Family Legacy » Orphan Ambassadors

Ambassador Highlight

john — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 22:11:58 +0000

Five girls from Casady School in Oklahoma arrived back to the States last summer eager to find a way to impact the precious children they had met at Camp LIFE Zambia. After thinking and praying about it, they decided to raise money for the school at the Tree of Life Children’s Village. This school will not only provide an excellent Christian education for the children living at the Tree of Life, but eventually it will serve up to one thousand kids from the local community.

In order to raise money for the school, these five girls – Madison and Abigail Utz, Laura Joullian, Emily Ellis, and Maya Shiff – founded Sow Love Zambia. After one month the teens have raised almost $20,000 and the group has grown to 19 student members, many of whom are returning to Zambia with the girls in July.

The girls’ desire to raise the money for the school at the Tree of Life reflects a broader focus of Family Legacy Missions to provide a quality education to all of the children touched by our programs. Family Legacy is changing the education of these children through Lifeway Christian Academies, government/private school scholarships, tutoring, and school supplies. Along with discipleship, a solid education will equip these children with the necessary tools to change their future and the future of their families and communities.

A local news agency wrote a story about the work of Sow Love Zambia. Camp LIFE alumni, please continue to share with others how the Lord has changed your lives and the lives of your kids at camp. And like the girls at Casady School, think of ways that you can use your gifts and talents to impact the lives of these children. We would love to hear the story of how YOU are helping!

For more information about education in Zambia, go to www.familylegacy.com/education

Jonathan's Big Bus is Fully Funded

john — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:36:51 +0000

Jonathan’s Big Bus is finished! After years of fundraising and hard work, all $25,000 for the bus has been donated. When Jonathan Kendall decided to raise funds for a bus four years ago, he did so knowing that his investment would make a permanent impact in Zambia.

Through Family Legacy’s Big Bus program, a donation of $25,000 can purchase a bus that is used for public transport in Zambia which generates income for the ministry. A portion of this revenue helps to maintain the bus while the rest is used for direct ministry to the children. The revenue of a Big Bus can endow ten sponsorships in the Father’s Heart Child Sponsorship program!

Jonathan is very thankful for everyone that helped him reach his goal. Hundreds of people bought Zambian cookies and soccer balls and participated in auctions. Others even gave matching grants. Because Jonathan was strong in his belief that the dream of a Big Bus would one day become reality, he is now getting to choose the children that will be permanently endowed in the Father’s Heart program.

Would YOU like to endow ten more children through the purchase of another bus? If so, click here for more information.

Congratulations, Jonathan, on your Big Bus and the impact it will have on children for years to come!

Sharing about the Orphans from Canada

john — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:00:34 +0000

Billie Long is a two time Camp LIFE alumni from Canada. Billie is one of many alumni who have found themselves transformed by what God is doing in Zambia and by the time spent with HER Zambian children.

Billie knew that she wanted to get the word out to her friends and her community, so she decided to use her resources to get her story and Family Legacy’s story into her local newspaper. In the article she talks about the problems in Zambia and what the Lord is doing through Family Legacy to help solve them. She talks about her trip and how it has changed and impacted her. She then outlines different ways people can help.

See article here

Billie has not only taken the truth of God’s word to the orphans of Zambia, but has now taken the truth about the children of Zambia to Canada. That is precisely how God’s ripple works. We want to thank Billie but also encourage you all to get out and tell people about YOUR children.

That is why one of our ministry verses is Isaiah 61:1. “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

YOU are the voice for YOUR children. So let people know about what the Lord is doing in Zambia. Host dinners, send letters, talk to people in your office, speak at church, use your various gifts and talents to tell their stories.

Then watch God move as he tends to the needs of each one of his precious Zambian children.

To read more orphan ambassador stories click here

Auction for Orphans

holly — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:40:59 +0000

We had an amazing group of New Yorker’s get creative in reaching out to their friends and family in an effort to raise awareness, excitement and sponsorship funds for the children of Zambia through our Father’s Heart Program. Greg & Ashley Buechele, Cori Packard, and Diane Brouillard put together an incredible Father’s Heart Photography Exhibition and Auction Fundraiser as well as a VIP film screening in New York City of a documentary capturing their time at Camp LIFE. With Ashley Buechele’s amazing photography, a silent auction was held where people could bid on each print displayed. Ashely and the group of Camp LIFE Week #5 Ambassadors were so thankful to the Lord for providing twenty-four sponsorships for their children, with an additional six kids being provided for over an entire year simply from ticket sales at the door! They are elated and overjoyed, and want to thank everyone who prayed and supported them in this endeavor to raise money for their precious kids.

Family Legacy would like to thank Greg, Ashley, Cori, and Diane for all their hard work — THIRTY Zambian orphans are looking at a brighter future now because of their hearts to want to make a difference one child at a time!! Click here if you’re interested in purchasing one of Ashley’s photos from Camp LIFE 2009.

