The School that Love Built

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.

For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world.

1 Samuel 2:8

Someone shared with Pastor Sihok about 80 families that lived in desperate conditions at a village surrounding a dumpsite so he went to see for himself. His heart so moved by the desperate conditions that he has been ministering to these families at dumpsite for the past year.  Pastor Sihok, divinely connected with Jen Barnes and the LifeTotes team, was able to take a small step to help the families here rise up, find hope, and begin establishing a solid foundation for their future.  This small step was accomplished through the building of a school.

Less than three months after meeting Pastor Sihok and Jen’s visit to Cambodia, children at the dumpsite village, who were once forgotten and had little hope for education, are attending the LifeTotes school in their village. 

LifeTotes’ dear friend, Sharon Hattaway, has dedicated her life to the people of Cambodia.  Currently living in Phnom Penh, Sharon recently visited the LifeTotes school at the dumpsite village.  She shared with us about the school that is a helping build a foundation of hope for this community.

This is how Sharon describes the school:

“There are about 20 children who go every day to this new school building. Most of the children have never been to school or at least have not been regularly.”

“Pastor Sihok worked the local community to design the building and they thought of many specific design elements that helped make the building better equipped for the surrounding environment. The building is very basic but extremely functional. It has open windows on three sides to take advantage of any breeze and keep the metal building as cool as possible.”

“There are also two fans on the ceiling, which help with airflow and cooling. The building design also wonderfully allows natural light to be used in the classroom. The windows can be latched so when it rains the students stay dry. There is a cement floor so that there is no problem with mud in the rainy season.”

“The classroom is very basic with 10 student desks (each can sit 3 to 5 students), a teacher's desk, a white board, and one poster on the wall that looks like the children made it. The students use slates instead of paper to write whatever is needed.”

The Lord has used others to continue to show love to these families. A woman from a local church donated the slates for the children.  Sharon herself has donated funds to ensure that the students have flashcards, books, and posters for the English portion of the school as well as Khmer posters or books for the students to learn Khmer, the local language.

The school is indeed just a building, but it is a building built with much love, prayer, hope and vision.  It is a building whose foundation was established by Jesus and that serves as a vision of His immense love for all of His children.

WHERE DO YOU TOTE LIFE? Mary Frances Bowley Totes Life through Giving a Voice to Those Who Have None

There are more than 100,000 children trafficked for sex in the United States. And, more than 250,000 at risk of being trafficked.  The average age of a child when they are first used is twelve to fourteen years old.  

Starting in 2001, Mary Frances and Wellspring Living have been working to change these numbers; they have truly been making a difference for the girls and women that they serve. They are reaching out to help young girls and women rebuild their lives, to live and to dream again.

Mary Frances sees these girls with eyes of hope and faith; she is inspired by them as they remain so resilient and strong after having experienced the worst of life. 

Mary Frances and the Wellspring team work to ensure that the girls know that they have someone who believes in them and sees beyond what has happened to them. As they build trust with the girls, the once-hardened hearts experience new life. Wellspring also works to provide the tools to help the girls rebuild their life, including personalized education that allows them to learn in their own style and at their own speed, therapy that helps provide healing from the experienced trauma, and life skills that teach them how to live in the world, healthy and whole.  They are allowed and encouraged just to be girls, to have fun, to enjoy life, and to experience freedom, rediscovering their childhood and all that they may have missed.

Although many of the girls come to Wellspring at a young age, as they find their inner healing, they exhibit an inner strength and compassion for others that should compel and inspire us all to action. As she was completing the program, one precious young lady of fourteen years old asked to speak with Mary Frances.  She confidently stated, “I want to help other girls so that they don’t fall into this.”

Now Mary Frances is helping make this young girl’s wish happen with the writing of Make it Zero: The Movement to Safeguard Every Child.  She is working to help safeguard not only the girls that at fourteen years old are forced into a life of sex trafficking but also the lives of all children who face poverty, hunger, isolation and abuse. 

Thank you, Mary Frances, for being a voice for those who have none and being a #LIFEgiving force in the world.  

LifeTotes is proud to support the Make it Zero Movement at http://makeitzero.squarespace.com! JOIN US! 

The Coexistence of Generosity and Frugality

Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. James 5:4

Everyone likes a bargain. If you love to shop, and most do, there is probably a sense of euphoria that happens when you get a good deal. We live in a consumer society that has become driven by competition that drives prices down and sales up, allowing us to buy more than we otherwise would or could and perhaps even should. 

Growing up, especially in the early years, I can remember our family being "heavily budgeted." We would value shop and bargain brand whenever possible. It was necessary, and it eventually became a mindset to spend the least and stretch the dollar to get the most. Even when there was no overabundance, my parents and grandparents always modeled sharing and generosity. We would take what we needed and share the rest. 

