </p>



<p>It can look like a caregiver who stays. </p>



<p>A teacher who patiently believes in a child. </p>



<p>A mentor who prays. </p>



<p>A place where a child can finally feel safe. </p>



<p>His story reminds us that when God’s people respond with compassion, <strong>He transforms lives—not only for today, but for eternity.</strong></p>



<p><em>*names changed to protect the identities of the children we serve</em></p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-pray-for-zambia"><strong>Pray for Zambia</strong></h3>



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<li><strong>Praise</strong> God that He did not forget Mason, even when it seemed like the world had.</li>



<li><strong>Pray </strong>for Mason&#8217;s continued health and that his body would remain strong after recovering from tuberculosis.</li>



<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for giving Mason, and children like Mason, a community that sees, knows, and cares for them. </li>



<li><strong>Pray</strong> for Lifesong&#8217;s team in Zambia as they care for children with complex physical and emotional needs. </li>



<li><strong>Praise</strong> God that He cares for the whole child—body, mind, heart, and spirit.</li>
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<p class="has-text-align-left"><strong>Join our prayer team to receive monthly prayer requests &amp; praises from across our ministry.</strong></p>



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<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-navy-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button" href="https://lifesong.org/prayer-team/" style="padding-top:20px;padding-right:40px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:40px" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>JOIN THE PRAYER TEAM</strong></a></div>
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-left" id="h-will-you-help-orphaned-and-vulnerable-children-in-zambia-experience-the-hope-of-the-gospel"><strong>Will you help orphaned and vulnerable children in Zambia experience the hope of the Gospel?</strong></h4>



<p class="has-text-align-left">When you give to Lifesong, you show orphaned and vulnerable children they are <em>seen, known, and loved</em> through Gospel-centered holistic care<em>.</em> Thanks to TMG Foundation, <strong>100% of your gift goes directly to helping orphaned and vulnerable children. </strong></p>



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<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-red-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button" href="https://give.lifesong.org/lifesong/zambia" style="padding-top:20px;padding-right:40px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:40px" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>GIVE TODAY</strong></a></div>
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<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/from-forgotten-to-loved-zambia-update/">From Forgotten to Loved | Zambia Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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		<title>5 Things Your Adopted Child Needs for the First Day of School</title>
		<link>https://lifesong.org/2026/08/5-things-your-adopted-child-needs-for-the-first-day-of-school/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Trisha Priebe]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:18:17 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Adoption Funding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifesong News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adoption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[back to school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family friday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[School]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[school year]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifesong.org/?p=1165212</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>We can't prepare our kids for every awkward question or uncomfortable moment. But we can help them walk into the classroom with confidence.</p>
<p>Here are 5 things to give your adopted child before the first bell rings.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/5-things-your-adopted-child-needs-for-the-first-day-of-school/">5 Things Your Adopted Child Needs for the First Day of School</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/first-day-of-school-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165281" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/first-day-of-school-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/first-day-of-school-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/first-day-of-school-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/first-day-of-school-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-back-to-school-season-has-arrived"><strong>Back-to-school season has arrived,</strong></h2>



<p>which means parents everywhere are buying approximately 47 glue sticks, attempting to remember which child needs the three-ring binder with pockets, and discovering that apparently every pencil in America must now be pre-sharpened.</p>



<p><strong>But also. As an adoptee and adoptive mom, I know there can be another layer to getting our kids ready for school.</strong></p>



<p>Because along with backpacks and lunchboxes, our kids may be walking into classrooms carrying stories their classmates don&#8217;t understand. They may hear questions about why they don&#8217;t look like us, where their &#8220;real&#8221; parents are, or why they were adopted.</p>



<p>We can&#8217;t prepare our kids for every awkward question or uncomfortable moment. <br>But we can help them walk into the classroom with confidence.</p>



<p><strong>Here are 5 things to give your adopted child before the first bell rings.</strong></p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-give-them-language"><strong>1. Give them language.</strong></h3>



<p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20127%3A3&amp;version=ESV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Children are precious gifts from God</a> who will also look another child directly in the face and ask, &#8220;So why didn&#8217;t your real mom keep you?&#8221;</p>



<p><em>Bless their hearts.</em></p>



<p><strong>We cannot bubble-wrap our kids against every wildly inappropriate question asked over a carton of chocolate milk. But we can make sure they have words ready if and when one comes.</strong></p>



<p>Practice a few responses together:</p>



<p>&#8220;My parents <em>are</em> my real parents. I also have real birth parents.&#8221;<br>&#8220;That&#8217;s part of my story I don&#8217;t share.&#8221;<br>&#8220;I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;<br>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to talk about that right now.&#8221;</p>



<p>Our kids don&#8217;t need to become tiny adoption ambassadors roaming the halls educating the masses. They just need to know: <em>I have words and choices and I do not owe everyone my story.</em></p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-give-them-permission"><strong>2. Give them permission.</strong></h3>



<p>Permission to share or not share.</p>



<p>Permission to say, &#8220;That&#8217;s private,&#8221; to change the subject, or to answer openly.</p>



<p><strong>Questions are allowed. Answers are optional.</strong></p>



<p>Teach them this before they need it: <em>Your story belongs to you. You are allowed to keep some or all of it for yourself.</em></p>



<p>Sometimes confidence sounds like knowing exactly what to say. (See #1)</p>



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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="817" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Back-to-School-1-1200x817.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165257" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Back-to-School-1-1200x817.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Back-to-School-1-800x545.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Back-to-School-1-1536x1046.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Back-to-School-1-2048x1395.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">As adopted children grow, new school years can bring new questions.<br>Did you know Lifesong offers post-adoption support for families along the way?</figcaption></figure>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-give-them-perspective"><strong>3. Give them perspective.</strong></h3>



