As the international division of Heartworks Photogrpahy, Inc., Live in Love is taking the next step in its growth. Beginning in June 2008, Live in Love will be esatablished in Africa as Lori is moving there to continue the work of this non-profit. Please read below as Lori shares this mission.
It is a joy to share with you I am taking my experience and passion for helping children to a new place: Africa. With the prayers of many people and following God’s guidance, I am going to Africa to serve full-time. I cannot deny what God has put in my heart. God has made it quite clear that Africa is where He wants me. It is amazing how He has grown His will and purpose into such a desire that I am unable to imagine doing anything else.
My home and work will be in Mapa Veni, Swaziland, beginning the first of June. The country of Swaziland is located in the far southeastern part of Africa, bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. Mapa Veni is a rural area in the northeastern part of the country and marked by great poverty and illness. Swaziland has the highest rate of AIDS of any country in the world. Physical and sexual abuse of children is rampant. Death and dying are an all too familiar experience. As the average life expectancy continues to decrease, the number of children orphaned by AIDS and the number of child-headed households is increasing. Children not only experience the loss of parents, siblings, and other family, they often face the same future as they, too, are infected. There is extremely minimal alternative housing for children who are abused, who are orphaned, who are pregnant, who are dying. The government provides no support and actually discourages it. There is little food, no clean water, and unsafe shelter.
While these facts and the lives of these children may be overwhelming, I believe there is hope. I believe hope’s name is Jesus. The goal is to glorify God through sharing and explaining His love and the hope of eternal life with Christ to children who do not understand the concept of love or the meaning of hope. With the love of Jesus, aspects of the ministry will include
· helping children understand and cope with illness, loss, death, and grief
· encouraging children to express themselves
· supporting children to see themselves as the beautiful people they are, that they do exist, that they do matter, and that they are loved
· assisting children to create remembrance items and experiences at the end of their lives or family members’ lives to aid with grieving
I will work closely with Pastor LaSalette Duarte who has lived in Mapa Veni for more than 25 years. She started and runs a church, Christian Family Church, and school. She also partners with Children’s Cup missionaries (www.childrenscup.org) to oversee their Care Points where children in this area receive a meal each day. Together we will serve and care for the children in this community through the church, school, care points, and monthly medical clinics. We will meet needs as they arise, as we can, and as God leads. We are planning and building a home for orphans, abused children, and young girls who are pregnant as a result of sexual abuse/rape.
I am going to Africa with Live in Love, the international division of Heartworks Photography, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit corporation established in 2002 (www.heartworksphoto.org). The founders of Heartworks are professional photographers dedicated to serving vulnerable children locally and around the world. The fundamental need for photography in this region to remember the children who are lost and die each year, as well as the therapeutic opportunities it provides, makes us a well-rounded team. To read more and see pictures about Live in Love, Swaziland, our previous trips, and some of the people we have and will continue to work with, please visit www.supportlil.blogspot.com.
How may you help?
· Prayer
· Financially with a tax-deductible donation
· Share this with others
· Purchase or donate needed equipment and supplies (list is included with this mailing)
· Purchase a shirt (or 2 or 3!)
If you would like to support and contribute financially, your donation is tax deductible. One time, annual, and on-going monthly funding is needed. Startup costs to support the ministry are $20,000, which is primarily for the purchase of a vehicle. On-going costs are currently estimated at $1,300 per month. At this writing 30% of startup costs and 40% of on-going monthly costs have been met. You may write a check payable to Heartworks Photography, include Live in Love on the memo line, and mail to Heartworks Photography, 150 St. Charles Rd., Carol Stream, IL 60188.
Thank you for joining me, for partnering with me to give children a voice, to show them and help them know love and hope exist and can be theirs. If you would like to receive correspondence and updates by e-mail, please send me your e-mail address.
My home and work will be in Mapa Veni, Swaziland, beginning the first of June. The country of Swaziland is located in the far southeastern part of Africa, bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. Mapa Veni is a rural area in the northeastern part of the country and marked by great poverty and illness. Swaziland has the highest rate of AIDS of any country in the world. Physical and sexual abuse of children is rampant. Death and dying are an all too familiar experience. As the average life expectancy continues to decrease, the number of children orphaned by AIDS and the number of child-headed households is increasing. Children not only experience the loss of parents, siblings, and other family, they often face the same future as they, too, are infected. There is extremely minimal alternative housing for children who are abused, who are orphaned, who are pregnant, who are dying. The government provides no support and actually discourages it. There is little food, no clean water, and unsafe shelter.
While these facts and the lives of these children may be overwhelming, I believe there is hope. I believe hope’s name is Jesus. The goal is to glorify God through sharing and explaining His love and the hope of eternal life with Christ to children who do not understand the concept of love or the meaning of hope. With the love of Jesus, aspects of the ministry will include
· helping children understand and cope with illness, loss, death, and grief
· encouraging children to express themselves
· supporting children to see themselves as the beautiful people they are, that they do exist, that they do matter, and that they are loved
· assisting children to create remembrance items and experiences at the end of their lives or family members’ lives to aid with grieving
I will work closely with Pastor LaSalette Duarte who has lived in Mapa Veni for more than 25 years. She started and runs a church, Christian Family Church, and school. She also partners with Children’s Cup missionaries (www.childrenscup.org) to oversee their Care Points where children in this area receive a meal each day. Together we will serve and care for the children in this community through the church, school, care points, and monthly medical clinics. We will meet needs as they arise, as we can, and as God leads. We are planning and building a home for orphans, abused children, and young girls who are pregnant as a result of sexual abuse/rape.
I am going to Africa with Live in Love, the international division of Heartworks Photography, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit corporation established in 2002 (www.heartworksphoto.org). The founders of Heartworks are professional photographers dedicated to serving vulnerable children locally and around the world. The fundamental need for photography in this region to remember the children who are lost and die each year, as well as the therapeutic opportunities it provides, makes us a well-rounded team. To read more and see pictures about Live in Love, Swaziland, our previous trips, and some of the people we have and will continue to work with, please visit www.supportlil.blogspot.com.
How may you help?
· Prayer
· Financially with a tax-deductible donation
· Share this with others
· Purchase or donate needed equipment and supplies (list is included with this mailing)
· Purchase a shirt (or 2 or 3!)
If you would like to support and contribute financially, your donation is tax deductible. One time, annual, and on-going monthly funding is needed. Startup costs to support the ministry are $20,000, which is primarily for the purchase of a vehicle. On-going costs are currently estimated at $1,300 per month. At this writing 30% of startup costs and 40% of on-going monthly costs have been met. You may write a check payable to Heartworks Photography, include Live in Love on the memo line, and mail to Heartworks Photography, 150 St. Charles Rd., Carol Stream, IL 60188.
Thank you for joining me, for partnering with me to give children a voice, to show them and help them know love and hope exist and can be theirs. If you would like to receive correspondence and updates by e-mail, please send me your e-mail address.
1 comment:
Lori,
Charles and I are so excited for you as we know what this journey will hold for you. At least to some extent. We are definitely praying for you and hopefully will get to come visit you as you came and visited us!
love you!
Kristen and Charles
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