HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

NEW YEAR

GREETINGS FROM 

LAMb International

Lynn and Ruby Johnston

We are thrilled to wish you a wonderful new year ahead.  

We are gearing up for our 2019 - serving through LAMb International/The Global Capacity Building Network.

Please consider joining us in one of a number of ways:

1) Year-End Financial Contribution - go to the donate button and you are set for the 2018 year!

2) Join us to serve for one of many options for you - talk to us about what is coming up.  Africa, Jordan, Nicaragua, Kyrgyzstan, India, etc.  As God calls.

3)  Become a monthly supporter - any amount will be a blessing - just hit the donate button here on the blog.

4)  Sponsor a senior activity for our Senior Project in Botswana.

5) Sponsor one of our University Students - we have 2 at this time - need $600 per year for each.

6)  Sponsor training for caregivers who are serving vulnerable and exploited children - any amount helps!

THANK YOU ALL

BLESSINGS AND AGAIN - HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM LAMB

Merry Christmas

We wish you blessings on this most joyous time of the year.

It has been an amazing time of the year - and we will soon be posting a view of the year!

LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

WONDER WOMAN

 COMMON - NOT TO SMILE FOR A PHOTO

Wonder Woman

Pastor Elena in Kyrgyzstan.

Not enough can be said about the grit and determination of this single mom of five adopted, the most recent being one of our little girls from our Dayspring program. What a joy it has been to see this young Dayspring girl to have her permanent family – complete with brothers and sisters.

But there is so much more we want to share about this “wonder woman” – Pastor Elena.  In addition to hosting a small church in her home, Pastor Elena teaches a pre school class – free to the young children in her village. And most recently, she has been establishing a small farming activity with some livestock.

Over the past years she has been sponsored to purchase a cow and now she has two cows and several pigs.  She has been able to gather the materials to start the building of a barn.  You can see in the photos below construction is well underway.

But now she needs help to purchase materials for the roof of this barn. It will take about $1,500 US dollars to complete this building. Does the hard work of a wonder woman touch your hear?  A single mom who is making a difference?

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”  James 1:27

Please prayerfully consider helping.

Donations can be made through the blog.

 Lambinternational.blogspot.com 

NOT LETTNG GRASS GROW UNDER OUR FEET

SUSTAINABILITY

GOAL AND COMMITMENT

“not letting grass grow under our feet”

LAMb has been growing and developing more and more strategies that will help sustain initiatives of capacity building in the countries where we have been called. These initiatives will build the knowledge and skills needed for the persons working with families in crisis, orphans and vulnerable children who have been exploited or suffered from violence, abuse and/or neglect. 

PLEASE TAKE A LOOK HERE

Over the course of the last few years, we have seen the following:

India:  Helping to build a national training center that is focused on helping children who have experienced trauma, such as child abuse, violence, and sexual exploitation.  Presently within the Child Healing Center, we have 10 trainers who are now training throughout the country of India.  We are continuing to build their capacity in understanding how to work with a child who has experienced psychological trauma.

Simultaneously we are implementing a program (Training of Trainers) across India that will help in preparing Foster and Adoptive families in India for Indian children needing homes.  This program is in partnership with CERI (Children’s Emergency Relief International in India – led by Ian Forber-Pratt)

Nicaragua:  Slowed down by the violence in the country – but NOT stopping.  We are building capacity within the country and now soon starting to train trainers and initiating a NATIONAL NICARAGUAN TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING initiative.  With the work of our partners in Nicaragua, we have trained workers and team members from 7 different organizations.  Working with OrphaNetwork we have seen amazing changes in how children are treated and served. OrphaNetwork feeds over 20,000 children daily through their Local Church Initiative -  and with this new initiative, the impact will be massive.

NEXT STEP: Helping to develop a National Capacity Building Initiative with the OrphaNetwork Team. This project will focus on Family Based Care Initiative within the present residential system – moving step by step to family reunification as the goal.   Target starting date – January 2019.

Ethiopia:  With the Child Development Training and Research Center (CDTRC), we are working with 9 trainers and their director to build their capacity as an organization to serve their country in different areas of discipleship, child abuse, strengthening families and more.  At this time the CDTRC has just completed a camp for over 600 youth – and this camp was crafted with Trauma Informed Strategies and Activities to reach the minds and hearts of children who came to the camps from the orphanages. 

One orphanage director contacted the CDTRC after the camp and asked, “What did you do to my kids? They have returned with such positive attitudes and as such kind children, whatever you did – Thank You.”

Zimbabwe:  Working with Zimbabwe Without Orphans – training 12 trainers who have been out in the country and have trained over 250 persons in Trauma Informed Care – these persons trained are representing 3500 youth in their care.