<p id="h-3-give-them-perspective"><strong>Not every awkward question is a problem to solve. Sometimes it&#8217;s actually an opportunity.</strong></p>



<p>Yes, kids can be cruel. But sometimes they are simply curious, clumsy, and working with approximately nine years of life experience. Which is to say: <em>not a lot.</em></p>



<p>A classmate who asks the wrong question—<em>especially if it&#8217;s a friend</em>—may not be trying to hurt or embarrass your child. They may be trying to understand a family that looks different from theirs. </p>



<p>And if your child wants to answer, that moment can become something good:</p>



<p>A chance to correct a misconception.<br>A chance to explain that families are formed in lots of different ways.<br>And a chance for another child to walk away knowing a little more than they did five minutes ago.</p>



<p>Here&#8217;s something I learned first-hand as an adoptee growing up in a school with very few other adoptees: <strong>When we stop treating every awkward question like a five-alarm fire and start seeing it as an opportunity, it can honestly feel like a superpower.</strong></p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-give-them-confidence"><strong>4. Give them confidence.</strong></h3>



<p><strong>Your story can be different and still be good.</strong></p>



<p>Your child may be the only one in the classroom who was adopted. The only one who doesn&#8217;t look like their parents. Or the only one who can&#8217;t answer every question on the family medical history worksheet.</p>



<p>And that can feel big when you&#8217;re ten. <em>I know.</em></p>



<p>So say the things out loud at home that you want them to believe when they&#8217;re away from you:</p>



<p>Your story is nothing to be ashamed of.<br>Not knowing every answer does not make you less important.<br>You are so, so loved.</p>



<p><strong>We cannot guarantee our kids will never feel different. But we can teach them that <em>different</em> is not something they need to apologize for.</strong></p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-give-them-reassurance"><strong>5.</strong> <strong>Give them reassurance.</strong></h3>



<p>Adoption is part of your child&#8217;s story. <em>An important part.</em> But it&#8217;s not the whole story.</p>



<p>Your child is more than the circumstances that brought them into your family. More than the questions they cannot answer. And more than the things other people may assume when they hear the word <em>adopted.</em></p>



<p>Our job is not to hand our children an identity and tell them what to think and feel. It&#8217;s to make room for them to know their story, to ask hard questions, to honor where they came from, and to discover who God says they are and made them to be.</p>



<p>And beneath all the parts of their identity they will spend a lifetime understanding, this remains certain:</p>



<p><strong>They are made in the image of God. Known completely. Loved entirely. Created on purpose</strong><em><strong> for a purpose.</strong></em></p>



<p>So remind them often—probably more often than feels necessary, because apparently children require approximately 4,000 repetitions before anything becomes permanent:</p>



<p><em>You are deeply loved. </em><br><em>You never have to be ashamed of your story.</em><br><em>And no question asked across a lunch table gets to decide who you are.</em></p>



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<p>Your child is ready. All that&#8217;s left is lunch packing, permission slips, missing water bottles, and approximately nine months of asking, &#8220;Where are your shoes?&#8221;</p>
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-if-back-to-school-season-is-stirring-up-bigger-questions-or-challenges-in-your-family-you-don-t-have-to-navigate-them-alone"><strong>If back-to-school season is stirring up bigger questions or challenges in your family, you don’t have to navigate them alone.</strong></h4>



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<p class="has-text-align-center">Lifesong’s post-adoption support exists to come alongside adoptive families for the long haul—with encouragement, resources, and connection for the seasons that require a little more than a new backpack and a sharpened pencil.</p>



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<p class="has-text-align-center">Because adoption doesn’t end when a child comes home. Neither should support.</p>



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<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-bright-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button" href="https://lifesong.org/post-adoption-app/" style="padding-top:20px;padding-right:40px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:40px" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></div>
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<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/5-things-your-adopted-child-needs-for-the-first-day-of-school/">5 Things Your Adopted Child Needs for the First Day of School</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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		<title>When the Walls Come Down | Uganda Update</title>
		<link>https://lifesong.org/2026/08/when-the-walls-come-down-uganda/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cecilia Fulmer]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Country Update]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifesong News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orphan Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uganda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trust]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifesong.org/?p=1164804</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>This story shares the powerful transformation of a young girl who arrived at our team in Uganda guarded and afraid but slowly learned to trust through patient care and the love of Jesus. Today, she is filled with joy, freely worships Jesus, and reminds us of the life-changing power of Christ’s love.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/when-the-walls-come-down-uganda/">When the Walls Come Down | Uganda Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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<p><em>Over the years, we have had the privilege of watching God work in the lives of the children in ways that never cease to amaze us. Sometimes, the greatest changes happen slowly, as we patiently care for children, faithfully teach them, and show them what it means to be loved.</em></p>



<p><em>One of our girls has experienced that kind of transformation. When she first came to us, fear and uncertainty kept her guarded. Today, she embraces life with joy and continue</em>s to grow in her love for Jesus.<em> </em></p>



<p><em>We have watched her walls come down and her heart open, and we are so grateful to share a glimpse of what God has done in her life.</em></p>



<p><em>—Uganda Team</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-she-first-came-to-our-team-in-uganda-in-2022"><strong>When she first came to our team in Uganda in 2022, </strong></h2>



<p id="h-when-amara-first-came-to-lifesong-in-2022-she-was-only-seven-years-old">Amara was only seven years old. She was quiet, serious, and guarded. She rarely smiled, hardly spoke, and seemed to constantly watch the people around her. If someone reached out to pat her on the back or give her a hug, she would tense up or pull away.</p>



<p><strong>Eventually, someone asked her why.</strong></p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><em><strong>“I thought you were going to beat me”</strong></em></p>



<p>Amara explained. </p>



<p>She did not say who had hurt her or when it had happened. But her response helped the team understand why affection did not yet feel safe—and why trust would take time.</p>



