Wednesday, September 12, 2012

For the last year we have been working with Childrens HopeChest and Hosanna Lutheran Church in Lakeville to build a partnership with Hosanna Ethiopia and Hosanna Church. It has been fun to watch the church get excited about these precious children and the possibility of having our church building a bridge with this community. "From Hosanna to Hosanna!"

It has taken sometime to get to where we wanted, but God did so much in the process. We went from 180 children to 300!! This was exciting. We have been extreemly blessed to be working with the staff from Children's HopeChest. www.hopechest.org  HopeChest, works all over the world taking churches in the US and helping them Build a Bridge from a community overseas to their church.  They start with assisting with a SPonsorship Program and the goal is to work with the community as a whole not just the orphan. The goal for us and for HopeChest is to help these communities get them the start they need, training and the knowledge of the power and love of Jesus. We then help them to thrive and be sustainable on their own so that dependance on us is not needed long term but a life long relationship will be key.

August 25th and 26th was the weekend of our launch. Wow! What a beautiful and awesome time it was. The team from HopeChest came down to do the launch. Wil Crooks, Teresa Brockway and Juree Wilson. We had many volunteers to help with signing up the sponsors! Pastor Bill gave a powerful heartfelt message. Hearts were stirred, Jesus was present and miracles were happening.

I will never forget the excitement that was felt by all when the last child was held up and Wil announced "here is the last child, who wants him?" and a lady yelled, "I'll take him"!! What a tremendous feeling to know that all 300 children will have a sponsor and these families are forever blessed by doing so. A beginning to a beautiful relationship between a church and a community. Many lives will be changed and hearts touched as together we obey a calling only God could orchestrate. Thank you Jesus!!







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