Below is the video documentary that Diane Brouillard made — Enjoy watching!

[youtube width="640" height="505"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y0u7c2TlV0[/youtube]
Watch the second part here

Camp LIFE Photos

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:00:29 +0000

We were very lucky to have some very talented people come to Camp LIFE with us this year. One of those people, Cherie Strader, is a professional photographer and took some really great photos for us. She said what stood out to her were the faces of each child in the photos and knowing that God is intimately familiar with each one. The video below shows some of her work at Camp LIFE.

[youtube width="480" height="385"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=img1pWpYREg[/youtube]

Thanks so much Cherie for using your talents to show love to the children of Zambia. You can visit Cherie’s site at www.cheriemarie.com

Tiny Tim & Friends

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:30:55 +0000

It is estimated that in Lusaka 22-25% of the population is HIV positive, although those statistics are very rough estimates because over 90% of the population has never been tested. 400 people die every day in Lusaka from HIV/AIDS, and as a result, it is estimated that 75% of Zambian households are caring for one or more orphans. Many of the children in our programs are HIV positive and through the Father’s Heart program we are able to provide transportation to a doctor who can give them ARVs (Anti-Retro Virals) which, for lack of a better explanation, puts the virus to sleep.

This year at Camp LIFE, we want ALL of the children in our program to have the same opportunity to get tested for HIV/AIDS. We are praising God for the most amazing partnership with an organization called Tiny Tim & Friends (TTAF), which is an organization that treats children for 6 – 8 months or even longer if necessary in order to stabilize the children and get them on the right path with ARVs. The results that they have seen have been REMARKABLE. Over the last number of months, Heather Ransom, our Father’s Heart Coordinator, has formed a partnership with Dr. Meade and his staff. We are so pleased to announce that Dr. Meade and his staff will be at Camp LIFE every Tuesday testing our children.

Thanks to TTAF, we will be able to test over 10,000 kids and follow-up with those who test positive for HIV, TB and various other diseases. Dr. Meade and his staff will meet with the families of children who test positive and counsel them through decisions that need to be made. God has been working so many miracles in HIS ministry to these kids, and we know that this partnership with Tiny Tim & Friends is yet another huge testimony of God signing His Name on Camp LIFE 2009, and also another example of His Heart to bring FULL restoration of HIS Kids here in Zambia.

A Necklace for Zambia

susan — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:00:06 +0000

I always love to see how the Lord moves in people’s lives, especially after a mission trip to Zambia. One special friend of mine attended Camp LIFE in 2008 — Jean Storm. Jean surprised her children and grandchildren by announcing that she was going to go on a mission trip to Zambia, Africa. Even though initially some of Jean’s grandchildren thought she was crazy and tried to discourage her from traveling all the way to Africa, they realized that their “Gran’s” mind was made up. Her daughter, Cari Mercer, caught her mom’s excitement of living out James 1:27 and signed up to go to Camp LIFE with her. They both experienced an incredible week of ministering to the children in their small groups—just by being the hands and feet of Jesus.

While in Zambia, some of the Camp LIFE participants learned that Jean was a jewelry designer and approached her about designing a special commemorative necklace that would signify what the Lord is doing in Zambia. So, that’s exactly what Jean did. Yet she not only designed a uniquely crafted commemorative sterling silver necklace, she’s doing it all for the kids in Zambia. Each necklace sold sponsors a Zambian orphan for one entire month through the Father’s Heart program. Jean has already sold enough necklaces to sponsor several kids for an entire year–but she wants to get even more kids sponsored.

If you’ve been to Zambia, you know how special this necklace is. It has the country of Zambia in the background with the cross in the foreground. It’s a great conversation-starter as people are curious to understand the significance. Plus, just knowing that your purchase helped a child in Zambia should make you smile.

The necklace is available for both men (on a leather chain) and women (on a sterling silver chain) and comes in both 16” and 18” inch lengths and sells for only $46.

Check out Jean Storm Designs online.

Jean’s already making plans to return to Zambia in 2010 with her husband, Paul, and Cari, plus others!! You know, isn’t that what a Family Legacy is all about?

Sock It To Me!

andrew — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:00:16 +0000

This is the time of year when many of us are packing (and repacking) our bags, planning our trip, and tending to a thousand other details as we prepare for our precious time in Zambia. As the time draws near for us to depart, the excitement builds in anticipation of being at camp and spending time with the children. But as excited as we are about going to Camp LIFE, we also love to see the excitement catch on with those individuals who are not even GOING on the trip and have not even HEARD of our work in Zambia.