<p>Amara had also experienced significant loss and separation. Her father had passed away, and she has no memory of him. She was living with her grandmother, while her mother lived seven or eight hours away and was able to visit only occasionally.</p>



<p>When Amara arrived to our team in Uganda, she didn&#8217;t know anyone or what to expect. She says she doesn&#8217;t trust people easily, so she watches how people behave before deciding whether they are safe.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-for-nearly-three-years-amara-watched"><strong>For nearly three years, Amara watched.</strong></h3>



<p>And the people around her kept showing up. <strong>They cared for her, listened to her, taught her God&#8217;s Word, and patiently showed her what it meant to be loved.</strong></p>



<p>Slowly, Amara began to open up. </p>



<p><strong>In 2025, she gave her life to Christ and was baptized. Since then, the transformation has been remarkable.</strong></p>



<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Christineuse-1-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165218" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Christineuse-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Christineuse-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Christineuse-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Christineuse-1.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>Today, Amara is 11, and she is almost unrecognizable from the guarded little girl who first arrived.</p>



<p><strong>She smiles, laughs, gives the best hugs, and loves singing praise and worship to Jesus.</strong> Even her grandmother has been amazed by the transformation she has seen in Amara since she gave her life to Christ. </p>



<p>Amara shared that before Jesus, she would often steal from her grandmother and was difficult at home. But as Jesus began changing her heart, her grandmother began seeing the difference.</p>



<p>One of Amara&#8217;s favorite things now is singing praise and worship to Jesus. Every Friday night, she joins the church for worship, singing with a joy that would have been hard to imagine when she first arrived.</p>



<p>When asked what she loves most about Jesus, Amara’s answer is simple:</p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><em><strong>“He died to save her so she could be with Him forever.”</strong></em></p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-little-girl-who-once-flinched-at-a-reaching-hand-now-reaches-toward-jesus"><strong>The little girl who once flinched at a reaching hand now reaches toward Jesus.</strong></h3>



<p>Her story reminds us that transformation takes time. Sometimes it takes years of patient love before a child feels safe enough to let their walls come down.</p>



<p><strong>But when that child encounters the love of Jesus, everything can change.</strong></p>



<p>Amara&#8217;s story is still being written. But today, she is learning that she doesn&#8217;t have to live afraid anymore.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-left">She can smile. She can laugh. And she can open her arms. And most importantly, she knows she is loved by Jesus.</p>



<p><em>*names changed to protect the identities of the children we serve</em></p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-pray-for-uganda"><strong>Pray for Uganda</strong></h3>



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<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for the incredible transformation He has brought about in Amara&#8217;s life and for the joy she now has in Christ. </li>



<li><strong>Pray </strong>that Amara will continue growing in her relationship with Jesus and His Word. </li>



<li>Praise God for the faithful care of those who have walked alongside Amara as she learned to trust.</li>



<li>Pray for wisdom and strength for Amara&#8217;s grandmother as she continues raising her. </li>



<li>Praise God for the opportunity to share the hope of Jesus with vulnerable children in Uganda.</li>
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<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Join our prayer team to receive monthly prayer requests &amp; praises from across our ministry.</strong></p>



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-will-you-help-orphaned-and-vulnerable-children-in-uganda-experience-the-hope-of-the-gospel"><strong>Will you help orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda experience the hope of the Gospel?</strong></h4>



<p class="has-text-align-center">When you give to Lifesong, you show orphaned and vulnerable children they are <em>seen, known, and loved</em> through Gospel-centered holistic care<em>.</em> Thanks to TMG Foundation, <strong>100% of your gift goes directly to helping orphaned and vulnerable children. </strong></p>



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<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-red-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button" href="https://give.lifesong.org/lifesong/drops-of-grace" style="padding-top:20px;padding-right:40px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:40px" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>GIVE TODAY</strong></a></div>
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<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/when-the-walls-come-down-uganda/">When the Walls Come Down | Uganda Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Second Chance That Changed Everything | Watch Dyness’ Story</title>
		<link>https://lifesong.org/2026/08/meet-dyness/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Trisha Priebe]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 15:46:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Lifesong News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifesong Schools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orphan Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orphans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[orphans becoming leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zambia]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifesong.org/?p=1163804</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Her father got sick in the morning. By that evening he was at the hospital. By the end of that evening he was gone.</p>
<p>Dyness was nine years old, and her dad had been her closest friend.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/meet-dyness/">The Second Chance That Changed Everything | Watch Dyness&#8217; Story</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-her-father-got-sick-in-the-morning"><strong>Her father got sick in the morning.</strong></h2>



<p>By that evening he was at the hospital. By the end of that evening he was gone.</p>



<p><strong>&#8220;He wasn&#8217;t sick for so many days,&#8221; </strong>Dyness says. <strong>&#8220;It was just a moment.&#8221;</strong></p>



<p>She was nine years old, and her dad had been her closest friend.</p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><em><strong>“I was shattered. I stopped talking. And</strong></em> <em><strong>I stopped playing. I would just sit there alone, thinking about him. It kind of cut me off from everyone.”</strong></em></p>



<p>She had lost the love of a father. And she did not yet know that another Father was already holding her together, and would continue every day of her life.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dyness-was-one-of-nine-children"><strong>Dyness was one of nine children.</strong></h3>



<p>Her mother buried her husband and went looking for work. But according to Dyness, <strong>&#8220;She did not finish school, so she didn&#8217;t have any certificates to get the proper job that would pay her very well.&#8221;</strong></p>



<p>So she washed other people&#8217;s clothes. Cleaned other people&#8217;s houses. Looked after other people&#8217;s children so that her own could eat.</p>



<p>But then word traveled in the community that a school was enrolling. Somebody said it in passing and Dyness&#8217; mother heard it, and she did what she had been doing every day since burying her husband: she went and inquired.</p>



