This week we are highlighting one of our American staff members, Lindsey Beasley. She and her husband Luke sponsor Evans, a precious two year old boy living at the Tree of Life. When they heard the heartbreaking story about little Evans and his two older brothers, Akim (8) and Timothy (5), they knew they had to take action.
Evans and his brothers lived in a slum compound in Lusaka. Their father has been absent their entire lives and their mother was mentally ill and frequently left the boys alone for days without a thought for their well-being. These sweet boys were unwanted, forgotten and abandoned. They had never known the loving embrace of a parent or really anyone for that matter.
At that time it was Akim’s responsibility as the oldest to provide food for his little brothers. One day when he was out begging he returned home to find that their mother had lit their house on fire while the two youngest were inside. Akim frantically ran inside and saved his two younger siblings. What a tragedy to think that at eight years old this child was having to act like an adult, sacrificing his own life for the sake of his siblings.
Can you imagine what it must feel like to have your own mother trying to end your life? Someone that you have always trusted turning their back on you and trying to kill you? As if the suffering they had endured through starvation was not enough their own mother was blatantly trying to end their lives.
Our God rescued these three boys out of deadly circumstances and took them into a place they can call home through Family Legacy. Now all three boys live at the Tree of Life, where love is restored, healing is taking place and lives are renewed through Jesus Christ. They went from a life of starvation, abuse and neglect to a life of hope and a bright future; a life where they can FINALLY be a kid. For the first time in their lives they feel safe, wanted and cared for.
Luke and Lindsay see their sponsorship as an investment, not only in the life of this precious child but into the Lord’s kingdom. Sponsoring a child at the Tree of Life is truly serving “the least of these,” referred to in Matthew 25:40.
As Lindsey told me about the joy her sponsorship brings her she stated, “I cannot explain the true joy and genuine excitement that I feel in my heart when little Evans sees me from across the field and his tiny legs move as fast as they can bringing him into my arms.” Sponsoring Evans has given Lindsey and Luke a new perspective on unconditional love and their personal relationships with Christ.
In Zambia there are one million orphans. Many children just like Evans are still in need of love and care. God knows each orphan by name and He wants them all to experience this love.
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