Savior's Home: Introducing our new partner

Savior's Home from Lahash International on Vimeo.

Today we are announcing our newest partner - and our first new partner in six years! We are so thrilled to partner with Savior's Home in Kampala, Uganda. The home has a dozen children that were street children and orphaned or made extremely vulnerable.

Tim Bata is the founder and director of the home. He is a musician by trade and has a strong interest in coaching the children in music and performance. Their music is featured on the new video above that our friend Tim Nelson put together for us.

These kids need sponsored! Lahash is joining Samaritan's Purse and local Ugandan friends and churches in supporting these dear children. Sponsorship is $25 a month. You can visit our donation page to sign up for monthly pledge - or email Katie Potter for more details. Once you sign up we'll send you a welcome packet to learn more details about the program and receive a photo of your child.

Writing the Book on Faith

Lahash traveler Lyla Peterson did not expect that she was going to write a book. "I mostly jotted things down just so I could remember things to tell my grandchildren," she said with a laugh. Little did she know that what memories she did jot down would form the story of a magnificent woman of God, Mama Susan Tabia.

Lyla has visited East Africa on several different occasions, and has been able to speak one-on-one with Mama Susan in person as well as email. Lyla was so moved by Mama Susan's dedication to the Lord in spite of all the fear and suffering, and how she has devoted he life to the vulnerable children in East Africa, as well as the widows of war and poverty in the area.

"To see Mama Susan be resilient in times of fear, and a leader in times of chaos really has shown me how to fully trust in the Lord wherever He leads," says Lyla. "I had never known fear like I did when I was in East Africa and the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) surrounded us. To live with that much fear and uncertainty, and to pick up and continue in the Lord's work the next day is an astonishing witness."

"Whispered Prayer: The Story of Mama Susan and her Orphans" will be published soon, and can be purchased through the Lahash website. All proceed will to to IWASSRU and Mama Susan's projects.

Grace and Healing Safari

From June 28 – July 1, 36 children from Grace and Healing Ministries went for a Bible camp and safari to observe God’s wonderful creation. They studied God’s word, focused on God as Creator, developed relationships, learned, and relaxed. They were able to hear that God not only cares for his creation as a whole, but each of us individually, and how all of us are created to fulfill a unique purpose in God's Kingdom.

We asked for your prayers before the trip happened, and we are so overjoyed to hear what God did during this time. Six children were moved to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior after hearing and seeing what Christ has done for His children!

We extend much thanks to the Portland Mennonite Church for providing funds for this trip. Your generosity was truly a blessing in the lives of these children. To see additional photos and read more about the trip, please visit the Grace and Healing Ministries Blog.

Thank you to everyone involved, and the Lord our God, King of all creation!

Support Amazing Grace Gardens

Children at Amazing Grace working in the garden.

Planting and tending to a garden is something that, as Americans, we view as a colorful hobby.

But in reality, the planting and upkeep of a garden is literally a lifeline for many people on earth, especially in East Africa. It’s not a hobby: it’s a necessity that takes a vast amount of time, energy, resources, and planning. If the garden doesn’t grow, you may not eat.

Our latest issue of Hope is Alive magazine, focused on Creation Care, details the struggle those is East Africa have in planning, paying for, planting, and providing care for their garden. Amazing Grace sits on one acre of land, while another three to four acres are rented and planted with food to feed 30 children. Their garden is ambitious: spinach and kale, okra, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, and peanuts. This provides a balanced diet for the children, as well as the hands-on experience of nurturing plants from seedling to plate.



“Both the workers and the children [tend the garden],” said East Africa Coordinator Edwin Angote. Mostly the children do the planting and [keep] the garden clean.” For the children whose chores include garden care, important lessons are learned even before they enjoy the delicious fruits of their labor. “They learn being responsible,” said Edwin.

If you would like to help Amazing Grace Children’s Home, Lahash is trying to raise $850 for plowing and seeds. To donate, click the Lahash International Donation Page . After you enter your donation, select “Amazing Grace Planting Needs” from the “Special Projects” list.

We look forward to your support, and we will keep you posted with photos and stories!

Day of Prayer for Sudan - July 8th

Republic of South Sudan

Day of Prayer

July 8th • 6-7 PM

Lahash Portland Center • 4850 N Vancouver, Portland, OR 97217

Will you join us on Friday the 8th of July for a day of prayer for the region of Sudan? On July 9th the southern portion of the nation will be splitting from the north after a successful referendum earlier this year. Wherever you are around the world - please join us on the 8th in prayer for the new nation. For those of you in the Portland, Oregon area - you are invited to join us using the details above.

Focusing on Caring for Creation

This past Monday staff and volunteers at the Portland Lahash center came together to put together our latest magazine about how our work in East Africa is tied to the idea of Creation Care. In our advocacy and care for East Africa's vulnerable populations how we care for the environment (with the land, plants, animals, and people layered in it) is critical.

To better understand the idea of Creation Care - or environmental stewardship - our Portland team has put together our newest Hope Is Alive magazine full of stories of how our partners and our larger global community are living fully into God's original design to tend and take care of "the garden." And speaking of gardens... our office team in Portland banded together to create a community garden. On Monday we had a dinner on the lawn to enjoy the food that God had grown over the past several months. Pictures are below:

Above: Casey our media director picking radishes at the new Portland Lahash community garden.

Above: The Lahash garden this week with lettuce, carrots, chard, peas, onions, strawberries, collards and much more.

Above: Casey grilling some meat and fresh corn.

Above: our group enjoyed supper on the lawn as we put the finishing touches on our newest magazine about Creation Care at Lahash.

To read an interesting new article on a couple pastors and their concern for God's creation - check out The Joyful Environmentalists. We also recommend the website BlessedEarth by author and Christian environmentalist Dr. Sleeth.

Rice & Beans at Grace & Healing Ministry Dodoma

Click here to read about the Grace and Healing Ministry of Dodoma staff's participation in Rice and Beans month...

The Story of Mama Susan

Many people familiar with Lahash and our work in East Africa have heard the name of Mama Susan Tabia and her work through IWASSRU or Amazing Grace Children's Home. But few people have had the privilege of hearing her entire story. Lahash traveler Lyla Peterson hopes that will soon change.




Through her upcoming book "Whispered Prayer: The Story of Mama Susan and her Orphans," she tells the story of what she describes as the "Proverbs 31" woman; a tireless worker for God and His purposes, surviving traumas and peril both emotional and physical.

During her travels to Tanzania and Uganda, she began taking notes. "I did keep some journal notes, and my main goal was to write up stories for my children and grandchildren about life there and some of the faith lessons," she says when asked if she had planned on writing Mama Susan's story. After learning more about Mama Susan, Lyla decided that many more people needed to know not just about the vulnerable in East Africa ("I think people [will be] touched when they get a glimpse of how very little they have materially, but how they seem to be rich in joy," she says) but about Mama Susan herself. She kept in contact through email, and was able to add many details to inform her profile of a truly Godly woman.



In addition to learning about the fascinating story of Mama Susan, Lyla hopes that readers will gain "a greater interest and understanding of the situation in Sudan, and a greater appreciation and understanding of the courage and faith of our East African brothers and sisters like Mama Susan."

"Whispered Prayer: The Story of Mama Susan and her Orphans" is in the final stages of publication, and will be available soon. Stay tuned for details.