<p><strong>&#8220;That&#8217;s how I got to Lifesong,&#8221;</strong> Dyness says. <strong>&#8220;And by the grace of God, I was selected.&#8221;</strong></p>



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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260322_0015-1200x800.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165187" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260322_0015-1200x800.jpeg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260322_0015-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260322_0015-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260322_0015-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Children walk to Lifesong School in Zambia.</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dyness-was-twelve-when-she-arrived-at-lifesong"><strong>Dyness was twelve when she arrived at Lifesong.</strong></h3>



<p>In her words, <strong>&#8220;It was tough, because I had to learn things I had never heard of.&#8221; </strong></p>



<p>And, by her own admission, <em>she </em>was tough.</p>



<p><strong>&#8220;When I first came to Lifesong, I was a very rude and disrespectful girl. I didn&#8217;t respect teachers and elders, so teachers would be afraid of me.&#8221;</strong></p>



<p>One afternoon, everything came to a head, and Dyness was suspended and sent home.</p>



<p>But—<em>even then</em>—God was still holding her. He had been holding Dyness the whole time she was making herself impossible to hold. Scripture calls God a father to the fatherless. Not a substitute—a father. The kind who does not flinch when a grieving girl tests Him.</p>



<p>A short time later, Lifesong invited her back to school.</p>



<p><strong>&#8220;After I came back, that was when I started seeking God.&#8221;</strong></p>



<p>She attended devotions in the morning before class and devotions again in the evening. She listened to fellow students telling their stories. Then one night a friend told a story that sounded like her own.</p>



<p><strong>&#8220;I got encouraged. She was happy. Why? That was my moment when I started really wanting to know Christ more, and personally.&#8221;</strong></p>



<p>And then she <em>did</em> meet Jesus—at camp with her fellow students while listening to a pastor share the good news of the Gospel.</p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><em><strong>“I gave my life to Christ. It gives me joy, gives me strength, guides me. Without Him I would not be here today.”</strong></em></p>



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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="900" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/File_0022-1200x900.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165188" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/File_0022-1200x900.jpeg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/File_0022-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/File_0022-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/File_0022-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/File_0022-2000x1500.jpeg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dyness with her graduating class at Lifesong School in Zambia.</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-after-graduating-from-secondary-school-dyness-enrolled-at-the-lifesong-vocational-training-center"><strong>After graduating from secondary school, Dyness enrolled at the Lifesong Vocational Training Center.</strong></h3>



<p>She earned her advanced certificate in food production. Then she went on for further training in general hospitality—catering, housekeeping, reception. <strong>&#8220;It gave me more understanding of people. How to deal with the people I&#8217;m serving food to.&#8221;</strong></p>



<p>Then Lifesong called. They were hiring former students. An internship first, and then a job. And Dyness accepted.</p>



<p>Today she cooks and serves at Lifesong School. She makes the meals for children who are sitting where she once sat.</p>



<p>And her work impacts more than the students. She lives with her grandmother now and provides for her, and for the siblings under that roof. </p>



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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026.03-Zambia_D4_01744-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165190" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026.03-Zambia_D4_01744-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026.03-Zambia_D4_01744-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026.03-Zambia_D4_01744-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026.03-Zambia_D4_01744-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dyness with her family.</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-today-there-is-a-young-woman-in-zambia-who-gets-up-before-the-students-do"><strong>Today there is a young woman in Zambia who gets up before the students do.</strong></h3>



<p>Just years ago she was one of them. She was the little girl missing her father, daring every adult in that building to give up on her the way she had already decided they would.</p>



<p>Nobody did. And so now she is the one who doesn&#8217;t give up on others.</p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><em><strong>“There are still pupils going through the same thing that I went through. So I feel like I can also be there for others, like teachers were there for me.”</strong></em></p>



<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260323_0045-1200x800.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165191" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260323_0045-1200x800.jpeg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260323_0045-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260323_0045-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260323_0045-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dyness (in blue) cooks lunch for the students at Lifesong School in Zambia.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Feeding a hungry child is good. Educating her is even better. But Lifesong is after something even more: <strong>orphans becoming leaders. </strong>Students introduced to Jesus Christ and equipped to lead in their own homes and their own communities.</p>



<p>Dyness is now one of those leaders.</p>



<p>She loves Jesus. She has a good job that provides for her family. And she has become a leader.</p>



<p>This is what orphans becoming leaders actually looks like—a young woman who was carried, who now carries others.</p>



<p><strong>God did that.</strong> He held a nine-year-old girl who had stopped talking and He held her through every year she spent grieving. He used givers who contributed to an education for a girl they would never meet, and staff who opened the gate a second time and welcomed her back in.</p>



<p>Yes, Dyness lost her father in a single evening. But she has spent every year since being held by another One. And now there are children in Zambia being encouraged by a young woman who knows exactly how it feels.</p>



<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260321_0007-1200x800.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165193" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260321_0007-1200x800.jpeg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260321_0007-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260321_0007-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Project_20260321_0007-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dyness is now a leader — sitting with the girls who are where she once sat.</figcaption></figure>



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-will-you-help-orphaned-and-vulnerable-children-like-dyness-experience-the-hope-of-the-gospel"><strong>Will you help orphaned and vulnerable children like Dyness experience the hope of the Gospel?</strong></h4>



<p class="has-text-align-center">When you give to Lifesong, you show orphaned and vulnerable children they are <em>seen, known, and loved</em> through Gospel-centered holistic care<em>.</em> Thanks to Manna Foundation, <strong>100% of your gift goes directly to helping orphaned and vulnerable children. </strong></p>



