1st Annual Birdies for Selah Fundraiser
Event Information
Make a Pledge
The little ten-year old girl that would become Selah was strikingly beautiful, very quiet, and slow to make eye contact with anyone. You see, Week 3 of Camp LIFE Zambia 2009 was upon us and God had sent this precious child to camp this week for a very real reason!
At first, she had nothing to say to American counselors and Zambian translators during her one-on-one blessing time. As she began to trust the people God had surrounded her with at camp, she began to slowly tell her story in the coming days. She began by revealing only that she lived with her father and step-mother and two other young children. As she continued, the stories of her father’s abuse began to surface. Although abuse is not uncommon in Zambian children, something about this particular child said there were deeper issues than just physical abuse. As Tuesday became Wednesday, the real story began to unfold. It became a story of despair and sadness that no child should ever have to experience.
Selah began by stating that God could never forgive her for the things she had done. She began to tell stories of how she had been raped and beaten. As she continued, the horrible stories began to unfold. Night in and night out, men ranging in age from 14-35 had been allowed by her own father to come into her house and rape her. Selah, who at the time was named Sillah, then revealed to us that after the men raped her, her father would beat her with a large pipe or stick and force her to sleep on the streets because “she was not good enough”.
You see, God brought Selah to Week 3 of Camp LIFE 2009 because He knew that she would be rescued by His people. Although Selah is now in a safe transitional home, it is only a short-term solution. She needs a safe and loving environment to call home forever. A place where she knows she is out of harm’s way and where she can truly experience God’s abundant love for her and began to understand His hope for her future.
The founders and staff of Family Legacy Missions International (www.legacymissions.org) have committed their lives and their resources to freeing the orphaned children of Zambia, Africa from the chains of abuse, neglect, depression, and poverty. They are committed to building safe homes, schools, and medical facilities that offer these children hope in a world that has been full of darkness for so many of them.
The Tree of Life Children’s Village is the “Haven of Hope and Light” that FLMI is using as its channel to provide comprehensive and significant transformation in the lives of these children. There are currently four houses completed at the Tree of Life which now houses 60+ orphaned and abused children. There are three more underway; one being named “Selah’s House” in honor of this sweet child of God. FLMI has a goal of building 25 homes total because there are so many other children out there with stories just like Selah’s who need to be rescued and placed in a loving environment! Each house will be a safe place for 12-15 orphan children, most of whom have never been shown true love.
God has called the group of American counselors from Week 3 of Camp LIFE 2009 to raise the capital needed to fund “Selah’s House”. We are committed to His call because He has commanded us in scripture to love and look after these children (James 1:27) and to defend them (Isaiah 1:17) because they have no voice and often no choice in life but to remain victims of neglect and abuse. Together, with your support, we can make a difference in the lives of these special children – one child at a time.
As for her name change, we officially made the change from Sillah to Selah on Friday of Camp Life. The word Selah is used over 70 times in the book of Psalm, often after prayers of thanksgiving and reflection. What a great name for a girl who can now look forward with thanksgiving for being freed from the chains of abuse in her life.
Lastly, if you get a chance, listen to the song “Rescue Me” by the group Selah. As you listen closely to the lyrics, think of “our” Selah. Surely it is no coincidence that God used a group called Selah to tell a story about how He wraps His arms around a child just like this and carries her over the rising waters in life!
To donate to Selah’s House:
- Click the donate link below
- In the fund box select Tree of Life Children’s Village
- In the General Donation box select Family Life Homes & Lahema’s Legacy Fund
- In the comments section type Selah
DONATE NOW!
Thank you in advance for your prayerful and financial support.
Peace and Grace,
“The Week3-ers”
“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance”. Selah
Psalm 32:7