After growing older and utilizing these principles to reach a place of stability and eventual abundance, I've learned that frugality and generosity can coexist and succeed within the same framework and when equally balanced, everyone wins. This is actually how we were created to live. In our quest to be frugal, we must not abuse others who are working hard to help us have what we need without considering if their needs are being met. This is the responsibility that comes with having and acquiring. 

So when you're looking for that bargain in the business arena, or negotiating with that person at the market or the contractor working on your home, it is okay to reach a responsible price, but make sure you leave them with their dignity, and when all else fails, you will never go wrong erring on the side of generosity. 

WHERE DO YOU TOTE LIFE? FLY Musiq Totes Life to Young Women through Empowerment and Inspiration

As an artist, author, speaker, host; Cierra “FLY Musiq” Bobo displays LIFE-giving action for others in all that she does. FLY, a female hip-hop artist that creates a graceful dance between hip-hop and soul, has a beautiful voice that matches her beautiful heart--a heart that beats to give back to young women.

FLY founded FLY Spirit, Inc. as an organization with a goal to inspire and empower the next generation of women leaders. FLY is an acronym for Full of Faith, Love, and Youth; and, these three things are reflected in every aspect of the organization.  Upon meeting FLY, one can see them truly reflected in her life and smile as well.

To empower and inspire young women, FLY Spirit provides resilience education in low-income areas through weekly after-school chapter meetings, field trips, community service work, guest speaker presentations, and gender-based relationship violence prevention presentations as well as through hosting the FLY Life Girls Conference.  At the conference, FLY builds a creatively powerful environment that emboldens young ladies to step into their destiny and find their beautiful unique strengths.

FLY looks outside of herself to something bigger--to others--and challenges everyone around her to do the same.  She finds beauty in everything and totes LIFE to all who surround her through her faith, love and youth.

The idea of perfection doesn’t inspire others, 

it discourages them. 

Be a perfect example of  BEAUTIFUL IMPERFECTION. 

– Cierra “FLY Musiq” Bobo

LifeTotes empowers futures

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11b

Over the past several weeks in this LifeTotes blog series, we have watched a discarded cement bag go from unwanted trash on the street to a valuable new creation, transformed by hard-working hands that visualized the bag’s potential and give hope for its new life.

Now what?  What is the future for this bag?  We hope that in your hands it is a treasure; used, enjoyed, and carried with pride.  We hope that it helps you carry your load, and even tote your other treasures. We hope that you see it as we do---a beautiful picture of the power of restoration.

Students at the LifeTotes dumpsite school 
with their new uniforms

A few weeks back, Jen wrote about the plans that God has for us, plans to prosper and not to harm.  These plans for the good of His children do not stop with their present day-to-day needs.  The verse in Jeremiah continues with the incredible declaration that these plans are for our future!  John 10:10 gives the picture of our future as abundant life--a life full of the love of Jesus.  This is a life so full that you cannot help but share your abundance. 

LifeTotes is committed to sharing that abundance - not only by investing our profits in underprivileged areas around the world but also by sharing the complete fullness that comes from knowing Jesus.  It is only through Jesus that our future is secure.  It is only by His power that our lives are able to touch the lives of those around us and those around the world, changing the course of their lives so that they too may know a future with Jesus. 

Contributed by Erin Parker

WHERE DO YOU TOTE LIFE? James Bailey Totes Life Through Developing People and Communities

With tremendous vision, effective implementation, and a huge heart for others, James M. Bailey lives by his personal motto, “Build As We Climb,” working to support programs that give youth every opportunity to succeed.  His goal is to inspire youth to rise from the ashes of their circumstances and soar towards living in their purpose. Throughout his life and career, James has been a true example of one who totes LIFE and gives to others.

In 2015, James founded one of the nation’s most innovative private equity firms, Greenwood Archer. Through a “Human Capital” approach, Greenwood Archer re-imagines the way America’s most underserved communities leverage assets, establish wealth, strengthen infrastructure, and create jobs.  James also helps lead the Phoenix Leadership Foundation in funding and developing programs that provide positive role models for youth and help them develop as leaders. 

Before Greenwood Archer, James served as CEO for the Atlanta Market of Operation HOPE, a global nonprofit organization focused on economic empowerment.  HOPE’s southeastern region now helps more than 160,000 youth, adults, and families start businesses, buy homes, raise credit scores, and increase their financial literacy.

A dedicated community servant, James also totes LIFE as he volunteers with numerous organizations, including The Wren’s Nest, Verbalyze, Inc., the Safe America Foundation, the Metro Atlanta Chamber Board of Advisors, the Phoenix Leadership Foundation, and most notably he serves as Scoutmaster of the Mighty Troop 100 located on Atlanta’s Westside.

Toting LIFE to others, James ensures that where there is despair, hope takes over and where there is lack, opportunity emerges.  His life is impacting many as he lives out his belief that “people matter…period.”   

Learn more at www.lifetotes.org and www.phoenixleadership.org.