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<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/meet-dyness/">The Second Chance That Changed Everything | Watch Dyness&#8217; Story</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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		<title>From Being Mentored to Becoming a Leader | Liberia Update</title>
		<link>https://lifesong.org/2026/08/from-being-mentored-to-becoming-a-leader-liberia/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cecilia Fulmer]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 15:18:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Country Update]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liberia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifesong News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orphan Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifesong.org/?p=1164832</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Lifesong’s mentorship program is equipping young people in Liberia to grow in faith, discover their gifts, and become leaders who invest in others. Through mentorship, teenagers who were once guided and encouraged are now becoming mentors themselves, creating a lasting legacy of faith, leadership, and hope.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/from-being-mentored-to-becoming-a-leader-liberia/">From Being Mentored to Becoming a Leader | Liberia Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2000/08/Grace-at-Vocational-College-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165209" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2000/08/Grace-at-Vocational-College-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2000/08/Grace-at-Vocational-College-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2000/08/Grace-at-Vocational-College-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2000/08/Grace-at-Vocational-College.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



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<p>We are so grateful to share a glimpse of what God is doing here in Liberia. Through mentorship, we are watching young people grow in faith, discover their gifts, and become leaders who invest in others.</p>



<p>Thank you for standing with us and caring about the next generation. As you read these praises and prayer requests, we invite you to celebrate with us and pray for what God is continuing to do in Liberia.</p>



<p><em>—Liberia Team</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-a-child-grows-up-without-the-support-of-a-family"><strong>When a child grows up without the support of a family,</strong></h2>



<p>the teenage years can bring a new set of challenges. They are learning to navigate relationships, identity, faith, and the future. All while preparing for adulthood. </p>



<p>Young adults need more than a safe place to grow up. They need someone to walk alongside them, challenge them, and encourage them to help discover the leaders God created them to be. </p>



<p><strong>That is why our team in Liberia began a mentorship program for teenagers growing up in their care. </strong></p>



<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Liberiasmallgroup2026-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165205" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Liberiasmallgroup2026-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Liberiasmallgroup2026-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Liberiasmallgroup2026-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Liberiasmallgroup2026.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-of-those-teenagers-was-grace"><strong>One of those teenagers was Grace. </strong></h3>



<p>Grace became an orphan as a result of the Ebola outbreak. She graduated high school and went on to teacher&#8217;s college, where she discovered a passion for working with children.</p>



<p>Grace soon began investing in younger girls through Sunday school, discipleship, and Girls to Girls devotionals.</p>



<p><strong>For young girls, Grace became more than a mentor. </strong>She became the big sister they needed—a safe place to find guidance and encouragement as they navigated growing up.</p>



<p><strong>Someone believed in Grace, and she went on to become that person for someone else.</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-that-is-the-heart-of-our-mentorship-program"><strong>That is the heart of our mentorship program.</strong></h3>



<p>What began with seven boys and three girls has now equipped more than 21 young leaders to serve through discipleship, tutoring, outreach, missions, and community service. </p>



<p>Each week, teenagers learn about character, integrity, spiritual formation, teamwork, and leadership—and then put those lessons into practice.</p>



<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Abraham-Massah-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165207" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Abraham-Massah-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Abraham-Massah-800x534.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Abraham-Massah-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Abraham-Massah.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>Abraham, a participant in the mentorship program, says,</p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><em><strong>“I was given the chance to help my friends and that help has shaped the way I see myself. I think I am carrying them on my shoulders too because they see me as their big brother and leader.”</strong></em></p>



<p>A child who once needed someone to walk beside them becomes the person walking beside someone else.</p>



<p><strong>This is how leadership becomes a legacy. One young person investing in the next, creating a cycle of hope, faith, and purpose.</strong> </p>



<p><em>*names changed to protect the identities of the children we serve</em></p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-pray-for-liberia"><strong>Pray for Liberia</strong></h3>



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<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for more than 21 young leaders who have been equipped through Liberia&#8217;s mentorship program and are now serving others. </li>



<li><strong>Pray </strong>for the young adults being mentored would grow in their faith and leadership.</li>



<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for how He has turned Grace&#8217;s story of loss into one of leadership and impact.</li>



<li><strong>Pray</strong> that Liberia&#8217;s next generation of leaders would use their influence for good. </li>



<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for young people using their gifts through discipleship, tutoring, outreach, and service.</li>
</ul>



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<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Join our prayer team to receive monthly prayer requests &amp; praises from across our ministry.</strong></p>



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<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-navy-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button" href="https://lifesong.org/prayer-team/" style="padding-top:20px;padding-right:40px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:40px" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>JOIN THE PRAYER TEAM</strong></a></div>
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-will-you-help-orphaned-and-vulnerable-children-in-liberia-experience-the-hope-of-the-gospel"><strong>Will you help orphaned and vulnerable children in Liberia experience the hope of the Gospel?</strong></h4>



<p class="has-text-align-center">When you give to Lifesong, you show orphaned and vulnerable children they are <em>seen, known, and loved</em> through Gospel-centered holistic care<em>.</em> Thanks to TMG Foundation, <strong>100% of your gift goes directly to helping orphaned and vulnerable children. </strong></p>



<div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<div class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-red-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button" href="https://give.lifesong.org/lifesong/liberia" style="padding-top:20px;padding-right:40px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:40px" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>GIVE TODAY</strong></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/08/from-being-mentored-to-becoming-a-leader-liberia/">From Being Mentored to Becoming a Leader | Liberia Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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		<title>Holding Onto God’s Steadfast Love | Bolivia Update</title>
		<link>https://lifesong.org/2026/07/holding-onto-gods-steadfast-love-bolivia/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Cecilia Fulmer]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Bolivia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Country Update]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifesong News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orphan Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steadfast]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifesong.org/?p=1164836</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>After years of searching for belonging, David found hope through God’s steadfast love and a community that walked alongside him. Through mentorship, discipleship, and the truth of Scripture, God began transforming his story and reminding him that he is deeply loved.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/07/holding-onto-gods-steadfast-love-bolivia/">Holding Onto God’s Steadfast Love | Bolivia Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="799" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/David-1200x799.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165131" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/David-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/David-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/David-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/David.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