Botswana:  The village of Khwai – after the devastating flood, we are in the rebuild and repair stage.  We have secured a building for the education and training of the single moms project and to also use as a pre-school for their children.  This building is in need of a new roof and we have a plan in place to get this done.

 

In addition we have hired a full time teacher to move into the village and have secured a little house for her.  This is all after our project fell apart after the flooding that occurred there last year.  NOW – back on track!  Praise Him.

THE NEW BUILDING - UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW...

CHILDREN WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PRE-SCHOOL

CLEANING OUTSIDE THE BUILDING

Add caption

CLEAN AND READY FOR RENOVATION

PART OF OUR WORK CREW

AND THEY WAIT - AND WANT SO TO LEARN

NO LONGER TO BE SENT AWAY
WE HAVE A FULL TIME TEACHER HIRED!!!

 

Botswana:  The senior center in Maun is nearing completion and it is the first of tow buildings.  Under the direction of our board member – Bryan Richardson, this center will be a place for the marginalized seniors to come and be served with food, simple first aide, clothing and most importantly fellowship.  We are now finishing the roof and will soon be bringing seniors to the center. This is part one of the building project!  Our last bike-a-thon raised the funds needed to put on the roof!

South Africa:  Training a new LAMb International team member who will coordinate and organize all the projects and work of LAMb in Africa. More on this later!

Kyrgyzstan:  With the founding of ILDC (International Learning and Development Center) we have demonstrated commitment to Dayspring girls (diverted from orphanages to our family based care program) to find permanent families.  To date we have placed the little girls into adoptive homes, returned them to safe families and have kinship care homes of permanency for our girls.  Each reunification and/or adoption means a lifetime of connection for that little girl.  Perhaps nothing can be more important than to know these youth will always have a place to go on holidays, someone to call when their babies are born and a connection to their heritage and history.  Permanence is a child’s right.

Older youth in Kyrgyzstan – Jeremiah 29:11:  Life Skill classes are ongoing in the orphanages. LAMb has tracked and supported many youth through graduation and attendance in a number of different Universities. We have youth in the “practice” apartments, known as the steps apartments.  Here they get to experience living interdependently in a safe and maintained environment where they get to make decisions under the guidance of a mentor/coach.  Youth are able to continue the development of their life skills toward achieving even a greater level of interdependence.

Over the years, LAMb has supported over 20 youth in higher education programs including University and college/technical school programs.

Ukraine:  We have poured over 15 years into growing and developing a comprehensive approach to capacity building in Ukraine.  10 years ago we co-founded the International Leadership and Development Center (ILDC), which is the “go to” child welfare training center in the country.  ILDC is instrumental in many different facets of capacity building; training, consultation to government in the areas of de-institutionalization and working with children with disabilities, church coordination for working with crisis families, adoption and foster care and changing paradigms from institutionalization to family based care. We have a team of over 40 trainers ready to deploy at any given time.

Belarus: Supporting the work of the National Adoption Center of Belarus, we are helping them with their own capacity building by training in the area of Trauma Informed Care – starting in November 2018!  This is the beginning of a greater plan for Belarus and the National Adoption Center.

Romania:  Supporting the movement of the Alliance for a Romania Without Orphans (ARFO)– we have just completed an initial project with them to help in developing their next steps (a strategic plan) in creating a sustainable training program across the country.  We will continue to support this initiative and help them build their own internal capacity.

Ecuador: working with the Theological Seminary – developing caregivers in the are of Trauma Informed Care.

Jordan: working with those workers who are teaching refugee children and working with refugee families.  This initiative is to train trainers and caregivers in Trauma Informed Care to help in bringing healing to the hearts of those who have suffered much.

Other areas of focus for LAMb at this present time:  Armenia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Thailand.

Our focus and team:  We have a great team and amazing board members. Team members Kathy and Lyall Hallick have been working in India and Ethiopia.  Johanna Buchman continues to coach across the globe by working on-line with our trainers who want and need additional coaching.  In addition we have a large compliment of consultant experts in the different areas in which we bring teaching. 

We praise Him for provision and for the strength to continue on the journey we have been called to take.

THANK YOU SPONSORS.  THE STORY IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN EVEN THIS…

SHE IS AWESOME AND WONDERFUL – and A PROMISE AND A HOPE

Aima came into LAMb International Jeremiah 29:11 program from an orphanage south of Tokmok.   She entered IUCA and studied well.  Her desire to succeed was evident from the first day she arrived!  She is  a survivor and full of resilience.

At IUCA she stepped up in many different competitions – one competition was to apply for a scholarship program to study in Russia.  She won this competition and we sent her (thank you sponsor) on to Russia to complete this honor. After the study program was completed, she went to work for a summer in St. Petersburg and returned to IUCA at the end of the summer to complete her education.  She graduated with her Bachelors Degree in 2018.  Not what was next?