A few weeks ago Holly and I had the opportunity to speak about sharing Jesus’ love for ALL the children of the world at the chapel service at Poetry Community Christian School (PCCS) in Poetry, Texas. After the presentation, the students and teachers asked if THEY could do something to be a part of this mission. Something tangible, something fun, something like . . . SOCKS!

The Knight Family and trashbags full of SOCKS!

New socks are a big need for our ministry this year as we plan to distribute tens of thousands of new shoes to orphans and vulnerable children both at our camp in Lusaka and throughout the rest of Zambia through our remote camps. In order to give each child a new pair of socks along with their shoes, we are asking all of our 2009 Camp LIFE Ambassadors to bring at least one dozen pair of socks with them to camp. Upon hearing about this project, the students at PCCS decided they would help too!

The school challenged the students to see how many pair they could collect. The students had all week to bring them to school and at the end of the week, the socks were tallied and the students were able to SOCK IT to the principal. Mrs. Anne J. Horan, Administrator, was a good sport while the students pummeled her with 979 pairs of socks. It did not take long for her to be completely buried under the pile of donated items. The students participating in the sock drive earned the privilege of wearing crazy socks in honor of the lives that will be touched this summer thanks to donations made by even the smallest of folks. Through their efforts nearly 1000 orphans will receive a new pair of socks this year. Way to go students! Thank you for your contributions and support!

A Doll For Orphans

susan — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:13:40 +0000

Just a few weeks ago the following e-mail from my youngest daughter popped in my inbox with little warning. I found out later that her older sister, Karis, who is 13 years old helped her type it and put in the links, but the words are all Kaleigh’s.

A DOLL FOR ORPHANS

Hi! My name is Kaleigh, if you don’t already know me, I’m nine years old. You’re probably wondering why I’m sending you this email. The answer is I have a MISSION!!! My mission is to buy a doll for Lahema’s house (A home for orphans) in Zambia, you can find more about this house at http://www.legacymissions.org/tree-of-life/ . The problem is, I don’t have enough money, so I need your help!
I want to give these girls a doll, because God has provided me with so many gifts throughout the years, but these girls haven’t gotten many gifts. This is a way for me to show the love of Jesus to these girls. One of these girls is one of my best friends, her name is Emma. Emma’s story is really sad, and if you have time I would really like you to read her story at http://www.legacymissions.org/camp-life/emmas-story/. Okay below I have a picture of me and Emma and the doll I’m raising money for to donate to those 12 girls including Emma.

The doll is $95, but I already have $25, so I need $70 more. If you want to donate some money you can mail your donation to me at 338 Tanglewood Lane in Coppell, TX 75019. Even if you can send just a few dollars that’s fine. I’ll be buying the doll before I leave for Zambia in May and give it to the kids in Lahema’s House this summer. Thanks!

If you can’t donate anything please send the message on to a friend who can donate.

Love,

Kaleigh

Even though there were only about 6 e-mails up in the address line, it wasn’t long before Kaleigh began receiving mail with cash in it from people who had been forwarded the e-mail. There were children who sent all their allowance and others who gave more. Soon, Kaleigh received enough money to go purchase the FIRST doll for the girls at the Tree of Life Children’s Village (you can see her with Doll #1 in the picture). And next Saturday, May 9th, Kaleigh is going back to the American Girl store in Dallas to purchase the 2nd and 3rd doll. Kaleigh is going to purchasing dolls to benefit the girls in Kristin’s Miracle House (a 2nd home for girls at the Tree of Life Children’s Village) and Lahema’s House. If you would like to help contribute to Kaleigh’s Mission of giving dolls to the girls in the Tree of Life Children’s Village, please go to the donate page and select the Tree of Life Children’s Village fund –then select Doll for Orphans. Click here to go right to the Donate Page.

Can T-shirts Build a Village?

clay — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:09:04 +0000

They can if Shawnee Ingrum has anything to do with it. Shawnee is an Orphan Ambassador who came with us to Zambia last summer with her family for the first time. This summer will be their 2nd trip. Shawnee owns Heaven Sent Children’s Boutique in the Coppell/Lewisville area in Dallas and has a deep passion for the orphans of Zambia. She read on our blog about two high schools in the Klein ISD whose student councils sold t-shirts to raise money for the Tree of Life Childrens Village. These high school students were able to raise $5,000 and that really inspired Shawnee. She decided to design a t-shirt that she is now selling in her store with 100% of the proceeds going to help build the Tree of Life Children’s Village.

Heaven Sent Children’s Boutique is selling these exclusive “Hope” t-shirts for $15 each. To get your shirt go by:

Heaven Sent Children’s Boutique
420 E. Round Grove Rd #113
Lewisville, TX 75067

You can even order a shirt by calling them at (972) 459-9400 or sending an email. They will ship them you for an additional $5.
Orders will be taken through Friday, May 8th.

Thanks, Shawnee, for loving the orphans of Zambia the way you do!