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<p><em>Watching God work in David&#8217;s life has been a beautiful reminder that His love is steadfast. Through the faithful presence of a mentor, a local church, and God&#8217;s Word, David is discovering that even in life&#8217;s hardest seasons, God never leaves His children.</em></p>



<p>Thank you for partnering with us to walk alongside orphaned young adults like David. Undoubtedly, your prayers and generosity help create opportunities for them to experience the hope of the Gospel, meaningful relationships, and the steadfast love of Christ.</p>



<p><em>—Bolivia Team</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-questions-have-no-easy-answers"><strong>Some questions have no easy answers.</strong></h2>



<p><em>Where is God?<br>Has He always been there?<br>Can I trust Him?</em></p>



<p>Specifically, for a young man aging out of care, these are not abstract questions. They are reality. Turning 18 in a children&#8217;s home doesn&#8217;t feel like freedom. It feels like a door closing behind you and no map for what&#8217;s ahead. Independence, yes. But also loneliness. Uncertainty. Wounds that haven&#8217;t finished—<em>or maybe even started</em>—healing.</p>



<p>David* knows.</p>



<p>His childhood taught him abandonment before it taught him anything else. Rejection was familiar. Hurt was the norm. So when he walked out of the children&#8217;s home at 18, he carried more than a bag of belongings. He carried years of pain that made him wonder if God was present. <em>If God had ever been present.</em></p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-here-s-what-david-didn-t-know-yet"><strong>Here&#8217;s what David didn&#8217;t know yet:</strong></h3>



<p>His doubt could not undo God&#8217;s love.</p>



<p>His faith wavered, but God&#8217;s love never did. <strong>That&#8217;s the thing about steadfastness—it doesn&#8217;t depend on the one being held. It depends on the One doing the holding.</strong></p>



<p>So David started attending a local church with other young adults who had aged out like he had. First, they opened the book of Daniel together. Then, week after week, sermon after sermon, conversation after conversation with his mentor, one truth kept surfacing:</p>



<p><strong>Through every trial, God remained steadfast.</strong></p>



<p>The fire came. <em>But God remained.</em> The lions came. <em>But</em> <em>God remained.</em> The empire changed hands and the kings changed names <em>but</em> <em>God remained</em>.</p>



<p>David heard the stories and said—</p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><em><strong>“I want to have faith like Daniel&#8217;s friends!”</strong></em></p>



<p>But today, David is learning something even better than that.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-david-is-learning-that-faith-was-never-about-earning-god-s-love"><strong>David is learning that faith was never about <em>earning</em> God&#8217;s love.</strong></h3>



<p>It&#8217;s about <em>trusting</em> what Jesus already did.</p>



<p><strong>Daniel&#8217;s friends didn&#8217;t make God faithful by being brave; they were brave because their God was already faithful.</strong></p>



<p>And God is still making Himself known—through His people. David&#8217;s church has welcomed him as family. His pastor welcomes him with a hug every week. A small thing, maybe. But to a young man who spent years wondering if he was seen, that hug preaches. It says: you are seen, known, and loved. </p>



<p><strong>Above all, David knows he is not alone. He never was.</strong></p>



<p>Finally, thank <em>you</em> for the part you are playing in David&#8217;s story—and in the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children around the world.</p>



<p><em>*names changed to protect the identities of the children we serve</em></p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-pray-for-bolivia"><strong>Pray for Bolivia</strong></h3>



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<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for His steadfast love and faithfulness in the lives of young adults in Bolivia.</li>



<li><strong>Pray</strong> that David would continue to grow in his relationship with Jesus and remain rooted in God&#8217;s truth. </li>



<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for providing mentors and a community of believers who have walked alongside David in his journey. </li>



<li><strong>Pray</strong> for continued opportunities to share the Gospel with more vulnerable youth. </li>



<li><strong>Praise </strong>God<strong> </strong>for bringing healing from past hardships and replacing fear with hope. </li>
</ul>



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<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Join our prayer team to receive monthly prayer requests &amp; praises from across our ministry.</strong></p>



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<div class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-navy-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button" href="https://lifesong.org/prayer-team/" style="padding-top:20px;padding-right:40px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:40px" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>JOIN THE PRAYER TEAM</strong></a></div>
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-left" id="h-will-you-help-children-in-bolivia-like-david-experience-the-hope-of-the-gospel"><strong>Will you help children in Bolivia like David experience the hope of the Gospel?</strong></h4>



<p class="has-text-align-left">When you give to Lifesong, you show orphaned and vulnerable children they are <em>seen, known, and loved</em> through Gospel-centered holistic care<em>.</em> Thanks to TMG Foundation, <strong>100% of your gift goes directly to helping orphaned and vulnerable children. </strong></p>



<div style="height:30px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<div class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fc4fd283 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-red-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button" href="https://give.lifesong.org/lifesong/bolivia" style="padding-top:20px;padding-right:40px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:40px" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>GIVE TODAY</strong></a></div>
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</div>