Her dream was to be a flight attendant.  She applied to two major international airlines and won interviews with both.  It was her dream to work for one airline in particular.  After a number of interviews - she has been hired.   At this time she is in process of completing the final steps to start her training for that airline, which will begin on September 15.  

Yes, she is a new candidate for Emirates Airlines.   Two months of training and then flight time t learn - you will then see her in the air!

This young woman is a solid example of Jeremiah 29:11.  She is a promise and a hope!  She is designed for a purpose. We praise Him that we had the opportunity to be a stepping stone in her life.

Her journey:

Family

Losses

Orphanage

Dayspring

Jeremiah 29:11

Steps Apartment transition (our transition program)

University at IUCA

Scholarship to Russia

Won Miss Tokmok Contest

Graduation from IUCA

Application to Emirates – offered a job

Now in the final stages of paperwork and training for the airline!

Shall we say this beautiful and kind young woman is on a pathway to what she has been created for!  We were just a little stepping stone along the way.  To Him be the glory and to Aima be the respect for her desire to go forward and not remain in her past.

Aima we SALUTE YOU!

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO - "No, we are not crazy!)

More Beauty From Ashes

We have seen again and again the beauty that comes from caring and sharing.  We have watched our team love a child and bring them to a safe place in their spirit and heart.  We have watched our partners develop strategies that ensure Life Skills are being learned and applied.   We have seen children in our Kyrgyzstan program become sons and daughters while growing and developing into amazing young adults. 

Only these last two months we have witnessed:

• One young man who failed university take a full-time job and has worked tirelessly saving money.  He lives in one of our Steps Apartments in Kyrgyzstan.  He raised enough money to pay his expenses at the apartment, a small rent and pay for his release from his military requirement (all legal in the country).  He now intends to try again and enter an IT program in Bishkek.  We are behind him 100%
• Another young man - one of our university students who has gone through the Jeremiah 29:11 program and lives in one of our Steps Apartments in Kyrgyzstan, has been accepted (due to his incredible success in University) to attend the University of Indiana from August 2018 to May, 2019 in Evansville, Indiana.  He succeeded in being on the Dean's List all year long.  Plus he has received other honors in his journey.  In an attempt to find an exchange program, he applied to three:  exchange for China, exchange for Germany and the exchange with the U.S Embassy for the USA.  HE WON ALL THREE and had to choose!  What an incredible journey for this Junior who attends the International University of Central Asia.
• A third youth - a young woman - who graduated from the University of Central Asia this year and lives in one of our Steps Apartments - has completed an exchange program within Russia and applied for a flight attendant position with two MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES.  She won interviews with both and is on the finalist list - we are now waiting for final results.  She has her final interview tomorrow - August 9th!  Praying for her dreams! What a success for her!
• Another one of our Dayspring girls is in Russia right now - visiting her birth father and his family.  This is a step toward permanency for her.  Our staff in Kg accompanied her to Russia where she is spending the summer.

So 

WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO

LET US EXPLAIN, VIA THESE 3 LITTLE DOCUMENTS
PLEASE READ AND SEND US SOME FEEDBACK!

GRASS SHALL NOT GROW UNDER OUR FEET....

WHEN THE CALL COMES  - JUST SAY

"SEND ME!"

Back in 2002 - we could never have imagined that by saying, "Send Us!" we would soon be serving as full-time non-residential missionaries working across the globe.  

Yet today we have served in over 30 countries.  This commitment has allowed us to have diverse experiences as we have trained hundreds of trainers, helped develop National training systems, facilitated adoptions, helped children reunite with their families, trained thousands of children's workers in churches, government and NGO's and helped to ensure the safety permanence and well-being of children who are vulnerable, exploited or orphaned.

Youth in our program in Kyrgyzstan have graduated from University, gotten married, working full time, have new babies, and continue with their education in either a technical school or university.  Most have found a place in society where they are successful.  And yes, we have a few youth still struggling along the way.  Yet, we remain a support behind them.

WHEN OTHERS SAY, "SEND ME!"

Ruby's sister, Sondra gave this response over two years ago and has been living in Kyrgyzstan ever since.  She lives there full time and manages a project called Eagle's Nest.  It is a Life Skill building program - that works to engage young people via teaching them both life skills and English. Eagle's Nest is also committed to training and teaching young women/girls how to be safe when they become vulnerable to Bride Kidnapping.  See the Newsletter below:

LAMb is active in the following and we invite you to join us at any time.  We have a seat on the plane for YOU!  

Now, you have heard the call - perhaps your answer will be, 

"Send me!"  We wait for you.