cinco dias mas & MATCHING opportunity!

In just 5 days, we will be on our way to San Lucas, Guatemala! As we have reflected on the winding road to finally boarding this airplane, we are in awe of our awesome God! Ten years of prayers are culminating into one-way tickets this coming Thursday! 

The next 5 days will be filled with many emotions. But, as we say goodbye to our family and friends, we are reminded that this world is not our home! These verses have become more and more real over the last six months - 

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

As we transition from this -

to this one bedroom where all 4 of us will be living for the next several months - 

We are SO grateful that God broke our hearts for the things that break His heart! 


At Village of Hope we will have the amazing opportunity to reach out to SO many in need. As we prepare the facility, study Spanish, and develop curriculum for our caregivers over the next few months, we will also be serving through a Manna Feeding Program and outreach to the community! Check out this post from our fellow missionaries Todd and Amy Block about serving in the local garbage dump. 


We were going to ask you to please join us in prayer that God would provide the remaining $390 per month that we are in need of in order to leave... but as we were writing this, we just received  a MATCHING CHALLENGE! We have an AMAZING friend that has agreed to match the next monthly commitments that are made totaling up to $150 per month. 


Are you able to give $10, $30, or $50 per month or maybe a one-time gift to further the kingdom work in Guatemala? In addition to the monthly need, we are also asking the Lord to provide for our required training which will prepare us linguistically, culturally, spiritually, and emotionally! As the pioneers of this ministry it is crucial that we are fully prepared and that we will have longevity in our ministry! Maybe the Lord would call you to make a one-time gift to meet this need? 


Please pray for our family in the coming days...we will need it:)


With gratitude and love,
Dan, Christi, Malakai, and Finley

GOTCHA day!

One year ago today we landed in Ethiopia after MANY hours of traveling... the day was FINALLY here to be reunited with our sweet boy and have him in our arms FOREVER!

He was a VERY scared little boy...

As the week progressed we started to gain a bit of trust... he started eating and sleeping a bit...

And we arrived safely in Chicago on Father's Day 2011 with this amazing GIFT!

This sweet boy had endured so much in the 21 months of his life and here he was going through another HUGE change. Although we were over the moon in love with him, he was scared, tired, lonely, and VERY confused! As we settled into our home that was so comforting to both of us, EVERYTHING was overwhelming to Malakai Aweke! He didn't understand Engrlish, had never been in a kitchen before, never been around food being prepared, never been in a carseat, and the list goes on... everyone he had ever been close to in his life left one way or another... so why would he trust us... well, he didn't!

We have not only seen this boy grow physically over the last year - he's grown 6.5 inches and gained 11 pounds - but we've seen him grow in so many other ways as well! The joy he brings to the lives of so many is incredible. The story of this ONE child has touched the hearts of SO many... so many that didn't know they could love a child that didn't have their biological bond... so many that had never seen a former orphan face to face... and so many that were unaware that they could love an African American child!

We have had the privilege of watching Malakai grow and thrive... and the little boy he has become is truly amazing! He is witty, hilarious, sweet, and keeps us on our toes... but most importantly we see a heart that is growing to love Jesus and we pray that he serves HIM all the days of his life!

Once that scared little baby... now a thriving little boy full of life!

We got this in his lunch today... thought it was rather fitting for gotcha day and the fact that we leave in 6 days!

when you give - with BOTH HANDS

                                                                         (photo credit)

I’d like to ask you to do something for me. Real quick, right where you are, take just a minute and really look at your HANDS.

If something is in them, set it down, turn your HANDS over palms up and really look at the marvelous creation the human HAND is.

If you are like me, most days you do not give much thought about the importance of your HANDS. Yet can you imagine your life without them?

Throughout the bible ‘HANDS’ are mentioned over 1,800 times… in the beginning Jesus used his HANDS to form and shape us into His image, in the end those same loving HANDS of Jesus were nailed to the cruel cross…

And still today we place our lives in the HANDS of Jesus.

Isaiah 49:15-16 - I will not forget you...I have carved you on the palm of my HAND.

We use our HANDS to pray, heal, praise, speak, give, work, touch, hold, love and bring Him glory. They are a beautiful tool the Lord has given us to be His HANDS on this earth today.

As our team sought the Lord for ways to financially make Village of Hope a reality and glorify God at the same time- we knew it would take a lot of willing HANDS to bring His vision to completion.

And then the Lord brought the BOTH HANDS project to mind.

Both Hands is a beautiful, simple way of living out James 1:27 with your HANDS.

A Both Hands project is simply:

1. Gathering a group 15 to 20 people. (think youth group, small group, or awesome friends)

2. Finding a widow in need in your community.

3. Each member of your group sends out a support letter (can be through letters, email or facebook) to everyone they know explaining what Both Hands project is and asking for sponsorship for the project.

4. A day is chosen and your group goes to the widow’s house to serve by cleaning out gutters, mowing, trimming bushes, cleaning out garages, moving heavy items, painting, etc.

5.The funds are then collected and sent to Lifesong for Orphans for Village Of Hopes Both Hands project. The funds are then used to better the life of an orphan.

What I love about this is how God takes the circumstance of the widow and brings them joy in knowing that their circumstance is helping an orphan. It’s helping out in the community around you and at the same time touching the life of a child across the world. Plus-it’s a blast!

When a person comes along someone who is not in their family, lifts them up with their HANDS, carries the weight with them without expecting to receive anything in return- people see Jesus.

You have the ability to make a difference in this world by using the HANDS the Lord gave you.

If you are interested in coming along side of us and giving us a HAND in making Village of Hope thrive we'd love for you to do a Both Hands Project in your community. Please contact us at:  amy@lifesongfororphans.org or christi@lifesongfororphans.org  for more details.

We would love to have your help.


Both Hands Big Build Animation from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

available and obedient

This past weekend we heard our pastor preach on being AVAILABLE and OBEDIENT. The Lord has called our family to serve HIM in Guatemala and we have booked one-way tickets for TEN days from today! 

On June 21st we will step on a plane and travel 2,600 miles away from those we love! While saying goodbye seems impossible, we are excited for the incredible opportunity to share Jesus with those that have been hiding in fear and shame for their entire lives because they are living with HIV/AIDS. There are 380,000 orphaned children in Guatemala who need HOPE... the hope that can be found through Jesus Christ alone! Although we sometimes feel inadequate for what He has called us to at Village of Hope, we are available and obedient! It is a scary thing to uproot your family to another country, but we have peace that when we step out in obedience, He will meet all of our needs! 

Yes, You came when I called, You told me, ‘Do not fear’ - Lamentations 3:57.

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others - 2 Corinthians 9:8

We are asking you, the body of Christ, to step out of the boat with us on this incredible journey. We have sold our home and belongings, and the only possessions we have left on this earth are the few things that will fit in the luggage we can carry on the airplane. 

Would you give sacrificially to be a part of the Lord’s work in Guatemala? In order to leave in 10 days we need to be at 75% of our monthly financial need, but are currently at 54%. That translates to $720 per month or $8,640 for the year. The children of Guatemala need your help... are you available?