<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/07/holding-onto-gods-steadfast-love-bolivia/">Holding Onto God’s Steadfast Love | Bolivia Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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		<title>Good Fruit: Ukraine and Zambia Farms</title>
		<link>https://lifesong.org/2026/07/good-fruit-ukraine-and-zambia-farms/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Oksana Murphy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:01:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Country Update]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifesong News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orphan Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sustainable Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ukraine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zambia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dignified employment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[farming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[transition into adulthood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ukraine]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifesong.org/?p=1164798</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>3 farms. 2 countries. Separated by over 4,000 miles of land and sea—Lifesong Farms Ukraine and Lifesong Farms Zambia are united by a shared mission: providing dignified employment, training, and spiritual development, so families can stay together and more orphans can know the joy and purpose of Jesus. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/07/good-fruit-ukraine-and-zambia-farms/">Good Fruit: Ukraine and Zambia Farms</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ukraine-Farm_zoomed-in-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165107" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ukraine-Farm_zoomed-in-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ukraine-Farm_zoomed-in-800x534.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ukraine-Farm_zoomed-in-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ukraine-Farm_zoomed-in.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-farms-2-countries-separated-by-over-4-000-miles-of-land-and-sea"><strong>3 farms. 2 countries. Separated by over 4,000 miles of land and sea—</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Lifesong Farms Ukraine and Lifesong Farms Zambia are united by a shared mission: providing dignified employment, training, and spiritual development, so families can stay together and more orphans can know the joy and purpose of Jesus. </strong></p>



<p>Our teams employ orphan graduates and caregivers to grow, harvest, and sell strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries in Ukraine and Zambia. The result is not just produce, but orphans becoming leaders at work, within their families, and in their communities. </p>



<p><strong>And 100% of the proceeds go toward furthering the ministry to orphaned and vulnerable children. </strong></p>



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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ukraine-and-Zambia-Farmers-Planting-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165109" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ukraine-and-Zambia-Farmers-Planting-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ukraine-and-Zambia-Farmers-Planting-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ukraine-and-Zambia-Farmers-Planting-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ukraine-and-Zambia-Farmers-Planting.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Above: Employees from Lifesong Farms in Zambia and Ukraine share knowledge and skills. <br>Top: The Lifesong Farms Ukraine team gathers in front of the berry tunnels. </figcaption></figure>



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<p>Every day, orphan graduates and caregivers arrive at work, eager to be with other believers—a place where they feel<em> seen, known, and loved. </em>They participate in devotions and grow together with their coworkers. They learn new skills, build work ethic, and explore innovative technologies to improve farm processes, productivity, and quality.</p>



<p>Despite war in Ukraine and struggles with poverty in Zambia, our teams export hundreds of thousands of pounds of produce to France, Spain, the Netherlands, India, and the UAE and sell them locally within Ukraine and Zambia too. </p>



<p>A ministry leader shares: </p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><em><strong>“Clients who purchase their berries can’t get enough, frequently asking for more than are available.”</strong></em></p>



<p><strong>Your support makes this possible. </strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alexey-s-story"><strong>Alexey&#8217;s Story</strong></h3>



<p>Alexey is one of the young orphan graduates working at Lifesong Farms Ukraine. </p>



<p>When he was a child, his alcoholic parents were unable to provide the stability he and his two older brothers needed. So they were placed in an orphanage. But hope was lacking. </p>



<p><strong>Until, one day, Alexey met our team members who introduced him to God’s love.  </strong></p>



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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Alexey-Ukraine-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165108" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Alexey-Ukraine-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Alexey-Ukraine-800x534.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Alexey-Ukraine-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Alexey-Ukraine.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alexey picks blueberries in Ukraine. </figcaption></figure>



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<p>As a teenager, Alexey moved into a transition home where he continued to be mentored by our team. He began to understand the value of hard work, responsibility, and Christian community. He attended Christian camps, and his faith grew. And later, he found belonging—working, serving, and learning practical skills at Lifesong Ukraine Farms. </p>



<p>Tragedy struck when Alexey’s older brother was killed, defending Ukraine at war. And suddenly, Alexey’s faith became real. <strong>As he wrestled with hard questions, God met him there. </strong></p>



<p>Today, Alexey works on the engineering and technical support team on the farm, helping with welding, repairs, and maintaining farm machinery. He is supported by a family of believers who know his story and believe God has a good plan for his life. </p>



<p>This is the impact of Jesus, family, and jobs. Your generous giving to Lifesong sustainable businesses makes a way for orphans to embrace the good plans God has for their lives. </p>



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-will-you-help-orphaned-and-vulnerable-children-experience-the-hope-of-the-gospel"><strong>Will you help orphaned and vulnerable children experience the hope of the Gospel?</strong></h4>



<p class="has-text-align-center">When you give to Lifesong, you show orphaned and vulnerable children they are <em>seen, known, and loved</em> through Gospel-centered holistic care<em>.</em> Thanks to TMG Foundation, <strong>100% of your gift goes directly to helping orphaned and vulnerable children. </strong></p>



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<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-red-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button" href="https://give.lifesong.org/lifesong/2026-annual-impact" style="padding-top:20px;padding-right:40px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:40px" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>GIVE TODAY</strong></a></div>
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</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/07/good-fruit-ukraine-and-zambia-farms/">Good Fruit: Ukraine and Zambia Farms</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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		<title>Simply Showing Up Makes a Difference | South Korea Update</title>
		<link>https://lifesong.org/2026/07/simply-showing-up-makes-a-difference-south-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Oksana Murphy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:12:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Country Update]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lifesong News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orphan Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South Korea]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adulthood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mentors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mentorship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[transition to adulthood]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://lifesong.org/?p=1164794</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>What happens when an orphaned young adult ages out of care with no family to call? For many orphans in South Korea, adulthood doesn't begin with celebration; it begins with uncertainty. But mentorship is changing that! </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/07/simply-showing-up-makes-a-difference-south-korea/">Simply Showing Up Makes a Difference | South Korea Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h23m27s718-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165093" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h23m27s718-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h23m27s718-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h23m27s718-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h23m27s718.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



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<p><em>It&#8217;s easy to take for granted the safety net a family provides. But orphaned and vulnerable young adults aging out of care in South Korea know just how hard belonging is to come by. </em></p>



<p><em>Because of your support, the young adults we serve are matched with mentors who walk with them for two to four years. During that time, mentees build confidence, ask questions, receive support from someone who cares, and experience the love of Jesus in a tangible way. </em></p>



<p><em>Check out what some of our current mentors have to say about being a mentor below. </em></p>



<p><em>—South Korea Team</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-when-an-orphaned-young-adult-ages-out-of-care-with-no-family-to-call"><strong>What happens when an orphaned young adult ages out of care with no family to call?</strong></h2>



<p><strong>For many orphans in South Korea, adulthood doesn&#8217;t begin with celebration; it begins with uncertainty.</strong></p>



<p>After aging out of care, orphaned and vulnerable young adults face overwhelming pressure to navigate life on their own. They&#8217;re expected to find housing, manage finances, pursue higher education or employment, and build a future, all without the steady encouragement and support that families provide. </p>



<p>In a culture where orphaned young adults can face deep social stigma and isolation, the risks of depression and hopelessness are real.</p>



<p><strong>But your support helps make something extraordinary possible.</strong></p>



<p>Through our mentorship program, orphaned young adults are paired with a mentor who faithfully walks with them for two to four years. They commit to weekly phone calls, monthly outings, prayer, encouragement, and genuine friendship. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-these-relationships-provide-something-every-young-person-needs-someone-who-stays"><strong>These relationships provide something every young person needs: someone who stays.</strong> </h3>



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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h20m47s857-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165092" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h20m47s857-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h20m47s857-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h20m47s857-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h20m47s857.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Above: A mentor greets her mentee with a hug at a mentorship dinner. <br>Top: A mentor shares wisdom with one of the young adults we serve. </figcaption></figure>



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<p>One mentor, HeeYoung, has seen firsthand how life-changing mentorship can be. She shares: </p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><em><strong>“<em><strong>I think this program actually saves lives. It ignites a spark of life in the mentees’ hearts</strong></em>.</strong></em> <em><strong>After leaving an orphanage, orphaned young adults are exposed to many risks. But through the mentorship program, even when life is hard, there’s someone holding onto them and praying for them. When a mentor becomes that fence of protection, the kids can experience true freedom.”</strong></em></p>



<p>Through family-like belonging, young adults in South Korea can experience what it means to be<em> seen, known, and loved. </em>It&#8217;s about pointing them to the hope found in Jesus, while helping them build confidence that they can succeed.</p>



<p>Nayeon, another mentor shares: </p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><span><strong style="font-style: italic;">“Mentorship isn&#8217;t a 500-meter sprint; it&#8217;s a marathon. It&#8217;s a journey where the mentors get to share their lives with their mentees. No matter what state they&#8217;re in, the young adults who come into this community are loved and accepted just as they are. And as they begin to feel a sense of accomplishment and belonging here, their self-esteem grows. It&#8217;s about caring for souls, not one person trying to care for many souls, but giving one-on-one care.</strong></span><em><strong>”</strong></em></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-young-adults-discover-they-are-capable-of-more-than-they-imagined"><strong>The young adults discover they are capable of more than they imagined.</strong></h3>



<p>As mentors model the love of Christ, pray with their mentees, and remind them of their God-given worth, they grow academically, emotionally, spiritually, and professionally because someone believes in them.</p>



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<figure class="animate-when-visible fade-in wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h33m34s274-1200x800.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1165094" srcset="https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h33m34s274-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h33m34s274-800x533.jpg 800w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h33m34s274-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://lifesong.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/vlcsnap-2026-07-08-13h33m34s274.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A mentor shares a gift with his mentee. </figcaption></figure>



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<p>Jay, another mentor, has experienced that growth in action. In his words:</p>



<p class="is-style-font-2 has-bright-blue-color has-text-color has-medium-large-font-size"><span><strong style="font-style: italic;">“Do not underestimate the power of simply showing up. It can be difficult, but it will be worth it. You get to change someone else&#8217;s life, and at the same time, your life will also change.</strong></span><em><strong>”</strong></em></p>



<p>Because of people who have made the decision to simply show up, orphaned young adults are finding hope, building confidence, and becoming the leaders God created them to be. </p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-pray-for-south-korea"><strong>Pray for South Korea</strong></h3>



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<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Praise</strong> God for faithful mentors who make a difference in the lives of orphaned and vulnerable young adults in South Korea simply by showing up. </li>



<li><strong>Pray </strong>for God to move the hearts of more Christians in South Korea to become mentors. </li>



<li><strong>Praise</strong> God that orphaned and vulnerable young adults are experiencing belonging as they enter adulthood. </li>



<li><strong>Pray</strong> that mentees would be deeply encouraged by their mentors and that they would invest in the relationship too. </li>



<li><strong>Pray</strong> for current mentees to one day become mentors to vulnerable young adults like them. </li>
</ul>



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<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Join our prayer team to receive monthly prayer requests &amp; praises from across our ministry.</strong></p>



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-will-you-help-orphaned-and-vulnerable-children-in-south-korea-experience-the-hope-of-the-gospel"><strong>Will you help orphaned and vulnerable children in South Korea experience the hope of the Gospel?</strong></h4>



<p class="has-text-align-center">When you give to Lifesong, you show orphaned and vulnerable children they are <em>seen, known, and loved</em> through Gospel-centered holistic care<em>.</em> Thanks to TMG Foundation, <strong>100% of your gift goes directly to helping orphaned and vulnerable children. </strong></p>



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<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-red-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button" href="https://give.lifesong.org/lifesong/south-korea" style="padding-top:20px;padding-right:40px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:40px" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>GIVE TODAY</strong></a></div>
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<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://lifesong.org/2026/07/simply-showing-up-makes-a-difference-south-korea/">Simply Showing Up Makes a Difference | South Korea Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://lifesong.org">Lifesong for Orphans</a>.</p>
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